Voices of Angels

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
To the Hildegard canon we must enthusiastically add this first-class recording, an absorbing collection of chants that highlights the exceptional work of the legendary Abbess. Beginning with a lengthy solo hymn of praise to Mary, the program features some of Hildegard's most beautiful melodies and most compelling poetry. Included are hymns to the martyr St. Ursula, an eloquent tribute to the Holy Spirit, and a song about Eve, the "woman who brought sin to the world," contrasted with Mary, "the woman who brought healing." Performances by the women of the critically acclaimed Voices of Ascension choir are notable for their purity of tone, unity of phrasing and intonation, and sensitivity to even the most subtle inflection and dynamic shadings. --David Vernier

Voices of Angels, Music, Hildegard of Bingen, Voices of Ascension Chorus & Orchestra, Alessandra Visconti, Kathy Theil, Michele A. Eaton, Choral, Choral Music, Classical, Classical Collections-Composer Desc., Classical Music, Early Music / Chant, Hymn, Miscellaneous, Sacred Choral Music
Praise to the Lord - Hymns From St. Paul's Cathedral
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • a voice teacher and early music fan
  • Hymns for every one
  • Super Praise!
 Praise to the Lord - Hymns From St. Paul's Cathedral

Manufacturer: Hyperion UK
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:
  1. The Music of St. Paul's Cathedral
  2. Hymns Triumphant 1 & 2
  3. Be Still My Soul: The Ultimate Hymns Collection
  4. Abide With Me
  5. Hymns Through the Centuries

ASIN: B00002EIUG
Release Date: 1999-10-12

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars a voice teacher and early music fan.......2007-02-09

'The HYMN-a word derived from the Greek 'hymnos'-has been defined as 'a term of unknown origin applied from ancient times to a wide variety of songs in honor of gods, heroes or notable men.'
The founder of English hymnody is Isaac Watts (1674-1748), whose work in reforming congregational song texts culminated in the publication of his 'Hymns and Spiritual Songs' in 1707. Watts' collection was as complete and comprehensive a set of hymns as had ever been proposed for English worship and it raised the profile of the hymn sufficiently to overcome the prevailing psalmody. The great flowering period of English hymnody began with the work of the Methodist hymn-writers John Wesley (1703-1791) and his brother Charles (1707-1788). The Wesleys gave great prominence to hymns within their Methodist worship and published many books.
The modern hymn book is a collection of hymns drawn from various times and places. This most accomplished recording by St. Paul's Cathedral Choir presents 16 well-loved hymns from 'The New English Hymnal'. A great number of the hymns, which originate from many different eras and traditions, are given an extra musical dimension by John Scott's original descants and thrilling brass arrangements.
Over the years, I have found myself purchasing mostly the recordings of English choirs. They seem to have incredible vocal skills, perfectly executed phrases, flawless diction and some unidentifiable ingredient that makes them very appealing to hear. Of course, I personally enjoy the all male choirs sound; boy sopranos and male altos make the difference. This is a very appealing group of hymns!!!!!

5 out of 5 stars Hymns for every one.......2002-12-01

As I have said already..I am from espiscopal church..these my songs are well know by me...these songs give encouragement when it seems that all hope is lost..these are tunes that are well received....they are also very simple for the every day person to gain strength from day to day..they will become your daily prayer.....

5 out of 5 stars Super Praise!.......2000-06-10

Praise The Lord offers the listener traditional hymns in the English/British tradition. the clarity of the voices make it possible for the listener to follow the words distinctly. The organ soars as accompaniment. the CD provides organ and choral quality for the novice and the experienced musician.
Black Angels
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • Kronos Quartet Black Angels
  • An excellent idea...not the best performances though
  • Ups and downs
  • Not for everybody
  • scary stuff
 Black Angels
George Crumb , Thomas Tallis , Istvan Marta , Charles Ives , Dmitry Shostakovich , Hank Dutt , David Harrington , Joan Jeanrenaud , John Sherba , and Kronos Quartet
Manufacturer: Nonesuch
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:
  1. Crumb: Ancient Voices Of Children
  2. Kronos Quartet : Winter Was Hard
  3. Early Music (Lachrymae Antiquae)
  4. Reich: Different Trains, Electric Counterpoint / Kronos Quartet, Pat Metheny
  5. Pieces of Africa

ASIN: B000005J0D
Release Date: 1990-06-21

Tracks:

  1. Black Angels: I. Departure
  2. Black Angels: II. Absence
  3. Black Angels: III. Return
  4. Spem In Alium (Sing And Glorify)
  5. Doom. A Sigh
  6. They Are There!
  7. Quartet No. 8: I. Largo
  8. Quartet No. 8: II. Allegro Molto
  9. Quartet No. 8: III. Allegretto
  10. Quartet No. 8: IV. Largo
  11. Quartet No. 8: V. Largo

Amazon.com essential recording

The title to Kronos's most bleak album comes from a nearly 20- minute-long composition by American composer George Crumb that unfolds over 13 distinct parts. That ominous number only hints at the horror Crumb intended as an ode to the Vietnam War. War informs the whole CD: Shostakovich's Quartet No. 8, composed near the height of the Cold War, in 1960, was dedicated "to the victims of fascism and war." "Doom. A Sigh," by Istvan Marta, incorporates field recordings of two Romanian women singing personal laments of fallen friends and relatives; their grief is so intense as to render listening incredibly difficult. The original text to 16th-century composer Thomas Tallis's "Spem in Alium" (originally a 40-voice motet) recalled a biblical battle. And late American composer Charles Ives is heard singing (yes, singing) "They Are There!"--a ditty he wrote during the Great War and revisited for World War II; he's joined here by the Kronos, half a century after his death, in an act of studio magic that is ingenious if not musically stimulating. --Marc Weidenbaum

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Kronos Quartet Black Angels.......2007-05-17

This is music to think by as it engages the intellect.

