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My First Christmas Album
Naxos

My First Christmas Album

$9.99
$19.99 Save 50%

Details

Composer
VARIOUS
Artist
Various
Format
CD
Label
Naxos
Released
Nov 11, 2016
Catalog #
8578340
UPC
747313834075

About

Can you imagine Christmas without music? No singing, no jingling. Only Scrooge would be happy with that! It is a time for music to fill the air. Part of the fun is hearing things that are only played at Christmas and at no other time of year - carols that make you think of the end of term, or the holidays or bobble hats - songs that make you think of food, or snow, or stockings. Here are some of the most popular carols, as well as some other surprises...Merry Christmas!

REVIEWS:

I have always been a great believer in the importance of presenting music of the highest possible quality regardless of the potential audience. This is done here — for the adult listener there is real interest and fascination in hearing such a wide range of choral styles.

I loved the predictably fine Lutoslawski/ Antoni Wit Polish National RSO & Choir Hurrying to Bethlehem. Again quite a different choral tone. Otto Kotilainen’s Finnish Kun Joulu on is something of a discovery beautifully performed—a lighter tone than the Polish choir but very expressive by the Finnish choir Chorus Resonus. Another virtuoso vocal group prove to be La Petite Bande de Montreal who contribute a brief but virtuosic Carol of the Bells. Jeremy Summerly’s Oxford Camerata are suitably vigorous in the Medieval Gaudete Christus est natus. As indeed is For Unto us from the Messiah from Edward Higginbottom, the Academy of Ancient Music and Oxford New College Choir. This is a delightfully sprung and sprightly version of an old favourite. Most of the carols are sung with little or no accompaniment other than the expected organ or keyboard. This makes the full orchestral version of Vaughan Williams’ Wassail Song particularly enjoyable.

So all in all a disc of palpable hits in terms of music and performance, and certainly something for the stocking of a young relative. No texts or translations are included. Well done to Naxos for producing a disc of great entertainment value but without compromising the artistic merit of it either.

-- MusicWeb International

If you’re looking for a Christmas album that the kids will like but won’t drive you up the wall, try this. It’s one of a series of Naxos CDs that try and introduce children to classical music...

Most of your favorite Christmas carols are on here, along with Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and the Sugar Plum Fairy. For a Christmas album, it gets high praise: it’s not annoying, and only Scrooge could really find fault. It also introduces the small ones to classical playing.

