We Wish You a Merry Christmas

Band 12, "The Coventry Carol," the longest cut on the CD, demands special mention: it is downright awful. The annotator of this CD writes cosily, "And of course there are the old traditional English Christmas songs, all mulled wine and mince pies." Nothing could be less descriptive of what we get here, where the misguided, pretentious, weird, grotesquely ugly, far-out dissonant-modern arrangement does its utmost to pervert and spoil this lovely old English carol, twisting and distorting it into something almost unrecognizable; this cut is a real horror. (Sir David Willcocks, the famed King's College choirmaster under whom the King's Singers trained and sang as youths, would be appalled. The man responsible for this travesty, one Daryl Runswick, also arranged two other selections; his consistently tasteless arrangements comprise three of the four worst on the CD.)

The performing forces vary from the a cappella singers to accompaniments with brass ensemble or orchestra. The variable but undistinguished engineering (EMI's Abbey Road studios, 1989)--over-processed, over-bright, hard-edged, and occasionally canned-sounding--is an additional drawback. If you like traditional Christmas music (as I do) you might want to think twice before buying this CD. At least try to listen to it first. Caveat emptor.

Among My Top 10 Christmas Recordings.......2002-12-26

King's Singers maintains the highest standard for all those who aspire to create spine-tingling a cappella harmony. Somewhat akin to the small number of their peers worldwide, no style seems off limits to their abilities. But certain aspects set the King's Singers apart. Perhaps it is their early and consistent training in the English choral discipline, or the many, years of touring together in one combination or other. Their most remarkable quality is their quintessentially English sound -- the pipe-like tone produced especially in the mid- to upper registers -- that is at once remarkably free of vibrato, but still alive with overtones. If one listens closely to the solo parts, it becomes evident: the sound isn't produced merely by excellent group intervallic intonation, but by individual voices capable of producing overtones. Thus, it's the sound you can't hear that takes your breath away.

Because the recording is so excellent on the whole, one disappointment stands out: I wish that Coventry Carol had been saved for another recording. The dissonances conjure up distressing images at odds with the overall effect they seem to have been trying to accomplish with the recording, and I can certainly imagine that in another context, I might have been interested and emotionally moved, rather than unsettled and annoyed.

Tracks:

Joy To The World
The First Noel
Deck The Hall
Carol Of The Bells
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
We Wish You A Merry Christmas
O Come, All Ye Faithful
O, Holy Night
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
Here We Come A-Caroling
O Tannenbaum
Silent Night
Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire)
Hallelujah Chorus (From Messiah)

Amazon.com

The Mormon Tabernacle Choir sets the tone for what Christmas albums should sound like, and Joy to the World upholds their exacting standard of excellence. Re-released from two concerts recorded in 1970 and 1977 and repacked with three bonus tracks, this collection is as perfect as it gets, thanks to pristine production, gorgeous vocal arrangements, and stately accompaniment by the Philadelphia Brass Ensemble, the Philadelphia Orchestra, and the Columbia Symphony Orchestra. This record will set the mood for reveling, both with more contemporary carols, like "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" and "The Christmas Song," and sacred numbers, such as Handel's "Hallelujah Chorus" and "O Holy Night." Joy to the World qualifies as an essential yuletide album. --Jaan Uhelszki

Customer Reviews:

A Timeless Christmas Classic.......2003-12-08

Average customer rating:

WOW!!!
The Best of The Best
You can find better
Great Christmas Album
Good Stuff!

The Christmas Album
The Canadian Brass , Franz Xaver Gruber , George Frideric Handel , Jr. Hopkins John Henry , William James Kirkpatrick , Mykola Dmytrovich Leontovych , Felix Mendelssohn , James Pierpont , Michael Praetorius , Ward Swingle , Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky , Christmas Traditional , John Francis Wade , Anonymous , and Lydia Adams
Manufacturer: Philips
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Sacred & Religious | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Oratorios | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Noels | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Oratorios | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music

Orchestral Pop | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music

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Classical Instrumental | Holiday | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music

General Christmas | Holiday Music | Special Features | Music

Classical Instrumental | Holiday Music | Special Features | Music
Similar Items:

A Christmas Experiment
A Festival of Carols in Brass
A Canadian Brass Christmas
Best of the Canadian Brass
The Essential Canadian Brass

ASIN: B00000412W
Release Date: 1990-08-10

Tracks:

A Visit From St. Nicholas
Carol Of The Bells
Away In A Manger
Jingle Bells
The First Nowell
Dance Of The Sugar-Plum Fairy
We Three Kings
Angels From The Realms Of Glory
Coventry Carol
D'ou veins-tu, bergere
The Twelve Days Of Christmas
Oh Come, Immanuel
I Wonder As I Wander
What Child Is This?
La cloche de Noel
We Wish You A Merry Christmas
Noel Nouvelet
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
Silent Night
Good King Wenceslas
Hallelujah Chorus
Lo, How A Rose E'er Blooming
O Come, All Ye Faithful

Customer Reviews:

WOW!!!.......2007-03-26

What has not been said about the Canadian Brass? The album is a wonderful blend of brass and voices. I especaily appreciate the non-traditional selections. It is a heart warmer.

The Best of The Best.......2004-12-15

Just be sure to buy this version (18 tracks) rather than what appears to be a very pared-down later issue (same cover, only about half a dozen tracks).

This is by far the best holiday album I have ever heard. I am a double-reed player and I must take issue with the complaints about intonation and musicianship by the one negative reviewer on this page. The song selection, mix of secular and religious, mix of serious and light, mix of familiar/less heard - Good as driving music, gift wrapping, or sing-along. This is the Holiday CD I listen to year round. If you are looking for ONE CD to buy for the season- for your collection or as a gift- This is it!

You can find better.......2004-11-24

Lousy musicianship here, frankly-- missed notes and poor intonation. I was hugely disappointed when I heard this album. Greatly recommend A Festival of Carols in Brass (Philadelphia Brass Ensemble) instead, which is pure joy for the listener.

Great Christmas Album.......2003-11-05

I've had this particular Canadian Brass album for so long that I have it on cassette! But it's become a classic family Christmas album for us. It's a great addition to any Christmas, especially as background music. It's very calming and just plain good. I can't imagine my Christmas without it.

Good Stuff!.......2000-12-12

This is yet another top-notch Canadian Brass Christmas album. These guys, once again, demonstrate why they are the best in the world at what they do. With the addition of the fine choral singing by the Iseler Singers, this is the complete Christmas CD, one you'll never get tired of year after year. Buy it!

Ray Conniff - We Wish You A Merry Christlmas

Average customer rating:

Christmas With Conniff
Joyfull X-mas album!
A Blast from the Past
Holiday music
A Great Christmas Album

Ray Conniff - We Wish You A Merry Christlmas
Page Says There Are No Images. , and Also True For Other Coniff Xmas Record
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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$7 - $10 | Today's Deals | Holiday Music | Special Features | Music

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4-for-3 Broadway & Vocalists | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music

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4-for-3 All Music | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music

Musicals | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Christmas with Conniff
Here We Come A-Caroling
Christmas Caroling
Holiday Sing-Along with Mitch Miller
Christmas Album

ASIN: B0000024RK
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

Medley: Jolly Old St. Nicholas/ The Little Drummer Boy
Medley: O Holy Night/ We Three Kings Of Orient Are/ Deck The Halls With Boughs Of Holly
Ring Christmas Bells
Medley: Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!/ Count Your Blessings/ We Wish You A Merry Christmas
The Twelve Days Of Christmas
Medley: The First Noel/ Hark! The Herald Angels Sing/ O Come, All Ye Faithful/ We Wish A Merry Christmas

Customer Reviews:

Christmas With Conniff.......2007-01-27

This is a nice Christmas collection, perfect for easy listening. Most of the music here is arranged in medleys, with "Ring Christmas Bells (Carol of the Bells)" being one of the few stand-alones. It's also my favorite of the lot.

"The Little Drummer Boy", which is arranged as part of the first medley, is another stand-out number. With the exception of its final few seconds it's almost identical to the Harry Simeone Chorale version.

All-in-all, a good bargain buy.

Joyfull X-mas album!.......2007-01-23

This is a must have album for Christmas! Listened to it as a kid during the 70's and have missed it ever since! Very glad I found it on amazon for this X-mas. One gets in a really good mood listening to it! I gladly recommend it to everyone!