Black Angels has a menace which invites ideas and images into your mind.It will make you a little uncomfortable, but it will remain within you.

Doom.A Sigh has a remarkarble story behind it and invokes an emotional response because the recorded voices carry echoes of something lost. It works a strange magic,drawing you in and giving a glimpse of a forgotten world that perhaps still exists within all of us, somewhere.

The Shostakovich quartet ends this CD as Black Angels began it,completing a cycle, and you will be brought back to the point at which you started your journey but with a sense of something profound having occurred.

This is a CD that will become part of who you are and the only question you need ask yourself is, are you brave enough to listen?

4 out of 5 stars An excellent idea...not the best performances though.......2007-04-04

Kronos' selections are excellent, if a bit eccentric, although I am less excited by the Tallis and Ives...arrangements. How well the main pieces are done is another matter, one being decent, the other somewhat lacking.

Black Angels is a very exciting piece, as well as dark and disturbing. However I've played it, so it doesn't disturb me as much. Kronos is a bit fast sometimes, which can be a slight problem since the numerology is highly significant in this work. Pulling this piece off is not easy, as I can attest to. They do pretty well with it, but there is some "cheating" going on, as the DVD version reveals.

One of the most interesting effects in the piece is the "consort of viols" sections, images 6 and 8, which are trios in which each player plays behind his/her left hand--basically turning the whole technique of bowing and fingering upside down. This is difficult to do, however it is not actually very hard if you practice it for a few minutes. I find it strange that Kronos actually does away with this amazing effect and plays it with normal technique using heavy practice mutes--no big deal for most listeners, but it does alter the sound. So, Kronos doesn't stick to the score completely.

Anyway, the Shostakovich is the performance that is lacking. I like the Fitzwilliam cycle best, and their 8th is excellent, so you might get that one. If you don't mind the odd noises and variable sound the Borodin cycle is good too, but it is harder and harder to find, which is very sad indeed.

3 out of 5 stars Ups and downs.......2007-01-29

I'm amazed that not one of the preceding reviewers mentioned the Brodsky recording of the Crumb, and only two of them seemed to know about the Concord, who were, I believe, the first to record it. The Brodsky is sharp, clean, accurate. The Kronos is none of these. Their performance is fast and sloppy. If you want to hear all the details you have to listen to the Concord or the Brodsky. (I've not heard the Cikada or the new Mode disc with members of the Carnegie Mellon Philharmonic.) The Brodsky is a more exciting performance and a better recording than the Concord, plus they couple the Crumb with the Schubert 14th, which makes that famous cameo in "Dark Angels."

That does not mean you shouldn't have this disc. I've heard many recordings of Shostakovich's music, the reverent "we're playing music by the great Soviet composer," the long-faced "we're playing music by a tortured soul," and the vastly superior "we're playing music." I'd put this Kronos performance in the latter category. Ironically, I like it because it's faster than most (and a little bit sloppy). Not so sloppy that details are blurred, though, and fast here means the piece is never allowed to get lugubrious, which too many performances of his music definitely are. (So many people seem unable to listen to music without thinking about nonmusical things, like politics or the composer's putative feelings, and so many performers of Shostakovich seem happy to accomodate them.)

I don't know of any other performance of the eighth that makes the quotations so clear, either. Shostakovich threw in references to several of his own pieces in this quartet, the first and fifth symphonies, the first cello concerto, and most deliciously, the second trio. Kronos plays the quotes from the trio better than anyone else I've heard.

4 out of 5 stars Not for everybody.......2005-05-27

This is probably one of the least accessible Kronos albums I own, largely because of the Crumb piece. Personally, I consider it taxing but nonetheless worthwhile, but even devoted followers of the Kronos Quartet are likely to be turned off by the strident nature of the piece.

The only other piece worth noting is the Marta composition, which has a strange otherworldly quality to it. All I can say about the Tallis "Spem In Alium" is that you would be much better served by listening to the original vocal arrangement. Kronos' version is simply rather boring by comparison. Likewise, Kronos' interpretation of the well-known Shostakovich 8th quartet reveals that while they are at the forefront of modern music (commissioning new works regularly), when it comes the standard repertoire oftentimes they simply do not measure up. There are more recordings than I can count of the Shostakovich 8th that are far superior --- take your pick.

This is an album with as many misses as hits, and the hits are not exactly the most accessible music Kronos has recorded. Echoing another reviewer, it might be worth listening to this before purchasing it.

5 out of 5 stars scary stuff.......2005-03-03

I listened to this piece, Black Angels, and it definitely gave me the creeps. My wife begged me to take it off; I didn't, due to my morbid fascination. In retrospect, what was even creepier was the fact that I just spontaneously played it for the 1st and only time on the night of Sept. 10, 2001 . Coincidence? It's as if something inside of me had a premonition of the true horror of the following morning. Is this possible?
100 Hymns & Songs of Inspiration
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • The picture
 100 Hymns & Songs of Inspiration

Manufacturer: Castle Music UK
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:
  1. A Heritage of Hymns: Classic Recordings of the Great Songs of Faith and Inspiration
  2. Abide with Me and other favourite hymns
  3. Best Loved Hymns
  4. Praise to the Lord - Hymns From St. Paul's Cathedral
  5. Hymns Triumphant 1 & 2

ASIN: B00008GEKT
Release Date: 2003-04-14

Tracks:

