Note: This survey of favourite CDs of Christmas music is reprinted from the newsletter of the Edmonton Branch of the Prayer Book Society of Canada.
Some time ago your editor, knowing that I work at a local retail establishment called The Gramophone, expressed the thought that I might be able to come up with a list of Christmas music recommendations. Well, as a matter of fact I can and here offer suggestions in three main areas:
A Christmas Celebration features light soprano Kathleen Battle, the Orchestra of St. Luke's, New York Choral Artists, and The Boys Choir of Harlem. This is just about my first recommendation for anyone asking for a good Christmas music collection. It is quite eclectic: most will be familiar, a few will not—all are worth knowing. Most are done in the original language, followed by verses in English. (The sole exception here—and a perverse one from a Canadian point of view—is the most popular carol in French Canada, Minuit Chrétien/O Holy Night, done in English only). Battle has a clear, bell-like voice, ideal for this repertoire. (EMI CDC 47587-2)
The Mystery of Christmas, with Canada's Elora Festival Singers is a great bargain. Recorded in Toronto's St. Mary Magdelaine Church, it has been a best seller since it was issued in 1997. (Naxos 8.554179)
While shepherd's watched, Christmas Music from English Parish Churches, 1740-1830, gives music from that period when hymnody was being restored to liturgy of the English church (it took a hundred years or so for the English Church to recover from the darkening impact of 17th Century Puritanism). With earthy, energetic performance by Psalmody and The Parley of Instruments, people always ask when they hear this one being played in our store. I normally describe it as a "Jane Austin Christmas". (hyperion CDA 66924) The same artists have just released a new Christmas album, Nativity: Christmas Music from Georgian England. (hyperion CDA 67443)
A Tapestry of Carols by Maddy Prior and The Carnival Band has much in common with the previous release in presenting almost folk renditions (and that's a complement, not a put-down). (Saydisc CD-SDL 366)
A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols from the Choir of King's College Cambridge is a bargain 2CD set for the price of one. English cathedral choristry at its best! (EMI CDC 73693-2).
Advent at St. Paul's with the Choir of St. Paul's Cathedral. (hyperion CDA 66994
An Advent Procession with Carols on Advent Sunday. Another perennial favourite from King's College Cambridge. (EMI CDM 66243-2)
Praetorius's Christmette [Christmas Mass]. Paul McCreesh is famous for liturgical reconstructions, which is to say producing music for an event that might have happened. This is a Lutheran Mass of 1620. The congregation, as important in Lutheran as in Anglican liturgy, is gloriously played by 250 trained choristers and all is recorded in Roskilde Cathedral, Denmark. Truly glorious Christmas music! McCreesh has done at least two other great Christmas recordings:
John Sheppard's (1515-1558) Missa Cantate, probably composed for the Chapel Royal of Queen Mary Tudor, appropriately includes the Salisbury Cathedral Boy Choristers and reproduces the third mass of Christmas day according to the Sarum Rite. The reformation*#8212;both Roman and English—abolished the Sarum Rite, but it does live on in some of our Anglican liturgical music. This is a must for anyone interested in the liturgy of the English Church and the excellent notes are essential reading. (DG Archiv 457 658-2)
Bach's Epiphany Mass, a 2CD set, reproduces the a Lutheran mass for the Epiphany, one of the highest feast days of the Lutheran year. (DG Archiv 457 658-2)
Sarum Chant—Missa in Gallicantu, the first mass of Christmas according to the Sarum rite. A friend, a retired RC priest, recommends this as the best recording of Gregorian [Sarum] Chant that he has ever heard. The Tallis Scholars, the ensemble here, are arguably the best a capella choir in the English speaking world, and the all male voices are very rich indeed.
Handel's Messiah. Even though Messiah fits any time of year, it has become associated with Christmas. My personal favourite remains Christopher Hogwood's, with the Choir of Christ Church Oxford and his own Academy of Ancient Music. (Decca L'Oiseau-Lyre) The Penguin Guide to CDs gives top marks to Masaaki Suzuki's Bach Collgium Japan. (Bis CD) Actually when asked about a recommendation for Messiah at Christmastide, my initial response is to ask a customer if the they have a good recording of
Bach's Weihnacht's Oratorium [Christmas Oratorio] which is truly Christmas music, you wouldn't think of playing it any other time of year. It comprises six separate Cantatas, each specified for one of the 12 days of Christmas. A top recommendation is John Eliot Gardiner conducting his own ensembles, The Monteverdi Choir and The English Baroque Soloists. (DG Archiv 423 232-2) although Suzuki's is also well regarded.
In closing, a couple of mentions of non-vocal Christmas music. One of the most beloved pieces of Christmas orchestral music is Archangelo Corelli's concerto grosso opus 6 no. 8 (concerto da chiesa no 8, "fatto per la notte di Natale"). This is liturgical music, intended for the Christmas eve mass. A top recommendation, with Chiara Banchini's 40 plus period instrument orchestra, is a 2CD set of all 12 concerti in the opus 12 set just reissued at budget 2CDs for the price of one! (harmonia mundi). And the very last—but not least—word is for The Sackville All-Star Christmas Record: definitely Christmas, sacred and secular, definitely jazz. This ensemble was a frequent feature on CBCs Gilmour's Albums. (Sackville CD 2-3038).