A Blast from the Past.......2007-01-17

This was my favorite Christmas album in the 60's and 70's. It's upbeat, "modern" treatment of old standards was attractive to me as a child. Now my kids love it just as much. It brings back good memories!

Holiday music.......2007-01-16

This is one of the most authentic traditional Christmas music I've ever heard. This is a family holiday favorite and will be passed down through the generations of our family.

A Great Christmas Album.......2007-01-10

The one thing that i look forward to about Christmas is not the parties or the lights,It's the music.I have Christmas albums that are good and i had Christmas albums that are OK and then there are Christmas albums that really strike a cord with everyone and this album is one of them in fact we had it on the 33 1/3 LP for years in fact it had my sister's name on the album!That's when you were growing up in that period long before a CD was ever heard of that your mothers put your name on the album when you took that to school so it won't get lost in the process.This album is one of those things that you never get tired of it with great arrangements,brilliant hooks and the singing like you can take a paint brush and put it into canvas to make a great picture that album is just like that.I tried to get it on CD at many stores without much secess but one day on my computer i saw your ad for that album and i had to have it and maybe next Christmas,I want to tell my parents about it because the LP has been pretty worn out.The next time you want to look for Christmas CD's to entertain your family and friends next Christmas,This is the CD that you must have.

Average customer rating:

It's all that I want for christmast
La mejor musica de Navidad de los Pops
This CD is what Christmas is all about!
A Must have for your Christmas Music
best Christmas album by Boston Pops

We Wish You a Merry Christmas

Manufacturer: Philips
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Modern & 20th Century | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Noels | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

General | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music

Orchestral Pop | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music

General Christmas | Holiday | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music

Pop Instrumental & Easy Listening | Holiday | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music

General Christmas | Holiday Music | Special Features | Music

Pop Instrumental & Easy Listening | Holiday Music | Special Features | Music
Similar Items:

A Christmas Festival
Joy to the World - Eugene Ormandy, Philadelphia Orchestra
Sleigh Ride! Classic Christmas Favorites
A Festival of Carols in Brass
Joy to the World

ASIN: B0000040XN
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

We Wish You A Merry Christmas
Christmas Festival
A Christmas Greeting
Holiday Cheer
A Christmas Carol
Carol Of The Drum
The Twelve Days Of Christmas

Customer Reviews:

It's all that I want for christmast.......2005-07-19

I have no word to describe this master piece, when you close your eyes and listen it you will imagine the christmast winter time in any moment even in summer.

La mejor musica de Navidad de los Pops.......2004-12-14

Increible y como lo comenta alguien por ahi, hace mas de 5 a;os que poseo estas grabaciones, primero en cassette y luego en CD y son geniales, brillantes, alegres, reflexivas y estimulantes.
Los medleys son geniales y las versiones con el Coro del Festival Tanglewood son hermosas, la direccion de Williams es generosa, espontanea, vivaz y recia. La orquesta es pulcra y suena genial.
Un CD navide;o espectacular.

This CD is what Christmas is all about!.......2003-09-26

This holiday CD has everything. It literally embodies the feeling of Christmas. From traditional and religious favorites to upbeat cheerful music that takes you and the kiddies back to Santa's workshop, you will not be disappointed.
This CD is not only musically brilliant, it will bring you the "feeling" of Christmas... what it used to be, what it is now, and what it could be.
The CD is quite long and will still leave you wanting more. It will bring you to tears one minute and have you rejoicing with happiness the next.
This has become our "traditional" CD of the holidays and we play it over and over.
Simply breathtaking.
You won't be sorry.

A Must have for your Christmas Music.......2001-12-02

I have had this CD for about 5 years now. And I can't wait till christmas time rolls around again to play it! This music is great in the background at a dinner party or for listening while wraping presents or reading. Its a great mood setter. I truly love track #4 Holiday Cheer and #3 A Christmas Greeting.

Traditional Christmas music at its best!

best Christmas album by Boston Pops.......1998-12-24

I purchased this on vinyl when it first came out - it was John Williams' second annual Christmas Pops, and he did a spectacular job.