  1. Love Divine All Loves Excelling - Choir Of Gloucester Cathedral
  2. Father Hear the Prayer We Offer - Choir Of Gloucester Cathedral
  3. Now Thank We All Our God - Choir Of Gloucester Cathedral
  4. This Day, The First of Days - Choir Of Gloucester Cathedral
  5. Stars of the Morning So Gloriously Bright - Choir Of Gloucester Cathedral
  6. God Save the Queen - Choir Of Gloucester Cathedral
  7. Day of Resurrection - Choir Of Gloucester Cathedral
  8. God Rest You Merry Gentlemen - Choir Of Gloucester Cathedral
  9. Of the Father's Heart Begotten - Choir Of Gloucester Cathedral
  10. O Come All Ye Faithful - Choir Of Gloucester Cathedral
  11. Awake My Soul and With the Sun - Choir Of Norwich Cathedral
  12. Thine Arm O Lord in Days of Old - Choir Of Norwich Cathedral
  13. All People That on Earth Do Dwell - Choir Of Norwich Cathedral
  14. Good Christian Men Rejoice and Sing - Choir Of Norwich Cathedral
  15. There Is a Green Hill - Choir Of Norwich Cathedral
  16. Lord of Beauty - Choir Of Sheffield Cathedral
  17. Rejoice Today With One Accord - Choir Of Sheffield Cathedral
  18. New Every Morning - Choir Of Sheffield Cathedral
  19. Lead Us Heavenly Father Lead Us - Choir Of Sheffield Cathedral
  20. O God Our Help in Ages Past - Choir Of Sheffield Cathedral

Tracks:

  1. Morning Has Broken - Choir Of Marlborough College Chapel
  2. Happy Are They - Choir Of Marlborough College Chapel
  3. In Christ There Is No East or West - Choir Of Marlborough College Chapel
  4. Silent Night - Choir Of Marlborough College Chapel
  5. Be Thou My Guardian - Choir Of Marlborough College Chapel
  6. Ye Servants of the Lord - Choir Of Marlborough College Chapel
  7. At the Name of Jesus Every Knee Shall Bow - Choir Of Marlborough College Chapel
  8. To Thee O Lord Our Hearts We Raise - Choir Of Marlborough College Chapel
  9. Behold the Great Creator Makes - Choir Of Marlborough College Chapel
  10. Rejoice the Lord Is King - Choir Of Marlborough College Chapel
  11. Creator of the Stars of Night - Ely Cathedral Choir
  12. He Comes With Clouds Descending - Ely Cathedral Choir
  13. O Little Town of Bethlehem - Ely Cathedral Choir
  14. Alleluya Alleyluya Alleyluya - Ely Cathedral Choir
  15. This Is the Day the Lord Hath Made - Ely Cathedral Choir
  16. How Sweet the Name of Jesus Sounds - Ely Cathedral Choir
  17. Lord Thy Word Abideth - Ely Cathedral Choir
  18. Jesus Lord We Look to Thee - Ely Cathedral Choir
  19. O Lord Our God Arise - Ely Cathedral Choir
  20. Lord of All Hopefulness - Ely Cathedral Choir

Tracks:

  1. Soldiers of Christ Arise - Choir Of Wakefield Cathedral
  2. Lift Up Your Hearts - Choir Of Wakefield Cathedral
  3. Holy Father, Cheer Our Way - Choir Of Wakefield Cathedral
  4. Maker of the Sun - Choir Of Wakefield Cathedral
  5. O King Most High - Choir Of Wakefield Cathedral
  6. O Praise Our Great and Glorious Lord - Choir Of Wakefield Cathedral
  7. Forgive Our Sins as We Forgive - Choir Of Wakefield Cathedral
  8. We Love the Place O God - Choir Of Wakefield Cathedral
  9. Let Us With a Gladsome Mind - Choir Of Wakefield Cathedral
  10. Give Rest O Christ - Choir Of Wakefield Cathedral
  11. Come Holy Ghost Our Hearts Inspire - Choir Of Truro Cathedral
  12. O Thou in All Thy Might So Far - Choir Of Truro Cathedral
  13. O Christ, Who Art the Light and Day - Choir Of Truro Cathedral
  14. O God Thy Soldiers' Crown and Guard - Choir Of Truro Cathedral
  15. Strife Is O'er the Battle Done - Choir Of Truro Cathedral
  16. O Christ Our Hope, Our Hearts' Desire - Choir Of Truro Cathedral
  17. Jesus Shall Reign - Choir Of Truro Cathedral
  18. God of Love My Shepherd Is - Choir Of Truro Cathedral
  19. O Jesu Saviour of Mankind - Choir Of Truro Cathedral
  20. Immortal Invisible God Only Wise - Choir Of Truro Cathedral

Tracks:

  1. Ride on Ride on in Majesty - Choir Of All Saints - Margaret Street, London
  2. All Glory Laud and Honour - Choir Of All Saints - Margaret Street, London
  3. Come Rejoicing - Choir Of All Saints - Margaret Street, London
  4. God Is Love and Where True Love Is - Choir Of All Saints - Margaret Street, London
  5. Magnificat: The Great Advent Antiphons - Choir Of All Saints - Margaret Street, London
  6. Come, Christ's Beloved - Choir Of All Saints - Margaret Street, London
  7. Children of the Hebrews (Palm Procession) - Choir Of All Saints - Margaret Street, London
  8. Veneration of the Cross/The Reproaches (Veneratum and Reproaches) - Choir Of All Saints - Margaret Street, London
  9. Once in Royal David's City - Choir Of Keble College
  10. God Be in My Head - Choir Of Keble College
  11. O Thou Who Camest from Above - Choir Of Keble College
  12. Judge Eternal Throned in Splendour - Choir Of St Edmunsbury Cathedral
  13. Christ the Lord Is Risen Again - Choir Of St Edmunsbury Cathedral
  14. For All the Saints - Choir Of St Edmunsbury Cathedral
  15. Thy Hand O God Has Guided - Choir Of St Edmunsbury Cathedral
  16. Christ the Dawn of Our Salvation - Choir Of Eastbourne College Chapel
  17. I Was Glad - Choir Of Eastbourne College Chapel
  18. Dear Lord and Father of Mankind - Choir Of Eastbourne College Chapel
  19. Locus Iste - Choir Of Eastbourne College Chapel
  20. Praise My Soul the King of Heaven - Choir Of Eastbourne College Chapel

