Christmas Music! (Part 2)

This post was written by Joel Buursma, and posted on December 20, 2007 | Filed Under music and religion | Double-click any word for more info | View other posts by Joel Buursma | | For info on this author, visit http://www.sdgmusic.org/voices/2007/08/19/introduction-joel-buursma/

And now, some of my favorite music in the Christmas carol genre. Again, I would love to hear favorites from others as well. I fear this genre is so broad that I can only cover a fraction of it, but I will do so anyway.

Of all the music in this genre, I think my heart is closest to the a cappella choral recordings of the Robert Shaw Chorale. There are some classic recordings from the ’50s (here is an original LP) that were re-released on CD several years ago, but I cannot locate them online anymore. But the Songs of Angels CD contains newer performances of many of these great pieces, and these two CDs also add to the collection. The great thing about these arrangements is that they add musical interest and vitality to the carols with minimal distortion to their character and harmonic feel (e.g., no “strange” harmonic twists). These arrangements mostly represent the collaboration between Shaw and Alice Parker, which has given the world so much beautiful shorter choral music.

Now, if you actually like unusual harmonic twists on familiar carols, then you can branch out to the Dale Warland Singers in Minnesota with these two reissues of memorable recordings. To pick one example of what these CDs contain: Alfred Burt’s carols are hardly masterworks, but they are worthwhile enough to deserve a decent recording, and many of them get that treatment on these CDs.

But I can’t go any farther without mentioning all the wonderful Christmas music from English choirs, much of which comes from the Carols for Choirs books and The Oxford Book of Carols (which also has a newer, more academic, version). There are countless recordings here, but here are a few that are readily available. And, if you don’t find the recordings of John Rutter to be too treacly for a self-respecting musician to take seriously, there are several recordings by him as well. (I do like some of his music, but I wish I could pretend that, for example, “Donkey Carol” never happened.)

I want to mention the Christmas with Chanticleer recording because, beyond featuring their legendary flawless blend and the lovely voice of Dawn Upshaw, it features a rare recording of a multi-movement version of Distler’s arrangement of “Es ist ein’ Ros’ entsprungen” (”Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming”). I suspect it would be viewed by many readers as heresy for me to suggest that Praetorius’ original could actually be improved upon. I won’t, but I will be so bold as to suggest that Distler’s version approaches Praetorius’.

Finally, if you are fed up with traditional carols arrangements (and yet still reading this post) and looking for something more invigorating than sentimental, I recommend recordings the Tallis Scholars and Joel Cohen’s Boston Camerata. You may well find new vitality from ages past.

What musical riches we have, inspired by the humble but cosmically-significant birth in Bethlehem so many years ago!

Comments

3 Responses to “Christmas Music! (Part 2)”

Dave B on December 20th, 2007 5:28 pm

Concerning Robert Shaw’s Christmas albums; These were made in the fifties, but sound really great in Remastered CD’s. We have meny wonderful choirs today, but we should not take for granted the pioneering work of Robert Shaw. What is unique about the Robert Shaw Chorale is that he was able to convince a number of underemplyed opera and concert singers to participate in the ensemble, resulting in a mature disciplined sound that has never been duplicated.

About the arrangements: These arrangements were really 50-50 collaborations between Robert Shaw and Alice Parker. I performed with Alice Parker and quizzed her a bit on the subjest and she assured me that Shaw was completely engaged in the arrangement process. These arrangements as well as the Shaw/Parker hymn arrangements are wonderful in their simple dignity.
Dave B on December 20th, 2007 5:30 pm

I already noticed a few typos - sorry db
Joel Buursma on December 20th, 2007 9:43 pm

This is the Robert Shaw reissue CD I was talking about:

http://www.classicstoday.com/review.asp?ReviewNum=3894
http://www.mmguide.musicmatch.com/album/album.cgi?ALBUMID=1510613
http://www.arkivmusic.com/classical/album.jsp?album_id=179672&album_group=8

The CD may be available at the ArkivMusic link, but I’m not certain. Also, here is an amazing Shaw discography:

http://www.rainwaterreptileranch.org/scr/rs.html