Search - Tim Janis :: American Christmas Carol

A Different Release By Tim Janis

Timothy Kearney | Hull, MA United States | 11/18/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Tim Janis has a distinct sound. His music often begins with a simple tin flute then crescendos into a rich lush orchestral sound, beautifully capturing the natural landscapes he tries to set to music. As much as I enjoy Janis, he's already released other Christmas collections, and his arrangements are somewhat similar in his previous releases. So I did wonder if this collection would be more of the same. It's not. This collection is a departure for Janis. While we still have the beautiful arrangements Janis is known for, this collection also has vocals. The musical selections are also somewhat different for Janis. Though the title is THE AMERICAN CHRISTMAS CAROL, many of the tracks are not Christmas music per se. Many of the selections are contemporary Christian worship hymns.



Now some fans of contemporary Christian worship music may wonder if an orchestra such as the ensemble led by Janis would have the sound usually associated with these songs. Usually the music is backed by amplified guitars and keyboards, hardly Tim Janis fare. Janis fans may also wonder if this is the Tim Janis they know and love. Well, it works and in the end, it does remind listeners of the religious basis of the holiday, the birth of Christ, The combination of the Christmas music and music used in worship services through the year makes Christmas moiré than just a once a year holiday, but rather the celebration of something central to the Christian faith.



As I was listening to this CD, I was reminded of a John Michael Talbot CD which combines traditional Christmas music and includes some traditional Catholic hymns sung at liturgies throughout the year. Talbot's CD tells a story as does this collection, and it's certainly a reminder of the true meaning of Christmas.

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