Tracks:

  1. Stand Up! Stand Up for Jesus! - The Choir of the Abbey School, Tewkesbury
  2. While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks - The Choir of the Abbey School, Tewkesbury
  3. O Worship the King - The Choir of the Abbey School, Tewkesbury
  4. O Heavenly Word of God on High - Choir Of The Collegiate Church Of St Mary
  5. Praise to the Lord, The Almighty - Choir Of The Collegiate Church Of St Mary
  6. Jesus Christ Is Risen Today - The Choir of York Minister
  7. First Nowell - The Choir of York Minister
  8. Abide with Me - The Choir of York Minister
  9. Breathe on Me Breath of God - Choir Of Keble College
  10. Rock of Ages - Choir Of Keble College
  11. On This Day, The First of Days - Choir Of Keble College
  12. Jesu Sweet and Mary - Choir Of Eastbourne College Chapel
  13. O Quam Gloriosum - Choir Of Eastbourne College Chapel
  14. Ye Holy Angels Bright - Choir Of Eastbourne College Chapel
  15. O for a Closer Walk With God - Choir Of Eastbourne College Chapel
  16. Prayer of St Patrick - Choir Of Eastbourne College Chapel
  17. Lord's Prayer - Choir Of Eastbourne College Chapel
  18. Blessed Be the God and Father - Choir Of Eastbourne College Chapel
  19. Day Thou Gavest Lord Is Ended - Choir Of Eastbourne College Chapel
  20. Jerusalem (And Did Those Feet in Ancient Times) - Choir Of Eastbourne College Chapel

Album Description

Full Title - 100 Hymns & Songs Of Inspiration. UK box-set featuring 100 tracks performed by Britain's finest Cathedral Choirs including, Gloucester Cathedral, Norwich Cathedral, Sheffield Cathedral, & many more. Five standard jewel cases housed in a slipbox. Castle Pulse. 2003.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars The picture.......2006-12-11

I haven't purchased the CD but the picture of the inside of a church on the cover is not of a British church, like one would assume since it says its a recording of British choirs. This picture is of Notre Dame Basilica in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Just thought i'd let you know. I'll be honest; I'm one to judge things by it's cover and if the company took such care to choose a 'British' church for their British choir CD, I'm willing to bet the music is equally well selected... I'm being sarcastic. But I gave the product 5 stars because I didn't want to hurt its ratings just because i'm cynical. But check out the church if you're ever in Montreal, it's truly beautiful... here I'm not being sarcastic.
A Robert Shaw Christmas - Angels on High
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Beautiful
  • Robert Shaw Chorale
  • a perfect Ceremony of Carols!
  • Brilliant compilation
  • Didn't care for it that much
 A Robert Shaw Christmas - Angels on High

Manufacturer: Telarc
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:
  1. Songs of Angels - Christmas Hymns and Carols
  2. A Festival Of Carols / Robert Shaw Chorale
  3. The Many Moods of Christmas (1963 RCA Victor Version) Robert Shaw Chorale and Orchestra
  4. Carols from Trinity
  5. O Come All Ye Faithful: Christmas Carols at King's College, Cambridge

ASIN: B000003D2M
Release Date: 1997-09-23

Tracks:

  1. O Come, Emmanuel
  2. Alleluia
  3. The First Nowell
  4. The Carol Of The Birds
  5. Allon, Gay Bergeres
  6. A Hymn To The Virgin
  7. O Magnum Mysterium
  8. Christmas Oratorio: Rejoice And Sing
  9. Ave Maria
  10. What Is This Lovely Fragrance?
  11. Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming
  12. Sing Lullaby
  13. While By My Sheep
  14. Christmas Oratorio: Break Forth, O Wondrous Heavenly Light
  15. Heavenly Light
  16. Adeste Fideles
  17. Ceremony Of Carols: Procession - Hodie Christus Natus Est
  18. Ceremony Of Carols: Wolcum Yole!
  19. Ceremony Of Carols: There Is No Rose
  20. Ceremony Of Carols: That Yonge Child
  21. Ceremony Of Carols: Balulalow
  22. Ceremony Of Carols: As Dew In Aprille
  23. Ceremony Of Carols: This Little Babe
  24. Interlude (Harp Solo)
  25. Ceremony Of Carols: In Freezing Winter Night
  26. Ceremony Of Carols: Spring Carol
  27. Ceremony Of Carols: Deo Gracias
  28. Ceremony Of Carols: Recession: Hodie Christus Natus Est

Amazon.com

In this beautifully chosen program of mostly a cappella arrangements, Robert Shaw and the Robert Shaw Chamber Singers deliver the Christmas story in tones of gentle and moving splendor. The carols and sacred settings recorded here are all of an intimate sort, and the rapturous, gently expressive realizations Shaw and his singers give them prove unfailingly appealing. Particularly moving is the newest work on the disc, a setting of "O magnum mysterium" by the American composer Morten Lauridsen. Franz Biebl's "Ave Maria" is another gem, as is the arrangement by Healy Willan of the French carol "What Is This Lovely Fragrance?" The offering includes a pair of chorales from Bach's Christmas Oratorio and two wonderful Christmas works by Benjamin Britten: "A Hymn to the Virgin" and A Ceremony of Carols, both well done, even if the sound of sopranos and altos (rather than boy trebles) in the latter takes some getting used to. --Ted Libbey

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars Beautiful.......2007-02-16

The music is beautiful of course. The Robert Shaw Chorale is a high quality group of singers, and the arrangements they sing are really nice. Because of the age of the recording today's standards of equpment and tonal quality simply weren't available but the upgrade from analog vinyl was well-done. I shall look for more of these.

