Monthly Archives - December 2020

50 CLASSIC CHRISTMAS SONGS, WITH KINGS COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE

FAB Distribution (Double CD)

At the end of November each year, I start to get very anxious, in pulling out my favourite Christmas C.D.s My favourite of all time is this double CD of “50 Classic Christmas Carols, Kings College Cambridge” directed by the late Sir David Willcock.

Along with all of the traditional carols, are some brilliant descants (countermelodies) written mostly by Sir David.  There are some delightful gems on this  CD such as “In the Bleak Mid-Winter”, Tavener’s “Little Lamb Who Made Thee,” “I Sing of a Maiden”  “The Holly and Ivy”, “Jesus Christ the Apple Tree,” “The Three Kings” (Cornilious)  and the “Sussex Carol” which is one of my favourites carol.

Sir David Willcocks was an icon in international choral music. He was a talented musician, organist, pianist, conductor, composer and arranger. Willcock’s musical arrangements for Christmas are legendary. We have a cannon of “Carols Book One-Three” and Willcocks also engaged John Rutter to write some marvellous arrangements.  These pieces are now classic arrangements for any professional to the non-professional choir to perform.

I highly recommend this CD of “50 Classic Carols” by Kings College Choir, as part of your Christmas music collection.  I especially love to put this recording on while I am decorating the tree or just having some “quiet time” during December, a week or so before Christmas.

Hearing the choral voicing,  organ, piano or other special instruments in the orchestra gives me such a feeling of peace” and as John Rutter, said recently in a documentary, “Hearing the music and being a part of King’s College Choir, let’s one put away all of the chaos of the world, for least two hours.” I so agree with Rutter’s statement!

The Advent season is one of my favourite times of the year. As I get to sing, speak out or share my faith to all through these fabulous carols or in singing “Handel’s Messiah” in December.  Now it’s time to bring out the plum pudding (with special sauce) and of course a cup of tea, Cheers!

What are your favourite Christmas carols?  Let us know your comments in the section below.

THE ESSENTIAL CAROL KING (Double CD, 2010, One Epic Legacy)
I have always loved the music and artistry of “Carol King.”  For me, it is her melodies, and the lyrics to such great hits as “You’ve Got a Friend”. It’s too Late”, You Make Me Feel Like a Natural Woman”, “Tapestry,” and “I Feel the Earth Move” and many more!  This CD is separated into two sections Disc 1 is “The Singer” and Disc 2 is “The Songwriter” and what a double CD this collection is!

As Carol King’s musical legacy is part of my “youthful years,” I wanted to be a “singer/songwriter.” I would purchase every new album that King would release.  I find for my ADHD issues, that King’s music brings to a “place of stability” and “homey-ness.” Some of these songs in this collection have a “rock and roll” focus. I usually don’t play them unless it is the end of the day or that I have “got all of my lists and my work completed.” How about you, how does Carol King’s music “make you feel”?

Baroque Violin, Venice Baroque Orchestra, (Sony Music, 2000)

I love this CD, and I play it frequently in my playlist! There is something about the Baroque Violin in its richness that is so different from traditional violins.  The first few cuts of these Vivaldi’s selections featured in the CD are speedy, and you need to go back and listen to them again.   The artistry of Giuliano Carmignola will leave you spellbound.

I would love to hear your thoughts on the selections that are performed from this CD.   List your comments below.

“YO-YO MA J.S. BACH”, “VIVALDI’S CELLO” AND “CLASSIC YO YO” (SONY MUSIC)

I love the artistry of Yo-Yo Ma and his outstanding performances on the cello. There is something about the cello that is close to the human voice.  In “Bach” CD, I love the first piece “ Suite No 1 in G Major, BWV 1007”…there is something about this piece that if I have had a very or “stressful full day” with my ADHD. I put this CD on, especially on “reset” and I listen to this piece a few times as it calms my entire body down.  The rest of the CD is exceptional!  J.S. Bach’s music overall helps me when I want to focus or get mellow at the end of a remarkably busy day!

From the “Vivaldi’s Cello” CD, I love these two pieces “Concerto in G Minor for Two Cellos, Strings and Basso Continuo”  RV 531 and “Concerto in B Flat Major for Cello, Strings and Basso Continuo” RV 423, these pieces were written in the Baroque period. I love to put on these recordings when I am working in the office and have “fussy” work to do, such as filing papers or cleaning my office desk or organizing my library. 

Ralph Carmichael, Conductor and Arranger, London Symphony Orchestra and Choir (2004)

This is an exceptional CD of treasured hymns all arranged by the incredible Ralph Carmichael.  Carmichael was very well known in the 1950s, and through the 1970s; in the’50s Ralph worked with Capital Records and wrote arrangements for Nat King Cole.

If you want to know more about Carmichael, check out my book, in (Chapter 13: Praise Bands, Jesus Rock and Contemporary Worship) I interviewed Ralph in the early 90s. This CD, for me, brings “stability” as I was a child raised in the church and hymns were a part of my musical training, as well as learning the lyrics of these “traditional hymns.”

These hymns provide such a strong foundation for my faith.  Musically, you can’t get anyone better to listen to or enjoy than Carmichael’s arrangements. This CD details such favourites such as: “Oh For a Thousand Tongues to Sing”, “Jesus Shall Reign”, “And Can It Be That I Should Gain” (this piece is one of my favourites due to the bass part), “Holy, Holy, Holy” and “Just As I Am”. 

Kathleen Battle and Jessye Norman(1991, Deutsche Gramophone)All Posts

I have loved “spirituals” ever since I started to sing in choirs. This CD with these superb arrangements of traditional black spirituals are exceptional!  I receive a lot of peace when I listen to this type of music. I usually sing along either the melodies or the harmonies, if I know the piece.  Both Kathleen Battle and the late Jessye Norman are fantastic singers and are so talented, that they both can sing and perform anything!

I especially love the pieces “ In the Great Getting Up Morning”, “Oh What a Beautiful City,” and “Ride On, King Jesus” (Norman) and “There is a Balm in Gilead” (Battle).  This whole CD is so exceptional, and I hope that you will enjoy it!

Please in the comments below, let us know how you enjoyed this CD!