Christmas favourites

[Anna]

I've never warmed to the Praetorius Mass. I have the CD of Paul McCreesh and the Gabrielli Consort which I would be pleased to give away to anyone who would like to have it, if that can be arranged.

Patrick, what a lovely generous soul you are!

[Rolmill]

The Praetorius Mass has got 4 votes (it was Mahlerei that introduced me to it) You can hear clips of it here
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Praetorius-L...4049307&sr=8-1

Make that 5 votes - it's the congregational hymn-singing that makes it for me, gives me goose-bumps every time I listen

My favourite CD of carols is JEG's "Once as I remember" - wonderful singing and some unobvious repertoire. I also enjoy digging out the Honegger and Bach already mentioned. Don't know the Finzi, so thanks to all for the tip - I have just ordered the Naxos disc, spurred on by having sung a short carol concert under HDW's direction only yesterday!

[makropulos]

Make that 5 votes - it's the congregational hymn-singing that makes it for me, gives me goose-bumps every time I listen

My favourite CD of carols is JEG's "Once as I remember" - wonderful singing and some unobvious repertoire. I also enjoy digging out the Honegger and Bach already mentioned. Don't know the Finzi, so thanks to all for the tip - I have just ordered the Naxos disc, spurred on by having sung a short carol concert under HDW's direction only yesterday!

Make it 6 votes, in fact. Along with the following all mentioned already:
Schütz Christmas Story
Bach Christmas Oratorio
Menotti Amahl
Honegger Christmas Cantata
Britten Ceremony of Carols

along with a few other things including:
Jan Jakub Ryba: Czech Christmas Mass (written in 1796 - I find it quite delightful)
Rheinberger: The Star of Bethlehem (lovely - especially the recording with Rita Streich and Fischer-Dieskau conducted by Robert Heger)
Elgar: Music for the Starlight Express (The First Nowell is not one of my favourite carols, but when it comes in at the end I find it a really lovely moment)

[Rolmill]

Jan Jakub Ryba: Czech Christmas Mass (written in 1796 - I find it quite delightful)

Ooh yes, forgot that little charmer, good choice.

Rheinberger: The Star of Bethlehem (lovely - especially the recording with Rita Streich and Fischer-Dieskau conducted by Robert Heger)

...and another one new to me, thanks for the steer. This has become an informative (albeit potentially expensive ) thread.

I would also put in a word for Malcolm Arnold's quirky but delightful Song of Simeon, though I only know of one recording (a BBC recording from the mid-60s featuring Forbes Robinson and a young Ian Partridge).

[makropulos]

Ooh yes, forgot that little charmer, good choice.



...and another one new to me, thanks for the steer. This has become an informative (albeit potentially expensive ) thread.

I would also put in a word for Malcolm Arnold's quirky but delightful Song of Simeon, though I only know of one recording (a BBC recording from the mid-60s featuring Forbes Robinson and a young Ian Partridge).

The whole of the Rheinberger performance with Streich and DF-D is on Spotify, so do try before you buy :)
As for Arnold's Song of Simeon I'm really glad you've mentioned that - I think I've only heard it once and I liked it very much. Now I'd better track down that recording.

[LeMartinPecheur]

I always look forward to playing Elizabeth Poston's Jesus Christ the Apple Tree from an old Kings College/ Willcocks carol anthology. No particular associations, have never sung it or IIRC heard it live - just the noise it makes!

[Rolmill]

The whole of the Rheinberger performance with Streich and DF-D is on Spotify, so do try before you buy :)
As for Arnold's Song of Simeon I'm really glad you've mentioned that - I think I've only heard it once and I liked it very much. Now I'd better track down that recording.

Thanks for the Rheinberger information, Makropulos, I'll give it a whirl on Spotify (which I've never used before).

I have the Arnold on a 2 CD compilation issed as a 75th birthday tribute (Sir Malcolm Arnold: The composer, the conductor) on BBC Radio Classics 15656 91817. A fascinating set, which includes several concertos (Viola, 2 violins, two pianos three hands, horn no.2) as well as two overtures, the Cornish Dances, fantasy for solo harp, five Blake songs - all conducted by Arnold himself. Just looked it up on Amazon - one used copy for £27 unfortunately! However, a 2nd hand copy is available here if you're quick: http://www.cds-unlimited.co.uk/ Can't find it anywhere else...