5 out of 5 stars Robert Shaw Chorale.......2007-01-10

This is an excellent ablum. The music is lovely and quite varied. While there are many of the familiar favorites, there are also many new and different songs and the whole CD is a delight to listen to.

5 out of 5 stars a perfect Ceremony of Carols!.......2005-12-22

This is the finest recording of Britten's A Ceremony of Carols I've ever come across, and there are plenty of versions to choose from. The King's College Choir rendition suffers from overstuffed acoustics, a constant with that choir, and their recording of Ceremony of Carols falls short in the requisite rhythmic clarity and intensity. The Christ Church, Oxford version is plodding, and lacks sparkle. Harry Christopher's The Sixteen come close, with marvelous sonics and ecstatic diction, but fall apart in the exacting 'This Little Babe' round with uneven cohesion, and strange stressed notes that ruin the waterfall effect so felicitously construed by Britten. I've not heard Britten's own conducted version, but he scrupulously insisted on boy trebles, and it's difficult if not impossible to conjure a more perfect rendering than the one given here by Shaw and his Chamber Singers. 'This Little Babe' is incomparable in each and all of its rapid fire contours, which is no mean feat. Mezzo-soprano Nanette Soles deserves special mention for incandescent singing on 'That Younge Child". The luminous pacing of 'There is no rose of such virtue' is notable, and to his credit Shaw employs the ecclesiastical pronunciation of the various Latin passages, unlike The Sixteen (and most other English choir recordings of this piece) who insist on an idiomatic British pronunciation of Latin, which offers nothing but distraction. Some will prefer boy treble singers, an attractive option, but for high musical values and the art they inevitably enshrine, it's impossible to be disappointed with this profoundly wrought version of Ceremony of Carols. Bach's 'Break Forth, O beauteous heavenly light' is just right, and I'd not heard 'Heavenly Light' by Aleksandr Kopylov; both are favorable additions to an excellent recording. Recommended.

5 out of 5 stars Brilliant compilation.......2005-03-16

This is an absolutely outstanding collection of carols - some of them well-known, some of them obscure. As a choral singer, I've had the pleasure of singing many of these pieces, and I was delighted when I found them all in one place, and done by an ensemble so accomplished as the Robert Shaw Chamber Singers! It just isn't Christmas for me without this recording.

2 out of 5 stars Didn't care for it that much.......2004-12-27

I prefer to hear the voices and the words of the carols, and this one has too much other sound (maybe even the use of massed voices); I have a hard time hearing what they are singing.
Angels Hide Their Faces: Dawn Upshaw Sings Bach and Purcell
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • Beautiful, fervent Bach, but the Purcell songs are a bit prettified
  • Now that the Sun hath veil'd his light.....
  • Picky reviewers
  • hark ! how well the lady sings
 Angels Hide Their Faces: Dawn Upshaw Sings Bach and Purcell

Manufacturer: Nonesuch
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:
  1. Voices of Light
  2. Forgotten Songs: Dawn Upshaw Sings Debussy
  3. I Wish It So
  4. Dawn Upshaw Sings Rodgers & Hart
  5. Girl with Orange Lips

ASIN: B000059LXH
Release Date: 2001-03-27

Tracks:

  1. Music For A While - Dawn Upshaw/Myron Lutzke/Arthur Haas
  2. I Attempt From Love's Sickness To Fly - Dawn Upshaw/Myron Lutzke/Arthur Haas
  3. Ah! How Sweet It Is To Love - Dawn Upshaw/Myron Lutzke/Arthur Haas
  4. Lord, What Is Man - Dawn Upshaw/Myron Lutzke/Arthur Haas
  5. Hark! How All Things - Dawn Upshaw/Myron Lutzke/Arthur Haas
  6. Cantata BWV 199: Mein Herze Schwimmt Im Blut: Recitativo - Dawn Upshaw/Krista Bennion Feeney/Linda Quan/Lois Martin/Myron Lutzke/John Feeney/Peggy Pearson...
  7. Cantata BWV 199: Mein Herze Schwimmt Im Blut: Aria - Dawn Upshaw/Krista Bennion Feeney/Linda Quan/Lois Martin/Myron Lutzke/John Feeney/Peggy Pearson...
  8. Cantata BWV 199: Mein Herze Schwimmt Im Blut: Recitativo - Dawn Upshaw/Krista Bennion Feeney/Linda Quan/Lois Martin/Myron Lutzke/John Feeney/Peggy Pearson...
  9. Cantata BWV 199: Mein Herze Schwimmt Im Blut: Aria - Dawn Upshaw/Krista Bennion Feeney/Linda Quan/Lois Martin/Myron Lutzke/John Feeney/Peggy Pearson...
  10. Cantata BWV 199: Mein Herze Schwimmt Im Blut: Recitativo - Dawn Upshaw/Krista Bennion Feeney/Linda Quan/Lois Martin/Myron Lutzke/John Feeney/Peggy Pearson...
  11. Cantata BWV 199: Mein Herze Schwimmt Im Blut: Chorale - Dawn Upshaw/Krista Bennion Feeney/Linda Quan/Lois Martin/Myron Lutzke/John Feeney/Peggy Pearson...
  12. Cantata BWV 199: Mein Herze Schwimmt Im Blut: Recitativo - Dawn Upshaw/Krista Bennion Feeney/Linda Quan/Lois Martin/Myron Lutzke/John Feeney/Peggy Pearson...
  13. Cantata BWV 199: Mein Herze Schwimmt Im Blut: Aria - Dawn Upshaw/Krista Bennion Feeney/Linda Quan/Lois Martin/Myron Lutzke/John Feeney/Peggy Pearson...
  14. If Music Be The Food Of Love - Dawn Upshaw/Myron Lutzke/Arthur Haas
  15. The Blessed Virgin's Expostulation - Dawn Upshaw/Myron Lutzke/Arthur Haas
  16. An Evening Hymn - Dawn Upshaw/Myron Lutzke/Arthur Haas

