Favourite Christmas Music

[Petrushka]

I don't know if it has been mentioned, but I'd like to put in a word for Paul McCreesh's spectacular "Mass for Christmas Morning" by Praetorius on Archiv.

This isn't normally the kind of music I generally listen to but those Amazon reviews make me want to buy it right now. Too late for this Christmas but I'll make sure I get it for next year.

[Anna]

I don't know if it has been mentioned, but I'd like to put in a word for Paul McCreesh's spectacular "Mass for Christmas Morning" by Praetorius on Archiv.

Ditto here - the one cd that's always played in the morning. Everyone should have a copy!

Off topic I know but Ivan Hewitt has published his top 10 Christmas music, one of which I've never heard of: Victor Hely-Hutchinson's Carol Symphony. Also listed are Finzi's Terra Pax (as mentioned above) and Poulenc's Quam Vidistris Pastores? which I also don't know.

[Roehre]

Ditto here - the one cd that's always played in the morning. Everyone should have a copy!

Off topic I know but Ivan Hewitt has published his top 10 Christmas music, one of which I've never heard of: Victor Hely-Hutchinson's Carol Symphony. Also listed are Finzi's Terra Pax (as mentioned above) and Poulenc's Quam Vidistris Pastores? which I also don't know.

Victor Hely-Hutchinson's Carol Symphony (which I listened to yesterday) is a nice 4 mvt symphony literally completely based on carols, well composed and orchestrated, though its initial rhythmic figure pervades most of the music and might be a bit irritating. (H-H emigrated to South Africa, making him a one-piece-composer over here)
Poulenc's piece is one of of the 4 Motets pour le Temps de Noël, which I think you might know after all.

[jean]

...one of which I've never heard of: Victor Hely-Hutchinson's Carol Symphony...

Then you weren't listening to Children's Hour in the 1950s, and the magical adaptation of Masefield's The Box of Delights!

I believe they used it for the TV adaptation, too, many years later.

[Padraig]

Ditto here - the one cd that's always played in the morning. Everyone should have a copy!

Off topic I know but Ivan Hewitt has published his top 10 Christmas music, one of which I've never heard of: Victor Hely-Hutchinson's Carol Symphony. Also listed are Finzi's Terra Pax (as mentioned above) and Poulenc's Quam Vidistris Pastores? which I also don't know.

Anna, Hely-Hutchinson joins Mass for Christmas Morning in my list of 'can do withouts'. I have it. Do you want it?

[Anna]

Anna, Hely-Hutchinson joins Mass for Christmas Morning in my list of 'can do withouts'. I have it. Do you want it?

I've never heard of it - or indeed the composer - until I read Ivan Hewitt's list this morning Padraig!! I'll have a search and see if it can be sampled somewhere on line first, Roehre's review doesn't inspire .... and you certainly don't favour it!

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

I've never heard of it - or indeed the composer - until I read Ivan Hewitt's list this morning Padraig!! I'll have a search and see if it can be sampled somewhere on line first, Roehre's review doesn't inspire .... and you certainly don't favour it!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hCC-zjoiegE

[Anna]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hCC-zjoiegE

Crikey ferney - just 5 second in and I realise I do know it!! <doh> It always reminds me of a soundtrack from a 1940s Ealing Studios film.

So, Padraig, thank you so much for your kind offer - but no thanks!

[Padraig]

Crikey ferney - just 5 second in and I realise I do know it!! <doh> It always reminds me of a soundtrack from a 1940s Ealing Studios film.

So, Padraig, thank you so much for your kind offer - but no thanks!

You're welcome Anna.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x6rKCXKIeTQ

[MickyD]

Now here's a nice antidote to the sugariness of the Hely-Hutchinson...Bax's 'Christmas Eve' Symphonic poem, which I had never heard until today.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ImryXGeEEz4

[MickyD]

This offering from Rimsky-Korsakov is rather pleasant, too...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0vFOax7ZeU

[teamsaint]

Been enjoying Lutoslawski's 20 Polish Carols this year.
They have a lovely seasonal feel.

There are some on youtube, and the full set are no doubt available in the Naxos library

[pastoralguy]

Been enjoying Lutoslawski's 20 Polish Carols this year.
They have a lovely seasonal feel.

There are some on youtube, and the full set are no doubt available in the Naxos library

I have that cd too and have enjoyed it. I must dig it out today.

[EdgeleyRob]

Aw don't be too harsh on Hely-Hutchinson's Carol Symphony,it's nice.

[Roehre]

Aw don't be too harsh on Hely-Hutchinson's Carol Symphony,it's nice.

It is (even including my caveat)