Search - William Byrd, Josquin Desprez, Hieronymus Praetorius :: Christmas Carols & Motets

Wonderful CD for ANY time of year!

S. Joiner | 11/10/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This was my first Tallis Scholars CD. I love it, especially "Angelus ad Virginum". One of the later tracks, (#9?), I have been fooled several times into thinking I heard strings, when of course, it was simply their very clear and precisely blended vocals. Unbelievable. Highly recommended."

Christmas CD

R. K. Buttacavoli | Apollo, PA | 01/19/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

""Christmas Carols and Motets" offers a welcome and high quality divergence from the standard muzak carols. Anyone who appreciates Renaissance or Baroque music will find this CD most satisfying. Much of our rich holiday musical history is lost in the stultifying repetition of our standard carols. This CD brings that history to life and allows us to reach across centuries, briefly touching the melodies that enriched our ancestors lives."

A voice teacher and early music fan

George Peabody | Planet Earth | 03/21/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"1986 TALLIS SCHOLARS RECORDING PRESENTS THREE TRADITIONAL WAYS OF CELEBRATING CHRISTMAS IN MUSIC, AND THE PRESENTATION IS SUPERB!

The three ways are medieval carols, renaissance motets praising the Virgin Mary, and German chorales. All of these are sung in their original forms, without 'modern' arrangements, and culminate in three versions of the 'COVENTRY CAROL', which includes Byrd's 'LULLABY'(a truly beautiful work performed often by countertenors).



This is followed by four settings of 'AVE MARIA' presented in chronological order of composition: Two early renaissance examples by Josquin de Pres(1440-1521) and Verdelet (1520-1550)with two by the great Spanish composer Victoria (1548-1611).



The last group of pieces is made up of some attractive traditional chorale melodies, harmonized by the German composers Hieronymous Praetorious(1560-1629) and Michael Praetorious(1571-1621) not related to each other, and by J.S.Bach (1685-1750).



The carol was one of the main forms of popular music in medieval Europe, and it seems that most of them reflected religious concerns. There are some carols associated with drinking and fighting, but the majority are related to leading yearly religious feast days.



This group of Tallis Scholars includes ten singers, all very fine as per usual. Of course, as with many choral ensembles, personnel does change from time to time. But I must say that I have never heard a really 'bad' sounding Tallis Scholars recording. Their Gimell recordings demonstrate singing at its finest point: clear voiced non-straining sopranos, mellow velvet-toned countertenors, tunefully resonant tenors and vibrant non-rumbling basses. Good diction, good vocal balance and ample emotional investment. I LOVE this recording. Thank-you Peter Phillips!





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