Amazon.com

Soprano Dawn Upshaw's programs are always interesting, and this one's a beauty: one of Bach's most heartfelt cantatas flanked by songs and arias of Purcell. For the most part, she's in excellent voice, but with the tics that make some demur from enthusiasm: occasional swooping, thinning of the voice in the upper regions, lapses into a "Broadway" type of vocalism, and diction problems. The latter, oddly enough, are as present in Purcell's English as in Bach's German, as in the way Upshaw lands heavily on the r with a broad American accent rather than the lightly rolled r we're used to in performances of period English music. There's also some broad word-painting in the Bach, whose text, charting the soul's journey from sin to redemption, really needs no extra emoting. That said, Upshaw's fans will love this disc, and even those who prefer a different approach will enjoy it. Accompaniments are excellent: a continuo team in the Purcell, a small chamber group in the Bach. Outstanding sonics, too. --Dan Davis

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars Beautiful, fervent Bach, but the Purcell songs are a bit prettified.......2006-08-24

Amazon's reviewer seems to have zoned out on how Dawn Upshaw pronounces words, missing most of the musical value here. Her singing of the Bach cantata, 'Mein Herze schwimmt in Blut,' is very moving. She is deeply involved, and her voice extracts the deep reverence and religious passion that makes this music so great. I'm not as convinced by the Purcell songs, however. Upshaw has chosen some of the most famous, and set against great singers like Battle, Baker, and Ferrier, her rendiitons seem a little shallow and prettified. She's considerably more tuned in to Bach, which is good enough to make this a memorable CD, if not her very best. Things would be much improved if the conducting by the (totally uncredited) conductor weren't so limp.

5 out of 5 stars Now that the Sun hath veil'd his light............2001-08-04

Some say angels are God's messangers. When angels communicate, surely they sound like Dawn Upshaw. Upshaw's beautiful soprano voice rises to the stars and floats back again as she sings the beautiful collection of arias and cantatas by Purcell and Bach contained in ANGELS HIDE THEIR FACES.

Shaw's interpretation of Purcell's 'How sweet it is to love' reminds me of the elation I first felt on realizing love exists. 'Lord what is a man' brings one back to earth with a lamentation about human frailty and the finiteness of human existence. "Rejoice, rejoice" sings the angel in 'Hark! How all things' with lyrics from 'The Fairy Queen' -- a text by E. Settle after Shakespeare's 'A Midsummer Night's Dream.'

Bach's cantatas fill the air as Upshaw sings arias in German (interpretations are provided in the text accompanying the CD). J.S. Bach's songs are clearly and beautifully articulated by Upshaw while in the backgound various wind and string instruments accompany her vocalizations. Many of Upshaw's vocalizations by Bach in German as well as the instrumentation (including viol consort) remind me of the arias from 'The Messiah' -- majestic albeit on a very human scale. For example, Aria #9 by Bach is comparable to "He shall lead his flock.." (although the latter was written for an alto voice).

The music in English by Purcell is a bit lighter. My favorite piece is 'An evening hymn' by Purcell which I would expect to hear near dusk in an English chapel. However, ANGELS HIDE THEIR FACES contains music you can play year round at any time of day.

5 out of 5 stars Picky reviewers.......2001-05-31

I've got a degree in musicology ( and am fluent in German as well), and for a while after total immersion in graduate school, found my listening enjoyment frustrated by the same pickiness that hampers your reviewer. Fortunately, that passed, and I'm now able to simply appreciate Dawn Upshaw's performance of the music we hear all too seldom. I hope that others will be able to participate in Upshaw's interpretation of the poetry behind the music, to think about the theological role of angels (not just pretty faces and feathery wings), to love this wonderful recording. We are indeed blessed that technology allows us to experience such music, such an artist.

5 out of 5 stars hark ! how well the lady sings.......2001-05-31

This is one of those little gems that becomes more appealing with each hearing. The Purcell pieces are sweet and lovely, but the Bach ! This Cantata is the glory of this CD. It's verses are of the deepest sorrow and repentance, woeful utterances for God's forgiveness, until the final aria, "How joyful is my heart since God is appeased". Dawn Upshaw's interpretation is beautiful. She captures the emotion, the longing, the spirituality and heart of the piece.

The musicians in the simple accompaniment are superb, and the entire package excellent...it was the cover art that first drew my attention to this CD...an unusual and moving painting by Hugo Simberg titled "Wounded Angel" from 1903. It also has the lovely added touch of being slip-cased, making it a perfect gift item for anyone who likes this type of music.
Christmas at Trinity
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • Sublime!
  • Excellence at its Best
  • A Christmas Gem for Audiophile
  • Wonderful, Comforting, Meaningful
  • Outstanding
 Christmas at Trinity

Manufacturer: Naxos
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:
  1. Candlelight Carols
  2. O Come All Ye Faithful: Christmas Carols at King's College, Cambridge
  3. Carols from Trinity
  4. Now It is Christmas Again
  5. Songs of Angels - Christmas Hymns and Carols

ASIN: B00005QXCJ
Release Date: 2001-10-16

Tracks:

  1. Once in Royal David's City
  2. Sans Day Carol
  3. The Three Kings
  4. I Sing Of A Maiden
  5. O Come, All Ye Faithful
  6. The Holly And The Ivy
  7. In The Bleak Midwinter
  8. I Wonder as I Wander
  9. Adam Lay Ybounden
  10. O Little Town of Bethlehem
  11. I Saw Three Ships
  12. In Dulci Jubilo
  13. Away in a Manger
  14. Of the Father's Heart Begotten
  15. Infant Holy, Infant Lowly
  16. Gabriel's Message
  17. Lullay, My Liking
  18. Resonet in Laudibus
  19. Angels, from the Realms of Glory
  20. Sussex Carol
  21. A Babe Is Born
  22. Silent Night
  23. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Sublime!.......2006-01-06

I mistakenly bought this CD thinking it was a reprint of an LP of Christmas carols that my parents played when I was a child. What a happy accident this was! The singing is beautiful, the arrangements are well-crafted and the sound is lush and warm.

