Notes and Editorial Reviews
MENEELY-KYDER
Dona nobis pacem. Little Seed of Brilliant Light. How Shall I Plant My Garden. In the Bleak Midwinter. The Nomad. Song of Mary. Lo, How a Rose. It Is Thou. Father, a Perfect Soul Is Born. Lord Jesus Is His Name. The Snow Lay on the Ground. Little Child. Christ Is Born in Bethlehem. How Softly Breathes Your Little Child. Christmas Lullaby. Silent Night. Hush. O Little Town of Bethlehem. Sing a Song of Christmas
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Mark Singleton, cond; Voce; Ad hoc O
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(Enhanced CD: 53:59)
Sarah Meneely-Kyder’s “A
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Garland of Hymns and Carols” owes its origins to the composer’s charming custom of appending miniature scores of her Christmas music—and in some cases, her poetry—to greeting cards intended for family and friends. Illustrated by her husband, artist Wayne Kyder, these cards became a family tradition that has endured for 27 years. Realizing that she had accumulated a substantial body of work and wishing to emphasize to her family that, yes, this was “real” music, she decided to record the complete series. Real this music most certainly is, and beautiful, as well. Understandably, many of these hymns and carols were inspired by Renaissance, Baroque, and medieval models, as those are the eras perhaps most firmly imprinted in the collective consciousness as founts of Christmas music. Meneely-Kyder has obviously absorbed these style’s salient features, showing, for example, a flair for polyphonic writing in her Renaissance-like pieces. She has a keen ear for instrumental color—the bells that lend a medieval air to
It Is Thou
, and the floating harp in the ethereal
Song of Mary
are but two memorable examples. I’d also like to mention the flowing piano accompaniment to
How Softly Breathes Your Little Child
, a lovely duet for female voices, that recalls Bach’s
Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring
. Meneely-Kyder doesn’t shy away from modernism, using seconds in one carol and freely employing atonality in others. These “advanced” techniques are handled lyrically and don’t disrupt the set’s musical or emotional coherence with violent discord or melodic angularity. In addition, she’s fond of modes, some of her own creation; she wrote at least one piece influenced by Arvo Pärt’s brand of “spiritual minimalism.” In mood, the collection encompasses contemplative repose and jubilant celebration, alternating among solo voice or duets,
a cappella
choir, and chorus plus instruments. The recording’s pleasing but not-excessive reverberation flatters the music without blurring the lines, and the instrumental and vocal timbres are realistically captured. The choir is smooth and well balanced, and the solo singers’ and instrumentalists’ contributions are first-rate. Be sure to listen to the bonus selection, a second version of
Dona nobis pacem
(not listed in the contents and played about five minutes after the apparent end of the CD). The two frame the collection and give Meneely-Kyder an opportunity to illustrate the same text in widely divergent styles. This is an enhanced CD, allowing buyers to view the cards in detail on their computer screens (they’re also prettily arranged on the booklet’s cover). “A Garland of Hymns and Carols” is a talented composer’s heartfelt gift to the world and a worthy addition to the genre.
FANFARE: Robert Schulslaper
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Works on This Recording
1.
Dona Nobis Pacem by Sarah Meneely-Kyder
Conductor:
Kenneth Singleton
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Ad Hoc Orchestra,
Voce
2.
Little Seed Of Brilliant Light by Sarah Meneely-Kyder
Conductor:
Kenneth Singleton
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Ad Hoc Orchestra,
Voce
3.
How Shall I Plant My Garden by Sarah Meneely-Kyder
Conductor:
Kenneth Singleton
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Ad Hoc Orchestra,
Voce
4.
In The Bleak Midwinter by Sarah Meneely-Kyder
Conductor:
Kenneth Singleton
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Ad Hoc Orchestra,
Voce
5.
The Nomad by Sarah Meneely-Kyder
Conductor:
Kenneth Singleton
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Ad Hoc Orchestra,
Voce
6.
Song Of Mary by Sarah Meneely-Kyder
Conductor:
Kenneth Singleton
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Ad Hoc Orchestra,
Voce
7.
Lo, How A Rose by Sarah Meneely-Kyder
Conductor:
Kenneth Singleton
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Ad Hoc Orchestra,
Voce
8.
It Is Thou by Sarah Meneely-Kyder
Conductor:
Kenneth Singleton
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Ad Hoc Orchestra,
Voce
9.
Father, A Perfect Soul Is Born by Sarah Meneely-Kyder
Conductor:
Kenneth Singleton
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Ad Hoc Orchestra,
Voce
10.
Lord Jesus Is His Name by Sarah Meneely-Kyder
Conductor:
Kenneth Singleton
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Ad Hoc Orchestra,
Voce
11.
The Snow Lay On The Ground by Sarah Meneely-Kyder
Conductor:
Kenneth Singleton
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Ad Hoc Orchestra,
Voce
12.
Little Child by Sarah Meneely-Kyder
Conductor:
Kenneth Singleton
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Ad Hoc Orchestra,
Voce
13.
Christ Is Born In Bethlehem by Sarah Meneely-Kyder
Conductor:
Kenneth Singleton
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Ad Hoc Orchestra,
Voce
14.
How Softly Breathes Your Little Child by Sarah Meneely-Kyder
Conductor:
Kenneth Singleton
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Ad Hoc Orchestra,
Voce
15.
Christmas Lullaby by Sarah Meneely-Kyder
Conductor:
Kenneth Singleton
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Ad Hoc Orchestra,
Voce
16.
Silent Night by Sarah Meneely-Kyder
Conductor:
Kenneth Singleton
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Ad Hoc Orchestra,
Voce
17.
Hush by Sarah Meneely-Kyder
Conductor:
Kenneth Singleton
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Ad Hoc Orchestra,
Voce
18.
O Little Town Of Bethlehem by Sarah Meneely-Kyder
Conductor:
Kenneth Singleton
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Ad Hoc Orchestra,
Voce
19.
Song Of Mary by Sarah Meneely-Kyder
Conductor:
Kenneth Singleton
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Ad Hoc Orchestra,
Voce
20.
Sing A Song Of Christmas by Sarah Meneely-Kyder
Conductor:
Kenneth Singleton
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Ad Hoc Orchestra,
Voce
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