-- The Chronicle

Tracklist 30 tracks

  1. 1 Once in Royal David's City 03:19
    Track
    1
    Title
    Once in Royal David's City
    Duration
    03:19
    Composer
    Henry John Gauntlett
    Performer
    Robert Stringer, Raymond Johnston
    Ensemble
    Worcester Cathedral Choir
    Conductor
    Donald Hunt
  2. 2 Thredbo Suite: III. Sleighride to Thredbo (arr. P. Lane for orchestra) 01:50
    Track
    2
    Title
    Thredbo Suite: III. Sleighride to Thredbo (arr. P. Lane for orchestra)
    Duration
    01:50
    Composer
    John Carmichael
    Ensemble
    BBC Concert Orchestra
    Conductor
    Barry Wordsworth
  3. 3 We Three Kings of Orient Are (arr. A. Pitts for vocal ensemble) 03:07
    Track
    3
    Title
    We Three Kings of Orient Are (arr. A. Pitts for vocal ensemble)
    Duration
    03:07
    Composer
    John Henry Hopkins Jr.
    Performer
    Joanna Forbes, Kathryn Oswald, Richard Eteson, Nicholas Chalmers
    Ensemble
    Tonus Peregrinus
    Conductor
    Antony Pitts
  4. 4 Sans Day Carol (arr. J. Rutter for choir) 03:19
    Track
    4
    Title
    Sans Day Carol (arr. J. Rutter for choir)
    Duration
    03:19
    Composer
    Traditional
    Ensemble
    Tewkesbury Abbey Choir
    Conductor
    Andrew Sackett
  5. 5 Winter Wonderland (arr. for orchestra) 02:14
    Track
    5
    Title
    Winter Wonderland (arr. for orchestra)
    Duration
    02:14
    Composer
    Felix Bernard
    Ensemble
    Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Richard Hayman
  6. 6 The Holly and the Ivy (arr. H.W. Davies for choir) 03:19
    Track
    6
    Title
    The Holly and the Ivy (arr. H.W. Davies for choir)
    Duration
    03:19
    Composer
    Traditional
    Ensemble
    Tewkesbury Abbey Choir
    Conductor
    Andrew Sackett
  7. 7 Messiah, HWV 56, Part I: Chorus: For unto us a Child is born (1751 Version) 03:51
    Track
    7
    Title
    Messiah, HWV 56, Part I: Chorus: For unto us a Child is born (1751 Version)
    Duration
    03:51
    Composer
    George Frideric Handel
    Ensemble
    Choir of New College Oxford, Academy of Ancient Music
    Conductor
    Edward Higginbottom
  8. 8 Esta bella noche 03:16
    Track
    8
    Title
    Esta bella noche
    Duration
    03:16
    Composer
    Luis Eduardo Galián
    Performer
    Mats Norrefalk, Stefan Bäcklund, Mats-Erik Björklund, Mats Nyström
    Ensemble
    Örebro Chamber Choir
    Conductor
    Fred Sjöberg
  9. 9 Concerto Grosso in G Minor, Op. 6, No. 8, "Christmas Concerto": II. Allegro 02:02
    Track
    9
    Title
    Concerto Grosso in G Minor, Op. 6, No. 8, "Christmas Concerto": II. Allegro
    Duration
    02:02
    Composer
    Arcangelo Corelli
    Ensemble
    Capella Istropolitana
    Conductor
    Jaroslav Krček
  10. 10 King Jesus hath a Garden 02:26
    Track
    10
    Title
    King Jesus hath a Garden
    Duration
    02:26
    Composer
    Traditional
    Ensemble
    The Elora Singers
    Conductor
    Noel Edison
  11. 11 A Ceremony of Carols, Op. 28: This Little Babe 01:26
    Track
    11
    Title
    A Ceremony of Carols, Op. 28: This Little Babe
    Duration
    01:26
    Composer
    Benjamin Britten
    Performer
    Skaila Kanga
    Ensemble
    New London Children's Choir
    Conductor
    Ronald Corp
  12. 12 In the Bleak Midwinter 04:54
    Track
    12
    Title
    In the Bleak Midwinter
    Duration
    04:54
    Composer
    Harold Darke
    Performer
    Michael Bloss
    Ensemble
    The Elora Singers
    Conductor
    Noel Edison
  13. 13 Good King Wenceslas (arr. R. Jacques for choir) 03:05
    Track
    13
    Title
    Good King Wenceslas (arr. R. Jacques for choir)
    Duration
    03:05
    Composer
    Traditional
    Ensemble
    Tewkesbury Abbey Choir
    Conductor
    Andrew Sackett
  14. 14 Jingle Bells (arr. P. Breiner for orchestra) 01:00
    Track
    14
    Title
    Jingle Bells (arr. P. Breiner for orchestra)
    Duration
    01:00
    Composer
    James Lord Pierpont
    Ensemble
    Slovak State Philharmonic Orchestra
    Conductor
    Alfred Walter
  15. 15 Noël Ukrainien, "Carol of the Bells" 01:30
    Track
    15
    Title
    Noël Ukrainien, "Carol of the Bells"
    Duration
    01:30
    Composer
    Traditional
    Ensemble
    La Petite Bande de Montréal
    Conductor
    Martin Dagenais
  16. 16 The Nutcracker Suite, Op. 71a: III. Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairies 01:48
