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Bailey's Bundles
It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year
C. Michael Bailey
...wants to know if Gene Harris is playing "Summertime" in Heaven...This is without question my cup of tea. Noels & Carols from the Olde World is a period instrument and performance offering from America's best new period-minded Baroque orchestras, Apollo's Fire (The Cleveland Baroque Orchestra), directed by the visionary Jeannette Sorrell. Miss Sorrell and her fine band perform the familiar and unfamiliar, again expanding the repertoire of Holiday Musics with the likes of Biber's Rosary Sonatas and the traditional Spanish "Rui, Rui Chiu." The older English tunes, " Sussex Carol," The Olde Year Now Away is Fled," and "I Saw Three Ships" are highlights for both the ensemble and soprano Sandra Simon, who joined the band for the vocal selections. This recording was previously independently released by Apollo's fire and has now been picked up by Koch Classical, who has recently released the fine Scarborough Fayre: Traditional tunes from the British Isles & the New World (KOCH KIC CD 7552) and Mozart Symphony No.35 in D, K.385 (Haffner), Symphony No. 41 in C, K.551 (Jupiter) & Overture to Don Giovanni (KOCH KIC CD 7574). We can only hope for more music like this.
Tracks: Il est né ¬e divin enfant (931KB, 0:59) Traditional French; Sussex Carol Traditional English; The Old Yeare Now Away is Fled Traditional English; Guillo, prends ton tambourin (instrumental) Traditional French; Noë¬ Nouvelet Traditional French; Sonate no. 2 in g minor (instrumental) G.P. Cima; Sonate no. 1 in d minor (instrumental) G.P. Cima; Sweet was the Song the Virgin Sang Traditional English; I Saw Three Ships (689KB, 0:44) Traditional English; Mystery Sonata no. 1 (instrumental) H.I.F. Biber; ?la venue de Noë¬ (instrumental) M.-A. Charpentier; Or nous dites, Marie (instrumental) M.-A. Charpentier; Tell Me, Some Pitying Angel! Henry Purcell; Vous qui d鳩rez sans fin (instrumental) M.-A. Charpentier; Joseph est bien marié ¨instrumental) M.-A. Charpentier; El Noi de la Mare Traditional Catalan; El Cant dels Ocells (instrumental) Traditional Catalan; Fum, fum, fum! (instrumental) Traditional Spanish; Entre le boeuf et l'⮥ gris Traditional French; Riu riu, chiu.
Mannerquartett Schnittpunktvokal
A Cappella Christmas—Traditional Christmas Carols from Southern Austria
(CPO Records)
This recording is hands down the best holiday disc to cross my desk. Mannerquartett Schnittpunkvokal is an a cappella quartet consisting of Paul Paumgarten—Countertenor; Christian Paumgarten—Tenor; Michael Paumgarten—Tenor, and Josef Wagner—Bass baritone. This quartet format will definitely make American listeners think of barbershop quartets, but nothing could be further from what Mannerquartett Schnittpunkvokal. The quartet specializes here in the Austrian folk tradition of harmony. The Christmas carol offers the perfect musical and cultural vehicle for holiday harmonic expression. The quartet effectively distills old Austrian melodies and presents them in an authentic Austrian manner that it is almost crystalline. Four voices offer a clarity that is at once warm and unique, like a toasty glass of gluwein.
Tracks: Hiatz Kimp A Wundeabare Ziet; Is Schon Still, Is Schon Kolt; Immert Amal' Wassogg Denn Da Wind; Tiaf Eine Is Wintar; Schean Still Fallt Da Schnea; Zund An Es Liacht; Liabs Christkindl Twa Wachsn, Es Bluhn Drei Rosen Auf Einem Zweig; Josef Und Mary; Vom Himmel Scheint A Liachter Schtean; Andachtsjolder; Schlaf; Mir Kummts Auf Da Welt Heut So Wundalat Vur; Krumpa Haxmartin; Wo Seind Den Heint Die Holtobaum; O Bruada, Schau Hin Was Muass Heunte Nacht Wahl Sein Gschehgn; Viertausent Jahr Verflossen Sind; Werst Mei Licht Ume Sein; Was Wird Uns Denn Bringen Das Neaue Jahr.
Elora Festival Singers, Noel Edison, Director
Arvo Part—Berliner Messe
(Naxos)
