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Christmas Songbook / The King's Singers


Release Date: 08/12/2016 
Label:  Signum Classics   Catalog #: 459   Spars Code: DDD 
Composer:  Traditional,  Walter "Jack" Rollins,  Johnny Marks,  Hugh Martin,   ... 
Orchestra/Ensemble:  King's Singers
Number of Discs: 1 
Recorded in: Stereo 
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Notes and Editorial Reviews

This new release is the Christmas equivalent of The King’s Singers’ recent release, Great American Songbook. Paying homage to the a capella group’s heritage while still acknowledging their modern passion for swing, the group mixes Christmas classics like “In the Bleak Midwinter,” and “The Holly and the Ivy,” with modern tunes such as “Winter Wonderland,” “Frosty the Snowman,” and “Sleigh Ride.” The group’s favorite arrangers have reworked all of these tunes specifically for the ensemble- Berty Rice, Keith Roberts, and Alexander L’Estrange.

REVIEW:

The latest King’s Singers CD, a seasonal celebration from Signum Classics, mixes well-known American carols with some from “the other side of the pond.” The result is a Read more blend that... is every bit as smooth as a perfectly prepared cup of hot cocoa, and just as warming.

The exceptional adaptability of the King’s Singers is shown in the handling here of songs as different as Santa Claus Is Coming to Town and White Christmas, either of which could easily be a throwaway and neither of which is. The group’s beautiful melding is apparent in different ways in numbers such as The First Nowell and Silent Night. The King’s Singers simply have a way of bringing joy to the world.

– Infodad.com Read less

Works on This Recording

1.
Ding Dong! Merrily on high by Traditional
Orchestra/Ensemble:  King's Singers
Period: Renaissance 
Written: 16th Century; France 
2.
Frosty the Snowman by Walter "Jack" Rollins
Orchestra/Ensemble:  King's Singers
3.
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer by Johnny Marks
Orchestra/Ensemble:  King's Singers
Period: 20th Century 
Written: 1949; USA 
4.
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas by Hugh Martin
Orchestra/Ensemble:  King's Singers
Period: 20th Century 
Written: 1943; United States 
5.
In the bleak mid-winter by Gustav Holst
Orchestra/Ensemble:  King's Singers
Period: 20th Century 
Written: by 1906; England 
6.
It came upon the midnight clear by Richard Storrs Willis
Orchestra/Ensemble:  King's Singers
Period: Romantic 
7.
It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas by Meredith Willson
Orchestra/Ensemble:  King's Singers
Period: 20th Century 
Written: 1951; USA 
8.
Minuit, Chrétiens "O holy night" by Adolphe Adam
Orchestra/Ensemble:  King's Singers
Period: Romantic 
Written: France 
9.
Santa Claus is comin' to town by John Frederic Coots
Orchestra/Ensemble:  King's Singers
Period: 20th Century 
Written: 1934; USA 
10.
Silent Night by Franz Xaver Gruber
Orchestra/Ensemble:  King's Singers
Period: Classical 
Written: 1818; Austria 
11.
Sleigh Ride by Leroy Anderson
Orchestra/Ensemble:  King's Singers
Period: 20th Century 
Written: 1948; USA 
12.
Still, still, still by Traditional
Orchestra/Ensemble:  King's Singers
Written: Austria 
13.
The first nowell by Traditional
Orchestra/Ensemble:  King's Singers
Written: England 
14.
The Holly and the Ivy by Traditional
Orchestra/Ensemble:  King's Singers
Written: England 
15.
Carol of the Bells by Traditional
Orchestra/Ensemble:  King's Singers
Written: Ukraine 
16.
We wish you a merry Christmas by Traditional
Orchestra/Ensemble:  King's Singers
Written: England 
17.
Holiday Inn: White Christmas by Irving Berlin
Orchestra/Ensemble:  King's Singers
Period: 20th Century 
Written: 1942; USA 

Customer Reviews

Average Customer Review:  ( 2 Customer Reviews )
 Delightful Christmas CD! February 1, 2017 By C. Pryor (Campbell, CA) See All My Reviews "The King's Singers are better than ever! We've been waiting a long time for another Christmas CD from them. Lots of variety, their wonderful touches of humor, plus dynamite arrangements. Do add this to our holiday collection! Musically and vocally, no group is better." Report Abuse
 Lovely Christmas album January 22, 2017 By Jean G. (San Anselmo, CA) See All My Reviews "I ordered through my local classical music radio station which receives a portion of the cost. Arkiv processed my order swiftly and this CD became my personal favorite for the past Christmas season-as a long time fan I was delighted to have another King's Singers holiday CD after a decade long wait. Nice mix of popular secular pieces and sacred traditional carols." Report Abuse
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