    Track
    16
    Title
    The Nutcracker Suite, Op. 71a: III. Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairies
    Duration
    01:48
    Composer
    Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
    Ensemble
    Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra
    Conductor
    Michael Halász
  17. 17 Dancing Day: No. 8. Tomorrow shall be my dancing day 03:31
    Track
    17
    Title
    Dancing Day: No. 8. Tomorrow shall be my dancing day
    Duration
    03:31
    Composer
    John Rutter
    Performer
    John Evanson
    Ensemble
    Finchley Children's Music Group
    Conductor
    Grace Rossiter
  18. 18 Gaudete Christus est natus 01:38
    Track
    18
    Title
    Gaudete Christus est natus
    Duration
    01:38
    Composer
    Traditional
    Ensemble
    Oxford Camerata
    Conductor
    Jeremy Summerly
  19. 19 Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (arr. R. Hayman for orchestra) 02:37
    Track
    19
    Title
    Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (arr. R. Hayman for orchestra)
    Duration
    02:37
    Composer
    Johnny Marks
    Ensemble
    Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Richard Hayman
  20. 20 Away in a Manger (arr. D. Hunt for choir) 03:11
    Track
    20
    Title
    Away in a Manger (arr. D. Hunt for choir)
    Duration
    03:11
    Composer
    William J. Kirkpatrick
    Ensemble
    Worcester Cathedral Choir
    Conductor
    Donald Hunt
  21. 21 20 Polish Christmas Carols: No. 7. Hurrying to Bethlehem 00:51
    Track
    21
    Title
    20 Polish Christmas Carols: No. 7. Hurrying to Bethlehem
    Duration
    00:51
    Composer
    Witold Lutosławski
    Ensemble
    Polish Radio Choir, Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Antoni Wit
  22. 22 Kun Joulu on (At Christmas Time) 02:16
    Track
    22
    Title
    Kun Joulu on (At Christmas Time)
    Duration
    02:16
    Composer
    Otto Kotilainen
    Ensemble
    Resonus Chorus
    Conductor
    Sauli Hannuksela
  23. 23 Silent Night 03:05
    Track
    23
    Title
    Silent Night
    Duration
    03:05
    Composer
    Franz Xaver Gruber
    Performer
    Michael Bloss
    Ensemble
    The Elora Singers
    Conductor
    Noel Edison
  24. 24 Noëls sur les instruments, H. 534: Vous qui désirez sans fin 02:23
    Track
    24
    Title
    Noëls sur les instruments, H. 534: Vous qui désirez sans fin
    Duration
    02:23
    Composer
    Marc-Antoine Charpentier
    Ensemble
    Aradia Ensemble
    Conductor
    Kevin Mallon
  25. 25 A Maiden Most Gentle (arr. A. Carter for choir) 02:53
    Track
    25
    Title
    A Maiden Most Gentle (arr. A. Carter for choir)
    Duration
    02:53
    Composer
    Traditional
    Ensemble
    Tewkesbury Abbey Choir
    Conductor
    Andrew Sackett
  26. 26 Folksongs of the Four Seasons: Winter: II. Wassail song 02:26
    Track
    26
    Title
    Folksongs of the Four Seasons: Winter: II. Wassail song
    Duration
    02:26
    Composer
    Ralph Vaughan Williams
    Ensemble
    City of London Choir, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Hilary Davan Wetton
  27. 27 The Nutcracker Suite, Op. 71a: IV. Russian Dance, "Trepak" 01:08
    Track
    27
    Title
    The Nutcracker Suite, Op. 71a: IV. Russian Dance, "Trepak"
    Duration
    01:08
    Composer
    Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
    Ensemble
    Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra
    Conductor
    Michael Halász
  28. 28 Unto Us is Born a Son (arr. D. Willcocks for choir and organ) 01:54
    Track
    28
    Title
    Unto Us is Born a Son (arr. D. Willcocks for choir and organ)
    Duration
    01:54
    Composer
    Traditional
    Performer
    Raymond Johnston
    Ensemble
    Worcester Cathedral Choir
    Conductor
    Donald Hunt
  29. 29 Ding Dong Merrily on High (arr. D. Willcocks for choir and organ) 02:07
    Track
    29
    Title
    Ding Dong Merrily on High (arr. D. Willcocks for choir and organ)
    Duration
    02:07
    Composer
    Traditional
    Performer
    Michael Bloss
    Ensemble
    The Elora Singers
    Conductor
    Noel Edison
  30. 30 Rocking 01:45
    Track
    30
    Title
    Rocking
    Duration
    01:45
    Composer
    Traditional
    Ensemble
    Worcester Cathedral Choir
    Conductor
    Donald Hunt