Gloucestershire Wassail - Waverly Consort, Traditional
Gloria in Excelsis - Waverly Consort, Cowper, Robert
Gabriel, Fram Heven-King
Campanis Cum Cymbalis/Honoremus Dominam
Ave Mundi Rosa
Verbum Patris Hodie
Bethlehem - Waverly Consort, Billings, William
Exultation
Star in the East
Shiloh
Ther Is No Rose of Swych Vertu
This Endris Night I Saw a Sight - Waverly Consort, Traditional
Lully, Lulla, Thow Littel Tyne Child
The Darkest Midnight in December - Waverly Consort, Traditional
A Wassail Suite - Waverly Consort, Traditional
Traditional carols and hymns directed by Michael Jaffe. The liner notes give historical details behind the songs, including replications of the original Olde Englishe texte. The Waverly Consort is a pioneer in the early-mu... more »sic revival. It was founded in 1964 by Michael and Kay Jaffee to explore the fascinating sounds and styles of early musical repertories. Format: Audio CD, one disc Run time: 60:07 minutes Studio: EMI Classics ISBN: 724355519320« less
Traditional carols and hymns directed by Michael Jaffe. The liner notes give historical details behind the songs, including replications of the original Olde Englishe texte. The Waverly Consort is a pioneer in the early-music revival. It was founded in 1964 by Michael and Kay Jaffee to explore the fascinating sounds and styles of early musical repertories. Format: Audio CD, one disc Run time: 60:07 minutes Studio: EMI Classics ISBN: 724355519320
Ann-Marie | San Dimas, California USA | 02/21/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
""A Waverly Consort Christmas" is an outstanding mix of Christmas music "from East Anglia to Appalachia." Fans of early music will love th CD, , as well as those who enjoy Celtic and early American. There are familiar and traditional Christmas songs-- enough to keep it cozy. But I believe it is the new and perhaps unfamiliar selections that will draw and keep your attention. The Gregorian chant is absolutely heavenly and the early American pieces could make a persike dancing! My favorite selection is an early American piece called "Exultation." I never get tired of listening to this CD-- and in fact I play it all year long. I believe you will not be disappointed ."
Fabulous!
jenny la fleur | Virginia | 10/05/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I Adore this CD! If CDs wore out I would have replaced it twice already!Although it's a Christmas album I listen to it all year round. The arrangements, voices and songs have a beauty that is incredible. I love especially that some songs are solos and some sung by the group. Some have singing and some not. There is a slightly different feel to each song so I never get bored. The sound bites offered really don't show how great this album is. Track 1 is great, 5 & 11 hauntingly beautiful, 6 is a Gregorian chant with bells in the back ground, 9 (with a baritone solo) is so soothing but track 8 is my favorite. The old hymn is lovely and the 2 different soprano harmonies breathtaking!I can't recommend this CD enough! If you like old carols, period music, chants and rich harmonies-buy it!"
Christmas 365 days a year
jenny la fleur | 02/18/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Altho' this a purportedly Christmas album, it's charm extends to the entire year. The voices are are a revelation, and the harmonies are exquisite. One overlooked item in the other reviews are the interesting instrumentations on early instruments. Like the others, I am particularly taken with "Exultation", but there are so many other gems here, it is hard to pick a favorite. "Bethlehem" and "Shiloh" are great examples of 18th century New England puritan carols (if you thought the puritans were a grim and dour lot, wait till you hear this!), "Campanis cum Cymbalis" very consciously emulates English change-note bell ringing, and "The Darkest night in December" is a rare example of an Irish carol, wild and uplifting at the same time. The whole is bracketed with familiar carols: the Gloucester, Leeds and Yorkshire Wassails. This is a must-have album, not only for fans of early music, but for all who want something to relieve their "Rudolf the Red-nosed Reindeer" burn-out."
My Favorite Christmas CD
mary | Cape Girardeau, Mo United States | 10/05/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I bought this several years ago as I love the 1st track, it has joined the ranks of my very favorite Christmas CD's. I am upset that someone who purchased it mistakenly, as the title they state is different and the contents are plainly listed, was able to damage it's review.
I would suggest if they like the other so much the should pay to have the LP transfered to cd format as I have done with several of the old Goodyear christmas recordings!"
A voice teacher and early music fan
George Peabody | Planet Earth | 12/20/2008
(3 out of 5 stars)
"CHRISTMAS FROM EAST ANGLIA TO APPALACHIA
This is celebratory music of two worlds on the far sides of a vast ocean-old Britain and new America. It shows its origins in the ancient sonorous world of a group of northerly British isles. The music inludes a fullness of sonority produced by close-voiced, triadic chords: a strong chordal and even tonal orientation; a consonant harmonic sweetness punctuated by piquant dissonances and a close attachement to folk traditions, evidenced by tuneful, regularly phrased melodies, improvised harmony, and dance rhythms. In addition there is the ancient love of the full-throated song.
There are fifteen selections, some familiar (although somewhat alien in sound), some perhaps not known at all. Actually, I was familiar with most of them, but not in the context in which they are presented on this disc. They are: ten from England, one from Ireland, two fuguing tunes of the New England singing-master William Billings, and two shape-note folk hymns of the southern United States. Although distanced by miles and centuries they certainly share an abundant harmoniousness and the clear intent to impart joy through singing.
The singers of the Waverly Consort as well as the instrumentalists are very good at what they do, but this record lacked variety in every way: too much solo work with all manner of folk-type instruments, that after a while became incredibly monotonous. The best selections were those that included the group of singers (only three songs included the entire group). I kept comparing this recording to the very excellent recording entitled 'The Christmas Album' Festive Music from Europe and America by the Tavener Consort conducted by Andrew Parrott. That's the one to go for!!!!"
Track Listings (15) - Disc #1