[Roehre]

Thanks for the Rheinberger information, Makropulos, I'll give it a whirl on Spotify (which I've never used before).

I have the Arnold on a 2 CD compilation issed as a 75th birthday tribute (Sir Malcolm Arnold: The composer, the conductor) on BBC Radio Classics 15656 91817. A fascinating set, which includes several concertos (Viola, 2 violins, two pianos three hands, horn no.2) as well as two overtures, the Cornish Dances, fantasy for solo harp, five Blake songs - all conducted by Arnold himself. Just looked it up on Amazon - one used copy for £27 unfortunately! However, a 2nd hand copy is available here if you're quick: http://www.cds-unlimited.co.uk/ Can't find it anywhere else...

I trade for over 15 years now with this little firm, David Schwartz is a lovely guy and very, very friendly and reliable.

[Mary Chambers]

I always look forward to playing Elizabeth Poston's Jesus Christ the Apple Tree from an old Kings College/ Willcocks carol anthology. No particular associations, have never sung it or IIRC heard it live - just the noise it makes!

I've sung it. Gorgeous piece, I agree.

[makropulos]

Thanks for the Rheinberger information, Makropulos, I'll give it a whirl on Spotify (which I've never used before).

I have the Arnold on a 2 CD compilation issed as a 75th birthday tribute (Sir Malcolm Arnold: The composer, the conductor) on BBC Radio Classics 15656 91817. A fascinating set, which includes several concertos (Viola, 2 violins, two pianos three hands, horn no.2) as well as two overtures, the Cornish Dances, fantasy for solo harp, five Blake songs - all conducted by Arnold himself. Just looked it up on Amazon - one used copy for £27 unfortunately! However, a 2nd hand copy is available here if you're quick: http://www.cds-unlimited.co.uk/ Can't find it anywhere else...

Thank you so much! In the hope that it is still available, I've just ordered it from cds-unlimited. I hope I got to it before anyone else...

[Karafan]

Go on, call me kitsch if you like, I don't care.....

Annaliese Rothenberger singt Weihnachtslieder

Christmas Wonderland - Ron Goodwin and his Orchestra*

(* a wonderful childhood LP which never made it to CD, but which my partner tracked down somewhere online as MP3 from the LP and I have now burned to disc).

DVD - Helmut Lotti A classic Christmas

Solti's DVD of Hänsel und Gretel with Gruberova and Fassbaender. Bliss!

Merry Christmas to all chums on this board!

Karafan

[Panjandrum]

There are two versions. One (the original) is for voices and strings, the other for voices and orchestra. Most recordings are of the first version, though at least Vernon Handley on Lyrita, and David Hill (Decca) used the orchestral version. I don't think there are any less-than-memorable recordings.

I'd second the recommendation for the Hill. Not only is the performance of In Terra Pax dazzling, but you get a whole lot more Finzi for your money, including rare repertoire.

[PatrickOD]

My favourite CD of carols is JEG's "Once as I remember" - wonderful singing and some unobvious repertoire.

I'd go along with that Rolmill - I like it even more this year. With the accompanying booklet it is a virtual Nativity Play, or at least a worthy 'Words and Music'. Coincidentally, I noticed that one of the carols, a truly noble little piece for choir with cor anglais obbligato - Entry of the Three Kings - was by John Gardiner. I had always assumed it was by JEG himself, but now I know better.

[vinteuil]

I've never warmed to the Praetorius Mass. I have the CD of Paul McCreesh and the Gabrielli Consort which I would be pleased to give away to anyone who would like to have it, if that can be arranged.

Patrick - so sorry to have missed your generous offer! - I was so persuaded by the strong advocacy of fellow Boarders for this work - which I don't know at all - that I had already gone ahead and ordered it...

Ah well. Happy Christmas!

[Serial_Apologist]

"Send him Praetorius
Happy and glorious!"