The medley of "The Carols of Alfred Burt" - and the explanation behind them from the Symphony Hall programme that year bring this LP full circle. In short, Alfred Burt used to write a Christmas carol every year and enclose it in the family's Christmas cards. John Williams spent time at the Burt household's Christmas parties and the singing of the carols was the high point of the holiday. Mr. Burt passed on at a young age, but immediately before his death made an arrangement to have his carols published commercially. And so we are left with his immortal Christmas carols ; some you knew, particularly "Caroling, Caroling" - some you may not have, as the emotional "Some Children See Him", which is my personal favorite. Not only is the orchestra at its peak - but so is the Tanglewood Festival Chorus.

Of all of the Christmas albums ever produced by the Boston Pops - and this includes those by Mr. Fiedler and Mr. Lockhart - this is my favorite. We still attend the Holiday Pops at Symphony Hall every year, but nothing tops the year in which the "green album" was produced. And nothing tops this album.

Tracks:

Silent Night
Shephard's Pipe Carol
Air from Suite #3 in D
Fantasia on 'I Saw Three Ships'
Greensleeves
Zither Carol
The Holy Boy
Patapan
Past Three O'clock
Sinfonia from the Christmas Oratorio
Ave Maria
Chorale from the Christmas Oratorio
I Wonder as I Wander
Sheep May Safely Graze
Jesus Christ the Apple Tree
We Wish You a Merry Christmas

Customer Reviews:

My Favourite Christmas CD!.......2006-11-21

This is a great collection of Christmas songs. Although you might not be familiar with several of them, once you hear them you will love them. A perfect recording to play while decorating, or just enjoying the Christmas Tree! Wonderful!

Galway Christmas.......2004-04-14

If you could own one & only one Christmas CD,this would be it!Classic music taking you back to childhood memories.No modern re-worked garbage that keeps coming out these days.Wow,I am really starting to sound old! :)

Quality, Choral, Christmas.......2001-12-08

You don't need to be a flute-lover to enjoy this disc. This is a wonderful compilation of traditional Christmas pieces. Galway plays a few solos, accompanies a few choral pieces, and the choir sings a few pieces on their own as well. Inobtrusive as background music, but still beautiful under scrutiny, this is hands-down my favorite Christmas CD.

Gorgeous!.......1999-11-25

I enjoy the combination of flute and choir, and this collection is extraordinary. Galway's sound is superb and the arrangements well done. There was a good blend of classic Christmas music, and classical favorites. I recommend it to my flute students highly.

Average customer rating:

The Christmas Album: Vienna Boy Choir
THE BEST VIENNA BOYS CHOIR CHRISTMAS MUSIC!!

The Christmas Album: Vienna Boys Choir

Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Noels | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Movie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

General Christmas | Holiday | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music

General Christmas | Holiday Music | Special Features | Music
Similar Items:

Christmas With the Vienna Boys Choir
The Best of the Vienna Boys' Choir (Box Set)
Christmas with the Vienna Boys Choir
Little Drummer Boy: Christmas Favorites by the World Renowed Vienna Boys's Choir
Christmas Angels

ASIN: B0000VJFPU
Release Date: 2003-12-02

Tracks:

Sleigh Ride / Troika
Mary's Boy Child
Happy Christmas (War Is Over)
Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting)
Jingle Bells
Jingle Bell Rock
Ukraine Bell Carol
Wexford Carol
Suo-Gan
O Holy Night
White Christmas
Winter Wonderland
Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!
Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree
Little Drummer Boy / Peace On Earth
Wonderful Christmas Time
Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer
We Wish You A Merry Christmas
Coventry Carol
Away In A Manger / Stille Nacht

Customer Reviews:

The Christmas Album: Vienna Boy Choir.......2007-01-10

When in Vienna we attending a Boy Choir concert.

Gave an album to each set of grandchildren. They loved it.

Harold KLlbertanz

THE BEST VIENNA BOYS CHOIR CHRISTMAS MUSIC!!.......2005-06-01

This wonderful collection of Christmas music is especially good! Many pieces are very well known standards, and have been rewritten in ways that keep the music fresh, interesting and new! Every holiday season (and even throughout the year) this CD is played by our family quite a bit! [I may be a little biased, since my 12 year old son from Cincinnati, OH is one of the boys singing in most of the songs!] It is awesome!!

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