Search - James Pierpont, George Frederick Handel, Christmas Traditional :: Simply Christmas

An enjoyable classical Christmas sampler

John O'Neill | Alpharetta, GA | 12/17/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This mid-price CD from Sony/BMG Masterworks is worth the price of admission if only for the five hard-to-find tracks featuring the trio of Jean-Pierre Rampal (flute), Alexandre Lagoya (guitar), and Michel Legrand (piano). "Jingle Bells" and "Deck the Halls" are both given original arrangements which sound like a mix of jazz and classical - sort of like the jazz suites of Claude Bolling - with the three musicians playing off each other. The other three tracks featuring the trio ("What Child Is This", "Silent Night", and "Il es ne le divin enfant") are more traditional in their arrangements but still feature some unique playing. It's wonderful that these tracks are available again.



In addition to the Rampal-Lagoya-Legrand tracks there is some beautiful harp featured on eight tracks. Ayako Shinozaki performs five tracks solo and teams up with Kazuko Shinozaki for two duets. There is also a duet between harpist Catrin Finch and counter tenor Terrance Barber.



Guitarist Ottmar Liebert performs a pleasant rendition of "I Saw Three Ships" supported by bass and other instruments in a recording that sounds like it would have been right at home on a Windham Hill "Winter's Solstice" CD.



More traditional "classical" performances are heard in the three movements from Corelli's Concerto grosso in g minor, Op. 6, No 8 - the "Christmas Concerto" and the piano duet performance of Bach's "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring".



Over an hour of enjoyable music that becomes essential for the Rampal, Lagoya, Legrand performances.



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