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Christmas with Chanticleer (Featuring Dawn Upshaw)
Studio : Teldec
by Teldec
Release Date : 2001-10-16
Publisher : Teldec
Availability : Usually ships in 1-2 business days
EAN : 0685738555529
UPC : 685738555529
Avg. Customer Rating: (based on 19 reviews)
List Price : $17.99
Our Price : $10.00
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A must-have for Christmas, and not just for ambience |
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Chanticleer is an incredibly musical and blended clear-tone vocal group that performs each piece on the album with perfection and insightful musicianship. Overall, the album is very peaceful and perfect for getting your head and spirit out of the chaos of the Christmas season and really brings your focus back to the beauty of the Christmas. All of the arrangements are beautiful, and my favorite is Hugo Distler's variations on "Lo How a Rose E'er Blooming" (in German, Es ist ein Ros entsprungen). The close and weaving harmonies make this piece and others songs you want to listen closely to, and not just have them playing in the background of your Christmas party. |
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A Favorite |
Ah, the never-ending annual quest of a classical music fan to find unusual Christmas music. This was how I came to have 'Christmas with Chanticleer', and I count it among my best finds.
I will admit that I do not enjoy every single track on this cd (hence the 4 stars), but the 'Es Ist Ein Ros Entsprungen' set is something I can't help listening to even in the summer months, or any month at all.
I think the inclusion of Dawn Upshaw adds much to this disc, although I don't like some of her other stuff.
I heartily recommend this cd. |
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Full of gems. |
If you are a Chanticleer purist and are turned off by the idea of someone else singing with them, I can tell you that you will miss out on a large number of some of Chanticleer's best recorded tracks ever by passing up this CD. The tracks with Dawn Upshaw are in the minority on this disc and (in my opinion) do not detract from the majority which are of Chanticleer only. Also, it must be stated that while some may still not be a fan of the concept upon listening, she performs wonderfully with them and even blends well at many points! I urge you to at least give it a chance.
Anyway, on to the music. This recording is literally overflowing with impeccably chosen arrangements and compositions, all of which encompass a wonderfully peaceful holiday ambiance. It is full of tracks which are worth the price of the disc alone. Joe Jennings' gorgeous arrangement of the Huron Carol and the wonderfully different arrangement of Noel Nouvelet are among the many highlights. However, Die Stimme des Kindes by the Finnish composer Mantyjarvi, is the crown jewel of this disc. It is a brilliant and extremely haunting piece of music full of gorgeous polychordal harmonies and it is performed with astonishing intensity and accuracy. Also to be found here is one of the very best gospel/spiritual arrangements Chanticleer has ever done: Jerusalem In The Morning will become an instant favorite for anyone. |
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Not what I expected. |
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I was very disappointed when I listened to this CD. I should have paid more attention to the fact that there was another artist performing with the group before I ordered it. I am sorry I bought it. |
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a voice teacher and early music fan |
CHANTICLEER INSPIRES ME TO REMEMBER 'THE REASON FOR THE SEASON'!
For nearly 25 years Chanticleer has performed a large and wide variety of music, from Gregorian Chant to the most modern fare. With its seamless blend of 12 male voices,ranging from counter-tenor to bass, the ensemble has earned international renown as "an orchestra of voices". Chanticleer was founded in 1978 by tenor Louis Botto, and was named after the 'clear-singing' rooster in Chaucer's 'Canterbury Tales'.
This CD offers a wide variety of choral gems, some well-known; some traditional;some in French, in German; most in English. But all of them are performed with great skill as well as exquisite tone quality. Dawn Upshaw is an added plus on this disc.
Just commenting on a few of them that captured my interest:
"A Christmas Round: Today The Virgin". Sir John Tavener joined the Russian Orthodox Church in 1977 which had a tremendous impact on his compositions. The brief text for 'A Christmas Round' is from the Orthodox Liturgy for Christmas Day. 'Today the Virgin' is a strophic setting of a text by Mother Thekla, an Orthodox nun, who has provided him with the libretti for several of his major works. In typical Russian Orthodox style, a drone is employed in the bass, and the upper voices move in parallel fifths and octaves.
"Es ist ein Ros entsprungen" (Lo, How an ever-blooming rose).Hugo Distler combines an extensive use of rediscovered forms and genres,and a very effective use of word-paintings in his music. Based on the famous tune of the same name, his setting resembles a fantasia, finally submerging the theme in rhythmic complexity as the number of voice parts expands from 4 to as many as 8. The text for the soprano that is laid over verse 3 is taken from the 'Magnificat' (Luke I:46-55).
"Die Stimme des Kindes" (The voice of the child) Finnish composer,Jaako Mantyjarvi adopts influences from a number of styles and periods, fusing them into his own idiom. This gently-rocking setting for eight-part men's chorus uses lush tone clusters to impart a late-
Romantic sentiment.
THIS ALBUM IS A THINKING MAN'S JOY! We all love the familiar carols, but it's so refreshing to hear some new ones. This group is certainly reminiscent of the "King's Singers" who preceded them; both excellent in every way!!!! |
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