These are indeed the carols that I enjoyed as a child, but the fact that they were recorded in New York City and accompanied by a pipe organ that was shortly afterward ruined in the September 11 World Trade Center attacks gives this CD an extra resonance.

5 out of 5 stars Excellence at its Best.......2004-01-02

Trinity Church at Wall Street was directly in the path of the World Trade Center's monumantal rubble showers when the buildings collapsed on 9/11. Consequently Trinity's magnificinet organ was a victim of dust and debris along with everything else in its path. As a sort of memorial to the late renowned organ, "Christmas at Trinity" is a tribute to not only the superb choir and its director, Dr. Owen Burdick, but a fond farewell (for the time being) to one of this country's finest musical instruments. And as the the parishoners get used to a decent substitute organ, the glorious instrument is being refurbished (at enormous, but worthy expense) to return to its place of honor at Trinity, Wall Street.
Having added that bit of history, "Christmas at Trinity" is a general collection of the finest arrangements and selection of choral literature for Christmas. Under the direction of Dr. Owen Burdick, the Choir breathes sensitivity into each carol. This disc is one of the finest collections of Christmas music available. It is a classical collage of sound and literature which I would recommend for a single choice for one's Christmas enjoyment, that is, if you are on a limited budget.
And, speaking of "budget", for $6.98 this is a superb bargain. Naxos is the label with delicious and unusual collections of music for anyone wanting to be adventuresome, or looking for a modest start to a personal CD library. Start with "Christmas at Trinity" and be delighted with not only the performance, but also the lovely price!

5 out of 5 stars A Christmas Gem for Audiophile.......2002-12-08

This is a wonderful CD. The singing is wonderful. The recording is excellent with a huge soundstage. Descriptions like "smooth like silk" come to mind when I want to describe their voices. I bought this CD last year and play it all the time, even after Christmas. My system consists of Meridean CD player, Audio Research amp, Herron preamp, and Verity speakers.

5 out of 5 stars Wonderful, Comforting, Meaningful.......2002-11-30

Sit back,relax and enjoy the wonderful music on this sure to be a classic Christmas CD. I am particularly interested in this CD because my 5th great-grandfather was a vestryman at Trinity and is buried in the Trinity Church Yard. HOWEVER, whether or not you have a family connection to Trinity, it is still a wonderful, relaxing and meaningful album.

5 out of 5 stars Outstanding.......2002-11-25

Absolutely beautiful! A must have for those who listen to Christmas music seriously.
John Tavener: Thunder Entered Her
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • One of the best Tavener CDs ever
 John Tavener: Thunder Entered Her

Manufacturer: Virgin Records Us
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

All Works by TavenerAll Works by Tavener | Tavener, John Kenneth | ( T ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
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ASIN: B00000DNF7
Release Date: 1994-10-11

Tracks:

  1. Angels
  2. Annunciation
  3. The Lament Of The Mother Of God
  4. Thunder Entered Her
  5. Hymns Of Paradise
  6. God Is With Us

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars One of the best Tavener CDs ever.......2004-04-10

"Thunder Entered Her" is a thrilling setting of a brief Nativity text from St. Ephrem the Syrian. "God Is With Us" is a Christmas proclamation performed better here than in other recordings. I own nearly 30 Tavener CDs and this is one of my very favorite ones.
Noel: Christmas at Kings
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Christmas Carols at there best
  • Nice Christmas CD
  • The Best Christmas CD Ever
  • A masterpiece.
  • You need one traditional Xmas cd - this is it.
 Noel: Christmas at Kings

Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:
  1. O Come All Ye Faithful: Christmas Carols at King's College, Cambridge
  2. Carols from Trinity
  3. A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols
  4. The Holly and the Ivy: Carols from Clare College
  5. Carols From Clare College

ASIN: B00000427N
Release Date: 1995-10-17

Tracks:

  1. Hark! the herald angels sing
  2. The first Nowell
  3. While Shepherds Watched
  4. I Saw Three Ships
  5. Ding, Dong! Merrily On High
  6. King Jesus Hath A Garden
  7. In Dulci Jubilo
  8. Unto Us Is Born A Son
  9. O Come All Ye Faithful
  10. Away in a manger
  11. O Little Town Of Bethlehem
  12. The Holly And The Ivy
  13. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
  14. See Amid The Winter's Snow
  15. Past Three O'clock

Tracks:

  1. Once In Royal David's City
  2. The Sussex Carol
  3. Rocking
  4. Rejoice And Be Merry
  5. Joseph Was An Old Man
  6. The Three Kings
  7. As With Gladness Men Of Old
  8. A Great And Mighty Wonder
  9. The Infant King
  10. Balulalow
  11. The Crown Of Roses
  12. Christ Was Born On Christmas Day
  13. Blessed Be That Maid Mary
  14. Lute-book lullaby
  15. Myn Lyking
  16. Personent Hodie
  17. In the bleak mid-winter
  18. Coventry Carol
  19. Shepherd In The Field Abiding
  20. Torches
  21. Fantasia On Christmas Carols

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Christmas Carols at there best.......2005-10-18

It does not get any better. This 2 cd set is outstanding.
As one reviewer notes the second disk has many carols not heard by most people in the USA. I heard them growing up, but most are hard to find on an album.

