During the Holidays in 1997, I was on an extended business trip to San Francisco. My business kept me in the city until December 20th, so I had ample opportunity to experience Christmas Cheer, West Coast-style. On December 13th, the a cappella male vocal group Chanticleer was presenting their annual Christmas program at their spiritual home of St. Ignatius Church. I had previously purchased their most recent Christmas offering, We Sing Christmas prior to my trip and I wore the laser out playing it. I also already owned several other Chanticleer discs of early music and enjoyed them very much.

Jumping at the chance, I purchased tickets and attended the concert. With great anticipation, I waited and I was not disappointed. For the next two hours, I was entertained to the finest performance of any kind I had ever attended. The groups made their a cappella way through six centuries of music, from English and French Plainsongs to American Spirituals. The sonics in St. Ignatius's were perfect, crystalline, yet warm. It was then I decided that this is what Christmas was all about and that music was the only truly divinely inspired word.

The all-male vocal orchestra is touted as "the only full-time classical vocal ensemble in the United States. The group is composed of 12 male voices: 1 Bass, 2 Baritones, 3 Tenors, 3 Altos, and 3 sopranos. They have earned a reputation for its crystalline a cappella interpretations of everything from Renaissance Liturgical Music to Jazz Vocals. The group was named for the "clear singing" rooster in Chaucer's Canterbury Tales and was formed in 1978 by tenor Louis Botto, who sang with the group until 1989 and served as artistic director until his death in 1997. Countertenor Joseph Jennings took over as artistic director after Botto's death and has remained in that capacity.

Specialists in Renaissance Polyphony, Chanticleer have recorded several notable works of early music, which include the music of Byrd, Brumel, and Palestrina. The group has also concentrated on Mexican Baroque Music and Jazz, as well as world folk music. But perhaps the most popular of their many releases are their Christmas collections, which number five (depending on how one counts).

Chanticleer- Our Heart's Joy-A Chanticleer Christmas (Chanticleer Records 8803, 1990)

For their first Christmas recording, Chanticleer drew from several musical traditions, providing a very intelligent and entertaining sampler of world Yuletide music. The group spans six centuries from Jean Mouton's "Ave Maria" from 16th Century French to Joseph Jennings brilliant arrangement of American Spirituals. For those listeners who particularly like this latter section of the recording, let me recommend the groups collection of gospel and spirituals, Where The Sun Will Never Go Down (Teldec Classics 90878, 1994).

Chanticleer- Psallite! A Renaissance Christmas (Chanticleer Records 8806, 1991)

A year later, Chanticleer turned their attention to a theme recording that addressed Christmas Music of the Renaissance period. They again drew from several traditions. Represented are Germans Hieronymous and Michael Praetorius, Spaniards Josquin des Prez and Gerónimo Gonzáles, Englishmen William Byrd and John Taverner, and Italian Giovanni Maria Nanino. The most notable inclusion is "Benedicamus Domino" by 13th Century French composer Perotin, providing an early example of polyphonic departure from the Gregorian Chant.

Chanticleer- We Sing Christmas (Teldec Classics 94563, 1995)

To my ears, this is the most fully realized and executed of Chanticleer's Christmas discs. It opens with a breathtaking "Es ist ein Ros entsprungen," Michael Praetorius's treatment of the German Poem Gebetbüchlein des Frater Conradus published in that composer's collection Alte catholische geistliche Kirckengesänge. Also included are beautiful renderings of "O magnum mysterium" and four arrangements of "In dulci jubilo." Holst's "In The Bleak Midwinter" and Ives "A Christmas Carol" are perfectly captured as is the ubiquitous "Stille Nacht." If you can have only one, make it this one.

Chanticleer- Magnificat (Teldec Classics 81829, 2000)

While not strictly a seasonal musical piece, nevertheless Mary's Magnificat has been one of the most popular texts for choral music for centuries. Based on St. Luke's account (Luke 1:46-55) of the Blessed Virgin's response to God upon learning of her divine pregnancy, The Magnificat joyfully begins, "My Soul Magnifies the Lord…" Chanticleer chooses a series of settings for this scripture that do not represent the beaten path of the Bachs. Instead, they deftly survey the works of the Gregorian composers, Cornysh, Taverner, Monteverdi, Titov, and Palestrina. The results are spiritual and inspiring. A perfect foil to the standard seasonal fare.

Chanticleer- Christmas With Chanticleer (Teldec Classics 85555, 2001)

Released in October, Christmas With Chanticleer picks up where We Sing Christmas left off. This time the solo voice of Ms. Dawn Upshaw is added to the mix with stunning results. Concentrating on the more contemporary carols, Chanticleer and Ms. Upshaw provide wonderful readings of Vaughan Williams's "This is the Truth Sent From Above," John Tavener's "A Christmas Round" and Hugo Distler's take on "Es ist ein Ros entsprungen." The earliest piece is "Huron Carol" by St. Jean de Brebeuf (1593-1649). Superb in every way.