Search - Alfred Burt & The Jimmy Joyce Singers :: This Is Christmas

Definitive arrangements of Burt Carols

Michael E. Deak | Gig Harbor, WA USA | 12/11/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I was sorry to see the negative review by the gentleman from Nebraska. As a composer, I found these arrangements to be sensitive as well as musically sophisticated. The feeling for the text is magical--the music underlying the emotional content of the words superbly rendered. The music of the original Burt arrangement is present in the last verse of each carol, while the arrangements done for Joyce comprise the first verses. I found the poignancy of these performances touching and heartfelt. I recommend this recording with no reservations."

Alfred Burt is in here somwhere...

David A. Beamer | Clawson, MI United States | 12/27/2000

(1 out of 5 stars)

"...but he's kind of hard to find. While all 15 Burt carols are here, the music is quite disappointing -- because most of it isn't Burt's. Arrangers (or should I say "meddlers"?) decided to rewrite all of them. What you get in each carol (which typically have 3 verses) is 2 verses of Burt's melody on top on the arrangers harmonies, and then one verse of the straight Burt carol.This means, for instance, that "Caroling, Caroling" doesn't begin with those familiar bouncing chords. Various verses of the same carol are performed in different keys (very jarring). Much of the time, the melody is accompanied by humming and ooohing.The Jimmy Joyce Singers are nothing to write home about. They do a serviceable rendition, but without inspiration. Their leader takes the solo turn in 3 carols, and that's a poor decision -- he does not have a soloist's voice.If you want a good performance of the (mostly) unadulterated Burt, I suggest you search for an old out-of-print LP done by a group called Singers Unlimited. (Update, 2002: that old LP has finally been remastered to CD.) About half of the Burt carols are there (along with some other jazzy carol renditions), and the Burt carols are done they way Burt wrote them. And performed with style and class.But as for this CD -- don't bother, unless you absolutely have to have the Burt carols and just cannot find them anywhere else."

An Excellent Christmas CD

A. Craig | Grand Junction,CO | 10/23/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This recording of the Carols of Alfred S. Burt is one of the few



ones that attempted to put the complete carols before the public



There was one with Fred Waring and the Pennsylvanians which is



available on CD just search for Fred Waring and look over the



page that comes up very carefully you will see an ad for it.



The other was made by the Warner Bros. label. As far as I can



tell it is not currently in print. This CD issue from Collegium



brings to CD one of the better acapella performances of these



modern carols I have yet to hear. Many reviewers have commented



that these performances lack spirit and heart, I must disagree



the Jimmy Joyce Singers deliver plenty of heartfelt and sincere



spirit. They do something special here, they just sing the carols



without any affectation or any other such devices. All you get in



this CD is wonderful performances of Alfred Burt's carols.



This is a Christmas CD Keeper.



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