Carols of the Winter Solstice

Track Listings

1. Noel Nouvelet & Patapan

2. In The Bleak Midwinter

3. Do You Hear What I Hear & Little Drummer Boy

4. Bring A Torch Jeanette, Isabella

5. I Saw Three Ships

6. I Wonder As I Wander

7. Silent Night Fantasy

8. Carol of the Bells & Coventry carol

9. Still, Still Still

10. Christmas Canon/ Canon in D & First Noel

11. While Shepherds Watcher Their Flocks

12. Up On A Housetop

Editorial Reviews
About the Artist
Tick Tock Harp Duo unites two talented harpists. Kara Bershad and Stephen Hartman bring joy and magic to their audiences with repetoire spanning classical to popular and holiday. The symphonic harp is the youngest child in the prodigious history of the harp, a mere 200 years old. This duo was created to expand the scope of the instrument, featuring a wide array of styles, textures, and musical genres. Tick Tock brings forth music of substance as it widens the possibilities of the harp. Recent commissions for the duo are at the forefront of the harp literature. Both the visual appeal and the enormous capabilities of the two harps in tandem bring the listeners into a unique and fascinating world.

Product Description
Tick Tock Harp Duo's new release for the holidays is a unique setting of twelve intricately arranged carols. The musical scope of the richly woven textures ranges from a brilliant "Carol of the Bells" to a meditative fantasy on "Silent Night". The two harps are joined by percussion adding an exquisite dimension to an already dreamy collection of holiday favorites. A portion of the profits from Carols of the Winter Solstice will support research and treatment of pediatric AIDS.

Carols of the Winter Solstice,Ken Gist,Benjamin R. Hanby,Gustav Holst,Leo Marchildon,John Jacob Niles,Tick Tock Harp Duo,Christmas Traditional,Leo Murphy,Tick Tock,Choral,Christmas / Chanukkah,Christmas Music,Miscellaneous,Miscellaneous Music,Pop,Secular Choral Music with Keyboard (or Continuo),Vocal,Vocal Music

Tracks:

The Sheperd's Carol
On Christmas Day To My Heart
God Would Be Born In Thee
Bogoroditse Dyevo
The Angels
In Wintertime
Christmas Carol
The Three Kings
What Sweeter Music
A Gathering
Illuminare, Jerusalem
One Star, At Last
Carol For St. Steven
The Birthday Of Thy King
Winter Solstice Carol

Tracks:

Seinte Mari Moder Milde
The Gleam
Christo Paremus Cantica
Spring In Winter
Fayrfax Carol
Swete Jesu
Pilgrim Jesus

Customer Reviews:

Latest from the King's College Choir.......2006-12-21

I am immensely fond of the various Christmas albums put out by the Choir of King's College at the University of Cambridge. They represent the English tradition at its finest. I especially like the variants of the 9 Lessons and Carols in which biblical lessons are interspersed with the choral renditions. This tradition relates back to 1918 and has been broadcast(and telecast) worldwide since 1928, so I am not alone in my appreciation. This album presents an entirely new body of music in that it contains newer and unfamiliar compositions, some of which have been commissioned in past years for this program. There are 15 selections on the first disk and 7 on the second disk. Like any selection, some of the cuts are better than others, but all are quite beautiful. Whether any will become classics of the caliber of the more established material remains to be seen. But with Stephen Cleobury in charge, as he has been since 1982, long-time fans of the Choir know that a solid and quite enjoyable musical package awaits--especially at this holiday time of year.

This may not be appropriate easy listening for trimming the tree, but it is definitely a fine recording. .......2005-12-29

This is definitely not a CD of traditional Christmas Carols, but I feel it's a little harsh to claim that only two pieces on the entire recording are "melodic". Frankly, I don't even know what that means. To my ears all of the compositions here have what can be called a melody. Personally, I adore the "Fayrfax Carol" by Thomas Ades and cannot see how it would fail to fall under even the most close-minded definition of the word "melodic".

I agree with the previous reviewer that many of the pieces are harmonically abstract but, honestly, what do you expect from a CD of music written by contemporary composers for one of the finest choirs in the world? I would hope there would be no arrangements of "I Saw Three Ships".

If you're looking for a CD of traditional carols, there is no shortage of recordings. However, if you're looking for well-crafted, forward-thinking, modern compositions performed by a group on the cutting edge of choral music, look no further.

