Noels Celtiques: Celtic Christmas Music From Brittany

Amazon.com
The spirited L'Ensemble Choral du Bout (the Chorale Ensemble of the World's End) formed in 1977 to preserve the Celtic musical heritage of Brittany, a Celtic region in northwest France. Comprised of two smaller regional choirs as well as singers from over 40 villages, the ensemble offers a lighter alternative to the slower, more solemn albums of Christmas church music. Recorded at Landévennec Abbey, this CD has an ancient, Celtic feel with instrumentation from flutes, claviers, bagpipes, guitar, and organ while often feeling contemporary during the livelier, melodious songs. There are original compositions here from choir director Christian Desbordes that weave in nicely with the traditional, Christian works. A good choice for the beginning listener of sacred Christmas music. --Karen Karleski

Tracks:

Joyful Memories
When He Was Born
Christmas
Sheperds On The Hill
Christmas
What Noise On Earth? (Instrumental)
The Angels Sang
Descend From The Heavens
What's New?
Oh, What A Wonderful Miracle!
In The Middle Of The Night
Christmas At Sea (Instrumental)

Amazon.com

The spirited L'Ensemble Choral du Bout (the Chorale Ensemble of the World's End) formed in 1977 to preserve the Celtic musical heritage of Brittany, a Celtic region in northwest France. Comprised of two smaller regional choirs as well as singers from over 40 villages, the ensemble offers a lighter alternative to the slower, more solemn albums of Christmas church music. Recorded at Landévennec Abbey, this CD has an ancient, Celtic feel with instrumentation from flutes, claviers, bagpipes, guitar, and organ while often feeling contemporary during the livelier, melodious songs. There are original compositions here from choir director Christian Desbordes that weave in nicely with the traditional, Christian works. A good choice for the beginning listener of sacred Christmas music. --Karen Karleski

Customer Reviews:

Lovely Christmas music from an unusual location!.......2006-01-18

Most of the other reviewers have pretty well summed up this recording. I just want to add a few comments which may be helpful to those considering purchase of this CD.

The level of performance is outstanding! There is no sloppiness, no folksy rough edge, to this music. Everything is presented beautifully and artistically. The arrangements are interesting, varied, and highly artistic; they bring out the best in this hauntingly lovely music from Brittany.

The 12 pieces include 10 with voices and 2 instrumentals. Most are traditional Breton songs, but two are Welsh and one is Cornish. (Welsh and Cornish are the other two Celtic languages of the Brythonic branch, and thus most closely related to Breton; the other (Goidelic) branch, including Irish, Scots Gaelic, and Manx, is somewhat more remote.) All songs are sung in Breton, the Welsh and Cornish songs being translated. Four songs are composed, rather than traditional. All the arrangements, I believe, were done by members of the groups represented here.

The general mood of the music is appropriately religious, "churchy," and Christmas-like, but with a special piquancy provided by the addition of celtic instruments and styles. That combination offers all the satisfactions of regular Christmas music along with the freshness and variety of ethnic music.

Production values of this CD are exceptional. The recorded sound is gorgeous and the spatial image is great. The booklet is beautiful, and the notes, in English, are quite generous. Song texts are given in Breton, French, and English, so you can grasp the meanings without any special linguistic background.

If you are looking for Christmas music which is off the beaten track but which is absolutely lovely and musically satisfying, then you could hardly do better than this CD. I recommend it heartily and count it among my very finest recordings.

An interesting change for Christmas music.......2005-12-01

While we tend to think of the Celts as being only residents of the British Isles, in fact, the Celts were also dominant at one time in much of western Europe. One of the remaining bastions of Celtic influence remains in Brittany. Most of these songs are song in Breton. While it is not possible for most of us to understand the lyrics, it makes no difference. The music is frequently ethereal, sometimes medieval, and usually lovely. The Choral is musically adept and if you want a change of pace from the same old tired and overplayed Christmas tunes, this provides an esoteric relief. Assuredly, this is not everyone's "cup of tea," but if you like ancient music, excellent choral groups, a capella music, pipe organs and something out of the ordinary, then this is a "must have" album. I am certainly glad that I added it to my collection.

Wonderful.......2004-12-12

This is not your typical Christmas album, but I can assure you. This is a good thing.

This is Celtic Christmas music from Brittany (and, contrary to what others have said here it is not sung in French but in Breton which is the ancient Celtic language of Brittany, a region in northeast France). It is sung by a choir and although you may not fully understand what is being sung there is no doubt as to the thought, feeling, and emotion behind it. This far outdoes the typical Christmas fare you have come to expect these days. If you know that you can't bear to hear Celine Dion or Clay Akien again, give this a chance. The solitary bagpipe on "What Noise on Earth" would fit perfectly in parts of a midnight Mass and the final 1:20 (or so) of the final track "Christmas at Sea" is some of the most glorious and stirring Celtic music ever recorded.

Disappointed.......2003-10-14

I bought this CD based on the reviews of others who have it. Perhaps my hopes were a little high after reading the rave reviews this collection got, but I have to admit I am disappointed in it. It definitely has a Celtic flair and some of the songs are good, but the French vocals are a distraction for me. I knew it would be in French before I purchased it, but I guess I didn't gauge how it would actually affect me. Perhaps it will grow on me ... if not, it will be one of the lesser-listened to CDs in my Christmas collection.

Disappointed.......2003-10-14

I bought this CD based on the reviews of others who have it. Perhaps my hopes were a little high after reading the rave reviews this collection got, but I have to admit I am disappointed in it. It definitely has a Celtic flair, and some of the songs are good, but the French vocals are a definite distraction for me. I knew it would be in French before I purchased it, but I guess I didn't gauge how it would actually affect me. Perhaps it will grow on me ... if not, it will be one of the lesser-listened to CDs in my Christmas collection.

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