Christmas with Sonos Handbell Ensemble

Editorial Reviews
Album Description
This best-selling title recreates all of your fondest memories of Christmas with the glorious sound of handbells. This seasonal favorite includes "Silent Night," "Sleigh Ride" and more - twenty selections of carols and Christmas favorites.

Tracks:

Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker: Dance Of The Sugarplum Fairy
Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker: Chinese Dance
Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker: Dance Of The Reedflutes
Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker: March
Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker: Danse Arabe
Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker: Trepak
Bach: Ave Maria
Bach: Goldberg: Aria
Bach: Magnificat: Esurientes
Bach: Suite No. 2: Badinerie
Vivaldi: Winter: middle movement
Mozart: Alleluia
Handel: The Messiah: Sinfonia Pastorale
Handel: The Messiah: Rejoice Greatly
Handel: The Messiah: He Shall Feed His Flock
Handel: The Messiah: How Beautiful Are The Feet Of Them
Handel: The Messiah: Hallelujah
Handel: The Messiah: I Know That My Redeemr Liveth

Album Description

The ultimate classical Christmas album featuring music from the Messiah, including the "Hallelujah" chorus on handbells, a suite from the Nutcracker, and some favorite classical pieces, all presented on flute and handbells for that special sound of the season.

Customer Reviews:

Wonderful Music.......2002-10-11

Whoever doesn't like this CD is crazy! Yes, there is a lot of flute (thank goodness). This flutist is the most talented I have ever heard in real life or in recordings. I actually met him, and his playing is even more captivating live! This CD (the only album he would let be recorded of himself) is worth ten times as much as the listed price.

Where are the handbells????.......2001-12-18

Having played the flute, i appreciate it. However, i did NOT buy a selection of music advertized as Hand Bell Ringing to be INUNDATED and OVERPOWERED by flute playing !!! Yes, it is classical, yes it is Seasonal, but in my opinion it crossed the line. It should have been titled Seasonal Flute Music with Hand Bells Every-So-Often in the Background, until you get to cut 17 of the 18 total !!!

SONOS Does It Again!.......2001-09-12

After a long wait, The Sonos Handbell Ensembles new album is finaly out, and it was worth waiting for. "A Very Classical Christmas" is all I have come to expect from Sonos, and then some. One again recorded in 24 bit HD digital @ Skywalker Sounds' Scoring stage, their incredible sound is captured for our holiday pleasure. Timothy Day's flute blends harmoniously and effortlessly with the bells. What more could you ask for, for your Handbell &/or Christmas collections than Tchaikovsky, Bach, Vivaldi, Motzart & Handel on one CD. You start to feel as if the bells were the instrument they originally wrote for.
Don't miss this rendition of the Hallelujah Chorus! If you think Handbells aren't musical, you haven't heard this!!!

Average customer rating:

The best Christmas Bells yet!
A nice departure
In my opinion
A smooth, relaxing Christmas album

Christmas with Sonos Handbell Ensemble

Manufacturer: Well-Tempered Produc
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Noels | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Movie Scores | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

Movie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

General Christmas | Holiday | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music

Classical Instrumental | Holiday | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music

Solo Instrumental | New Age | Styles | Music

General Christmas | Holiday Music | Special Features | Music

Classical Instrumental | Holiday Music | Special Features | Music
Similar Items:

Christmas Bells
Meredith Sonos Handbell Ensemble
A Very Classical Christmas
Carol of the Bells
Impressions of the Season

ASIN: B000003Y2Y
Release Date: 1995-08-24

Tracks:

Dance Of The Red Flutes
Bring A Torch, Jeanette, Isabella
Sleigh Ride
West Indies Carol
Christmas Tidings
Shepherd's Air
Fantasy On Carol Of The Bells
Austrian Carol
Veni Emmanuel
We Three Kings
Coventry Carol
Troika, Op. 60
Christmas Song
Two French Carols: 'Twas In The Moon Of Wintertime/Whence Comes This R ush Of Wings Afar!
Catalonian Carol
Silent Night
Panis Angelicus
White Christmas
Joseph Dear, Joseph Mine
Christmas Postcard

Album Description

This best-selling title recreates all of your fondest memories of Christmas with the glorious sound of handbells. This seasonal favorite includes "Silent Night," "Sleigh Ride" and more - twenty selections of carols and Christmas favorites.

Customer Reviews:

The best Christmas Bells yet!.......2001-06-09

I am so glad I have this wonderful CD of Christmas songs with bells. The bells are truly played as one instrument and you can really get into the Christmas spirit. It's so hard to record bells well, but they did it! I always tell my friends to BUY this CD to add to their Christmas music collection. In fact, I give the CDs away as gifts! A GREAT RECORDING!

A nice departure.......2001-06-08

While we all associate bells with Christmas, we think more of bells ringing wildly in their towers. And when we think of Christmas music, we think schmaltz. This album features a different kind of bells -- handbells -- and music that is anything but schmaltzy. As I listen to this beautiful, seamless music, I am in awe of the skills required to make it sound that way: a dozen people handling dozens of bells, sounding as one instrument. The musical selections are varied, the performance top-notch, and the experience of listening is marvelous. I do not hesitate to recommend this CD to any listener.

In my opinion.......2001-06-08

Sonos is very accomplished, yes, and they play what they do very well, but nothing really appealed to me as "exciting" bell music. I have nothing against classical music, but they need perhaps faster songs or something of that sort. Other than that, it was great!

A smooth, relaxing Christmas album.......2000-02-01

"Christmas with Sonos Handbell Ensemble" continues the tradition of excellent playing and fine engineering pioneered on Sonos' first disc. The repertoire runs the gamut, but leans toward the quiet, mellow carols and tunes, and the other instruments featured (flute & clarinet) are perfectly balanced and blended with the overall sound. The acoustic is marvelous, greatly benefitting from the superb room at George Lucas' Skywalker Ranch and audiophile-quality production.

Of special interest is the bluesy/gospel "Christmas Tidings" (Mary Had a Baby Boy/Go Tell It On the Mountain) with clarinet, the lovely "Panis Angelicus" with flute, and a quirky arrangement of "Carol of the Bells," which does not do what you expect! There's the ever-popular nutcracker, along with the Leroy Anderson's hit "Sleigh Ride." A moody "Veni Emmanuel" is paired with a mediaeval-sounding "God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen." There's even a little Prokofiev: the "Troika" (another kind of sleigh ride), from Lt. Kije.

This CD is great for parties and background music but can also be brought up and appreciated for its detail and finer qualities. A rare combination.

Music Review: