Product DescriptionIn 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 - Track Listings : Disc 1
- O Come, Emmanuel
- Alleluia
- The First Nowell
- The Carol Of The Birds
- Allon, Gay Bergeres
- A Hymn To The Virgin
- O Magnum Mysterium
- Christmas Oratorio: Rejoice And Sing
- Ave Maria
- What Is This Lovely Fragrance?
- Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming
- Sing Lullaby
- While By My Sheep
- Christmas Oratorio: Break Forth, O Wondrous Heavenly Light
- Heavenly Light
- Adeste Fideles
- Ceremony Of Carols: Procession - Hodie Christus Natus Est
- Ceremony Of Carols: Wolcum Yole!
- Ceremony Of Carols: There Is No Rose
- Ceremony Of Carols: That Yonge Child
- Ceremony Of Carols: Balulalow
- Ceremony Of Carols: As Dew In Aprille
- Ceremony Of Carols: This Little Babe
- Interlude (Harp Solo)
- Ceremony Of Carols: In Freezing Winter Night
- Ceremony Of Carols: Spring Carol
- Ceremony Of Carols: Deo Gracias
- Ceremony Of Carols: Recession: Hodie Christus Natus Est
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