Your favorite Christmas CD's?

JulieColl

I just received the Christmas in Harvard Square CD yesterday, and it's lovely---full of charm and grace. I see that the other St. Paul's choristers have just released their Christmas CD, too.

Any other suggestions for Christmas music? My Christmas CD's are getting a little old and worn out, and it's time to get some new ones for the stack. : )

It's a little early, but we couldn't resist sharing #StPaulsChristmas artwork. Out tomorrow! https://t.co/63Sz61RWSR pic.twitter.com/iyvRe9lcDE
— Choir of St Paul's (@StPaulsChoir)
November 19, 2015

CGM

this isn't liturgical, but man, is it hip! Be sure to take the journey all the way to the end.
(I just wish they had used a real piano)
New York Voices: I Wonder As I Wander (1991)

JulieColl

This is a winner! Thanks for the recommendation. Love this one, too:

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

M. Jackson Osborn

For a digression from the norm I rather like several CDs by the Clerkes of Oxenford. Look them up if you want a change from lessons and carols fare (not that such fare is not always welcome).

Another nice one that is a little 'off the beaten path' is 'Carols by Candlelight', by the choir of Magdalen College, Oxford, on the Harmonia Mundi label. (Magdalen, by the way, for those not up on speech across the pond, is pronounced 'maudlin' - hence the word 'maudlin', which means weepy and (rather sickly) sad, from Mary Magdalen's weeping.)

JulieColl

Thanks so much for the suggestions! I looked up 'Carols by Candlelight', and it looks splendid with many out-of the-ordinary pieces, like you said. I'm constantly astonished by the number of spectacular choirs in London. I hadn't heard of Magdalen College before.

sergeantedward

Three Tenors!

JulieColl

Olé! I'd forgotten about them.

Chaswjd

Although it contains little that we would recognize as Christmas music, it probably is:

http://www.amazon.com/Sheppard-Missa-Cantate-John/dp/B00004YMLR/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1448312383&sr=8-1&keywords=mccreesh+salisbury

It recreates the Third Mass of Christmas as it might have been celebrated in the Sarum Rite. My favorite part occurs during the Sanctus. The CD has the celebrant continuing (inaudibly) the Eucharistic Prayer while the choir sings the Sanctus. Where the elevation would come, you hear the bell ringing, then a large bell, and, suddenly, the huge bells of Salisbury Cathedral. If someone were to as me why I am Catholic I would probably play this part of the recording. I recognize that the moment would be regarded today as bad liturgy for many reasons, but somehow it sounds so very RIGHT.

MatthewRoth

I need that CD, because Sarum, Christmas, and Sheppard.

canadash

I enjoy the Victoria Scholars' music: http://victoriascholars.ca/index.php/cds/

Adam Wood

I need that CD, because Sarum, Christmas, and Sheppard.

We would have accepted "reasons."

melofluent

Dale Warland Singers, A ROSE IN WINTER. Period.

Steve Q

As long as we are doing some non-liturgical....My wife and I have been cuddling by the fireplace to this for 25 Christmases now:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x5KKuIWbPps

And they do a pretty mean "12 Days of Christmas":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZbBZf7bp4E

MatthewRoth

Adam, I thought of that but I decided that I could explain my reasoning... :)

matthewj

http://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Colonel-Sanders-Popular-Artists/dp/B0015PDA6K

http://www.amazon.com/Night-Before-Christmas-David-Hasselhoff/dp/B0011Y6GK2

http://www.amazon.com/This-Christmas-Olivia-Newton-John/dp/B009H442DG

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8RmPiNfCME

CHGiffen

Pomerium: Creator of the Stars (Christmas Music From Earlier Times)

If you're in the NYC area:

Robert Ramsey - O Sapienta a5 (from the Pomerium CD):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-wYSg4_Hq2M

Zephyrus: Angelus (Renaissance Motets for the Christmas Season)

St Benedict Parish Choir, Atchison KS: Salvation is Created
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SNz9qS5_s-o

Live performance last year by the same choir:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FlHeNIBTpVg

JulieColl

A cornucopia of Christmas CD's! Thanks for all the suggestions, and thanks for the info on Pomerium in NYC next month.

Vilyanor

I like Nat King Cole…

dad29

Salamunovich's "Christmas" w the LA Master Chorale. Includes chant, of course.

Jahaza

Jakub Jan Ryba's Christmas Masses on Naxos.

http://www.amazon.com/Czech-Christmas-Mass-J-J-Ryba/dp/B000026APW

So joyous.

MBW

This is an old favorite. It is not an album, but this single packs more "Christmas" into one song than 20 years worth of Mall of America seasonal music tapes. (I'm not sure I know how to make this mp3 work. Let me know if it does not play.) If it plays: Enjoy! If not, help!

MBW

Here it is in all its glory - I hope!

http://forum.musicasacra.com/forum/uploads/FileUpload/63/5361e4c795ff8ffc26e6fce23ed337.mp3" />

FidemInFidebus

I get really sappy and cheesy and pop-y with Christmas music. Of course all the old faves, someone already mentioned Nat King Cole, Sinatra stuff, Mariah Carey (sorry not sorry I grew up with it!), Andre Rieu (my grandma loved him) really into a gorgeous arrangement of "In the bleak midwinter" we're doing at work, it uses a different tune than what we're used to, Handel of course, Bach's Christmas Oratorio, and so on....I love Christmas music, can't wait to check out some of these suggestions!

JulieColl

LOL, MBW!! That really deserves an award of some kind: How about the 2015 Christmas Sweater Award:

JulieColl

Something to sing along with as you cut the herbs in the garden and make the stuffing:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BYQaD2CAi9A

MBW

Julie,

Steve Mauldin could not be here tonight, so I humbly accept the award in his absence. I take a medium ugly sweater, thank you very much.

tomjaw

I rather like Traditional Carols...

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Christmas-Drawing-Near-Sneaks-Noyse/dp/B0000242TK

Also on Youtube,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nzjbctzHezI

Fantastic music to sing with tankards of mulled wine or Ale, to help lubricate the vocal cords!

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