Re: [F_MINOR] OT: Help! Anybody got any GOOD Xmas music?

[Paul Giroux <giroup01@VIDEOTRON.CA>]

I have but two Christmas CDs, my desert island one would be Cantate
Domino, on Proprius label, catalogue PRCD 7762.  "This
remarquable album - for many years appreciated for its exquisite sound
quality in the recording of choral and solovoices - set a new standard in
sound engineering" says the jacket.  And it is so true. 
Recorded in 1976 in Stockholm using but two microphones and a tape
deck.  It features organ, choral and solo soprano renditions of
Cristmas carols. It has the perfect ratio of voices and ambiance. The
Silent Night is to die for.  And Maria Weigenlied, sung by soprano
Marianne Mellnas, instantly brings tears to my eyes *every* time I hear
it, no matter what mood I'm in.  Very powerful album.

In second place, "Christmas with the Cambridge Singers", on
Collegium Records, catalogue COLCD111.  A fine choir conducted by
John Rutter, who also conducts the Turtle Creek Chorale in his Requiem on
Reference Recordings RR-57CD (absolutely stunning too - but you did ask
specifically for Christmas music).  The first half of the album is
called "The Joy of Christmas" while the other half, more
"quiet", is called "The Peace of Christmas". I
discovered this album one day when I saw a Volvo commercial on
television, it had such wonderful music, "O magnum mysterium"
as it were, anyhow the Volvo PR person gave me the name of the album and
it's been in my collection ever since.

These two albums are more of a "traditional" approach to
carols, featuring little instrumentation and lots of voices.


At 12/12/2003 08:18 PM, Elmer Elevator wrote:

> <snip>
>  
> I know there's Christmas Stuff
> out there with beautiful compositions, beautiful artistry, beautiful
> voices. What are your favorites? What do you like? What do you
> recommend?

**************************************************
Signoff instructions, and user preference interface

 F_minor Website 
**************************************************