Flawless performance of unusual (though not always good) music.......2005-12-04

The Choir of Kings College is one of the best in the world--so of course the recording will sound excellent. In fact, I own several recordings by Kings College and they perform their best on this one. The purity of the sound and superb diction are just unsurpassed. But the music is just not that good. It's often too harmonically strange, overdramatic, and, frankly, too modern.

That's not to say there is not good music--actually, some of the best pieces of music are on this recording. Highlights include: Chilcott's haunting "The Shepherd's Carol" (which is one of the only two melodic pieces on the entire recording), Part's energetic "Bogoroditse Dyevo", Dove's dramatic "The Three Kings", Rutter's typical, but comparatively good "What sweeter music" (the other melodic piece), Weir's majestic "Illumniare Jerusalem" and Woolrich's sublime "Spring in Winter". There are a few honorable mentions--Berkeley's "In Wintertime" & Goehr's "Carol for St. Stephen"--but the other half of the recording is pretty much awful. The choir & Stephen Cleobury sound good trying--but the composers haven't given them much of value to work with.

An interesting addition to a music lover's collection, but I can't imagine it being enjoyable to someone looking for Christmas carols.

Average customer rating:

Excellent!!!

Winter Solstice Carols
Megha Morganfield
Manufacturer: Megha
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music

Opera & Vocal | Holiday | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music

Pop Vocal | Holiday | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music

Pop Vocal | Holiday Music | Special Features | Music
Similar Items:

Beautiful Darkness: Celebrating the Winter

ASIN: B00005NQIR
Release Date: 2001-08-14

Tracks:

Hark the Time Has Come Sing
To Folks and Friends
Voices We Have Heard on High
O Mother Earth Our Sacred Home
O Come All Ye Faithful
Halcyon Times
Joy to the World
Silent Night
Waiting for Passage
It Came Upon a Midnight Clear
Come Gather 'Round
World Expands in All Directions
Sadness of the Autumn Is Now O'Er
Dance of Life
Tamera's Repose

Customer Reviews:

Excellent!!!.......2003-12-02

I can't believe I'm the first person to review this album! Its absoutely wonderful!!!! I was looking all over the internet for some solstice cds and arrived at a neat Pagan site that had this one listed as a goodie so I got back on Amazon and went for it. I'm SO glad I did! The music is from many of the songs is music that most everyone will recognize from christmas but the lyrics have been changed to celebrate our mother earth, the great mystery. Oh its just beautiful! The music is simple, using guitars, harps etc, not with a lot of adornments; the vocals are clean and clear so you can hear what she's singing and sing along! Oh I just can't say enough great things about this CD! It'll definitely be well used this season across many of our family's houses!

Average customer rating:

Simply Lovely

Carols of the Winter Solstice

Manufacturer: Tick Tock
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | New Age | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Noels | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music

General Christmas | Holiday | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music

Pop Vocal | Holiday | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music

General | New Age | Indie Music | Stores | Music

General Christmas | Holiday Music | Special Features | Music

Pop Vocal | Holiday Music | Special Features | Music
ASIN: B00005J53K
Release Date: 2000-12-01

Tracks:

Noel Nouvelet & Patapan
In The Bleak Midwinter
Do You Hear What I Hear & Little Drummer Boy
Bring A Torch Jeanette, Isabella
I Saw Three Ships
I Wonder As I Wander
Silent Night Fantasy
Carol of the Bells & Coventry carol
Still, Still Still
Christmas Canon/ Canon in D & First Noel
While Shepherds Watcher Their Flocks
Up On A Housetop

Album Description

Tick Tock Harp Duo's new release for the holidays is a unique setting of twelve intricately arranged carols. The musical scope of the richly woven textures ranges from a brilliant "Carol of the Bells" to a meditative fantasy on "Silent Night". The two harps are joined by percussion adding an exquisite dimension to an already dreamy collection of holiday favorites. A portion of the profits from Carols of the Winter Solstice will support research and treatment of pediatric AIDS.

Customer Reviews:

Simply Lovely.......2006-01-06

The two harps combine with some delicate chimes for an ethereal sound. The selection of tunes is delightful listening for the holiday season.
The songs on the CD are:
Noel Novelet & Patapan
In the Bleak Midwinter
Do You Hear What I Hear & The Little Drummer Boy
Bring A Torch Jeanette, Isabella
I Saw Three Ships
I Wonder as I Wander
Silent Night Fantasy
Carol of the Bells & The Coventry Carol
Still, Still, Still
Canon in D & The First Noel

Pop Music:

Pop Music

pop music

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