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December 14, 2008
Lane Series Favorite Holiday Music
Here are a few of our favorite music we like to listen to this time of year:
Lane Series Director Jane Ambrose responded with:
• The Rose Ensemble!
• BIS recording of Bach: Christmas Oratorio with Suzuki conducting.
• Eva adds Il Giardino Armonico playing Christmas Concertos on Teldec.
and "Happy holidays from snowy Switzerland!"
Natalie Neuert, Lane Series Manager, is recommending:
• Sufjan Stevens' Songs for Christmas (beautiful, folky, original).
• The Roches: We Three Kings (well-known and not so well-known carols and songs with the Roche sister's wonderful 3 part harmonies).
• Brian Setzer Orchestra: Dig that Crazy Christmas (that funky 50's Stray Cats sound - great for tree trimming).
• Klezmatics: Woody Guthrie's Happy Joyous Chanukah (fun).
She says, "I'm also thinking about buying this year: Bela Fleck & the Flecktones' Jingle all the Way, and the remastered version of Ella Fitzgerald's Ella Wishes you a Swinging Christmas which has gotten great reviews.
and yes, I admit it, nothing quite says the holidays like A Charlie Brown Christmas..."
Roxanne Vought (Lane Series Logistics and Special Events Coordinator) likes
• The Best of Nowell Sing We Clear, 1975-1986
You can read about them here. I grew up listening to their albums (on record!) and their joy and sorrow inspired many sing-a-longs as we prepared for the Solstice and the New Year. Many of the carols come from the Oxford book of Carols.
• The Hilliard Ensemble's recording of Bach/Webern: Ricercar on ECM
Here is a link to Christoph von Dohnányi conducting the The Arnold and Ruth Black Pick-Up Philharmonia as part of the 2007 BBC Proms:
http://www.google.com/cse?cx=013269018370076798483:gg7jrrhpsy4&cof=FORID:1&q=Bach-Webern:+Ricercar&sa=Search
And of course, Bing Crosby's White Christmas.
Here are some of the choices from Lane Series Board members:
From Lisa Hughes, board president:
I love Met Stars at Christmas and the big band version (maybe Glenn Miller Orchestra?) of the Nutcracker!
Jean Pilcher's absolute favorite is EMI's "Christmas Carols from King's College" featuring The Choir from King's College, Cambridge conducted by Sir David Willcocks and Philip Ledger with organists Ian Hare, Francis Grier and John Wells, and the Philip Jones Brass Ensemble. Produced in 1985.
Frederick Noonan likes December by George Winston, piano on the Windham Hill label. "Easy listening and even includes brief snatches of Christmas carols without being too earnestly Christian about it."
Renee Reiner confesses, "It's sappy, I know, but Peter, Paul & Mary's Holiday Celebration comes to mind. This from the Jewish member of the group!
Best wishes for good health and abundance this holiday season."
Robbie Stanley is listening to:
• Christmastide by Jessye Norman
• Kiri Te Kanawa, Ave Maria Both of these artists bring the best in seasonal vocal music.
• A Windham Hill Christmas and the Winter's Solace CDs by Windham Hill artists - Instrumentals, peaceful, serene.
• The Chieftains, The Bells of Dublin - A rolicky mix of seasonal favorites. The Chieftains are joined by an odd assortment of vocalists - everyone from Jackson Browne to Burgess Meredith - but it works.
Posted by lane at December 14, 2008 12:55 PM