Christmas is not Christmas without King's College Choir singing carols.

A great collection... :)

3 out of 5 stars Nice Christmas CD.......2004-01-10

In my haste for looking for some traditional and exuberant Christmas music, and in my blinding affinity for all things "King's", I purchased this cd. It is a nice compelation, although I, and I daresay many Americans, am not very familiar at all with most of the hymns/carols on the 2nd cd. Morever, I found most of the music lacking in pomp and circumstance. Of course, now, I understand that is not what this cd set is for. If you want big sound and more familiar tunes, try something else.

5 out of 5 stars The Best Christmas CD Ever.......1999-12-19

If you are seeking a CD of traditional Christmas music to help you 1) focus on the true meaning of the holiday and 2)draw near to God, this is it. The choral arrangements are alternately beautiful and powerful, delicate and majestic. There is a rich heritage of European carols which 99% of Americans know nothing of. Broaden your horizons with this disc. You won't regret it.

5 out of 5 stars A masterpiece........1999-01-04

David Willcocks has produced, without question, the most elegant and dignified collection of Christmas choral music available. This CD is a masterpiece.

4 out of 5 stars You need one traditional Xmas cd - this is it........1998-11-30

Yes, most of the stuff was originally recorded in the 50's and 60's and it's not going to win prizes for signal to noise ratio. However, if you, like me break out in a sweat hunting for a xmas cd which won't contain some desperate wannabe modernised rehash of carols or a "listen to me aren't I a good tenor/diva and by the way here are some carols?" tracks, then this is your album.

From the moment track one started, with a belting rendition of "Hark the Herald Angels", I had a grin on my face from ear to ear. Warm memories of xmases past flood back, cooking, carols, snow and presents. Yes - dreamily rose-colored, revisionist and traditional it is, but worth every penny in this cynical cyber world.
Great Voices of the Twentieth Century: Jussi Björling
Average customer rating: Not rated
    		Great Voices of the Twentieth Century: Jussi Björling

    Manufacturer: Castle Pulse
    ProductGroup: Music
    Binding: Audio CD

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    3. Jussi Bjorling: Opera Arias
    4. The "Pearl Fishers" Duet
    5. Jussi Björling: Opera Arias

    ASIN: B0009HL12U
    Release Date: 2005-07-04

    Tracks:

    1. Pearl Fishers Duet (With Robert Merrill-Baritone)
    2. Recitar Vesti La Giubba
    3. La Fleur Que Tu M'avis Jetee (The Flower Song)
    4. Sylvia
    5. Angels Guard Thee (Berceuse)
    6. La Donna E Mobile
    7. O Soave Fanciulla
    8. M'appari Tutt Amor
    9. Cielo E Mar
    10. Se Quel Guerrier Lo Fossi Celete Aida
    11. I Bless Ev'ry Hour
    12. Ah Love But A Day
    13. Spirit Flower
    14. Because
    15. Cujus Animam
    16. Che Gelida Manina
    17. Mi Batte Le Cor-O Paradiso
    18. Instant Charman-En Fermant Les Yeux
    19. E Lucevan Le Stelle
    20. Salut Demeure Chste Et Pure

    Album Description

    Swedish tenor with a smooth, refined style, ringing high notes of great power, and impeccable musicianship. Includes the all-time favourite duet with Robert Merrill "The Pearl Fishers". Castle. 2005.

    Album Details

    Swedish Tenor with a Smooth, Refined Style, Ringing High Notes of Great Power, and Impeccable Musicianship. Includes the All-time Favourite Duet with Robert Merrill "The Pearl Fishers".
    Christmas Echoes, Vol. 2
    Average customer rating: Not rated
      		Christmas Echoes, Vol. 2

      Manufacturer: Gothic Records
      ProductGroup: Music
      Binding: Audio CD

      All Works by BrittenAll Works by Britten | Britten, Sir Benjamin | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
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      GeneralGeneral | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
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      ASIN: B000ARFPZ8
      Release Date: 2005-09-13

      Album Description

      2003 Grammy nominee for Best Choral Performance! An assortment of carols from traditional to modern, in familiar and new arrangements, featuring America's preeminent choral ensemble, which retired in 2004 after a legendary 31 seasons. This album includes a cappella tunes as well as accompaniment for harp, guitar, organ, handbells, and other instruments.

      Track Listings:

      1. W. A. Mozart in Prague
      2. Wolf: Quartet/Italian Serenade
      3. Works for Piano & Prepared Piano 1
      4. A vision of Ludovic Lamothe
      5. AMDG-Prayer In Song
      6. At the Movies [Soundtrack]
      7. Bach J.S: 6 Suites for Cello [Import]
      8. Beethoven: Symphonien No. 6 "Pastorale" & No. 8
      9. Benjamin Britten: Spring Symphony; Welcome Ode; Psalm 150
      10. Boulez: Orchestral Works & Chamber Music

      Track Listings

      track listings

      Track Listings

      Return to N.Y.

      Symphony 7 / Symphony 41

      The Real Folk Blues

      Palmetto Records 2001

      The Dawn of Ananda

      The O'Jays Live in London [Live] [Import]

      The Lass with the Delicate Air [Import]

      The Mravinsky Collection - Bach: Suite No. 2 for Orchestra / Bartok: Music for Strings, Percussion and Celesta / Debussy: Nocturnes for Orchestra

      The Kingston Trio/...From the "Hungry i"

      Tenor Giant

      Travel Edition 1990-2005

      Thank You for Letting Us Be

      Trust the DJ: BJ02 [Import]

      Pure Praise: Lamb of God

      Howard Rumsey's Lighthouse All-Stars, Vol. 6