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A String Quartet Christmas - Volumes 1-3


Release Date: 09/28/2010 
Label:  Listen   Catalog #: 50001  
Composer:  Lowell Mason,  Traditional,  John Francis Wade,  Richard Storrs Willis,   ... 
Performer:  Nathaniel Rosen,  Alexander Romanul,  Arturo Delmoni,  Katherine Murdock,   ... 
Number of Discs: 3 
Recorded in: Stereo 
Length: 2 Hours 44 Mins. 

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Notes and Editorial Reviews

If ever a season called for music in the home, it is Christmas. In the days before recordings, members of the household, invariably proficient on one instrument or another, would play music together - both for their own enjoyment and to set a festive mood. The arrangements in this audiophile set from Arturo Delmoni, meticulously produced by John Marks, hearken back to those earlier days. And in that tradition of music-making, the modern household may well be inspired to sing along.


"A three-disc set that features excellent performers, including violinist Arturo Delmoni and cellist Nathaniel Rosen, and a huge chunk of holiday fare. These recordings were available separately in years past, but are gathered together Read more now in a neat package... This is a perfect product for anyone wanting to bring it down a little -- in this case, a whole lot, really -- and focus purely on the melodic beauty inspired by Christmas Time... The arrangements are sensitive, the playing really first-class. To vary the sonic flavor of a string quartet, there are occasional appearances of harp and organ. There are two dozen or so carols and other items per disc, covering many centuries and mixing the well-known with the rare and surprising. Among the surprises is an arrangement for violin and organ of the haunting Adagio from Alessandro Marcello's Oboe Concerto, which, somehow, takes on a reverential, Christmas Eve-like feeling in this context. " -- Tim Smith, The Baltimore Sun

"A first-class string quartet plays tasteful arrangements … in refreshingly ungimmicky style. Warmly recommended for those who like the tunes better than the words." -- The Washington Post

"A simple string quartet breathes new life into Christmas classics … brings out the natural beauty in the songs of Christmas. This album will substitute nicely if you won’t be having a live string quartet at this year’s Christmas party." -- The Christian Science Monitor
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Works on This Recording

1. Joy to the World by Lowell Mason
Performer:  Nathaniel Rosen (Cello), Alexander Romanul (Violin), Arturo Delmoni (Violin),
Katherine Murdock (Viola)
Period: Romantic 
Written: 19th Century; USA 
2. The first nowell by Traditional
Performer:  Arturo Delmoni (Violin), Nathaniel Rosen (Cello), Alexander Romanul (Violin),
Katherine Murdock (Viola)
Written: England 
3. Adeste fideles "O come, all ye faithful" by John Francis Wade
Performer:  Nathaniel Rosen (Cello), Katherine Murdock (Viola), Arturo Delmoni (Violin),
Alexander Romanul (Violin)
Period: Classical 
Written: by 1782; England 
4. It came upon the midnight clear by Richard Storrs Willis
Performer:  Nathaniel Rosen (Cello), Katherine Murdock (Viola), Arturo Delmoni (Violin),
Alexander Romanul (Violin)
Period: Romantic 
5. O little town of Bethlehem by Lewis H. Redner
Performer:  Nathaniel Rosen (Cello), Katherine Murdock (Viola), Arturo Delmoni (Violin),
Alexander Romanul (Violin)
Period: Romantic 
Written: 1868; USA 
6. Silent Night by Franz Xaver Gruber
Performer:  Nathaniel Rosen (Cello), Alexander Romanul (Violin), Arturo Delmoni (Violin),
Katherine Murdock (Viola)
Period: Classical 
Written: 1818; Austria 
7. Angels from the realms of glory by Traditional
Performer:  Arturo Delmoni (Violin), Nathaniel Rosen (Cello), Alexander Romanul (Violin),
Katherine Murdock (Viola)
Written: France 
8. Away in a manger by William J. Kirkpatrick
Performer:  Katherine Murdock (Viola), Alexander Romanul (Violin), Nathaniel Rosen (Cello),
Arturo Delmoni (Violin)
Period: 20th Century 
Written: USA 
9. Gaudeamus by Antony Hopkins
Performer:  Katherine Murdock (Viola), Alexander Romanul (Violin), Nathaniel Rosen (Cello),
Arturo Delmoni (Violin)
Period: 20th Century 
Written: England 
10. Deck the Halls by Traditional
Performer:  Nathaniel Rosen (Cello), Katherine Murdock (Viola), Arturo Delmoni (Violin),
Alexander Romanul (Violin)
Written: Wales, UK 
11. Angels we have heard on high by Traditional
Performer:  Nathaniel Rosen (Cello), Katherine Murdock (Viola), Arturo Delmoni (Violin),
Alexander Romanul (Violin)
Written: France 
12. Good King Wenceslas by Traditional
Performer:  Nathaniel Rosen (Cello), Katherine Murdock (Viola), Arturo Delmoni (Violin),
Alexander Romanul (Violin)
Written: England 
13. The golden Carol by Traditional
Performer:  Katherine Murdock (Viola), Alexander Romanul (Violin), Nathaniel Rosen (Cello),
Arturo Delmoni (Violin)
Period: Classical 
Written: 18th Century; England 
14. Here we come a-wassailing by Traditional
Performer:  Nathaniel Rosen (Cello), Katherine Murdock (Viola), Arturo Delmoni (Violin),
Alexander Romanul (Violin)
Written: England 
15. Un flambeau, Jeannette, Isabelle by Traditional
Performer:  Alexander Romanul (Violin), Nathaniel Rosen (Cello), Arturo Delmoni (Violin),
Katherine Murdock (Viola)
Written: France 
16. The Holly and the Ivy by Traditional
Performer:  Arturo Delmoni (Violin), Katherine Murdock (Viola), Alexander Romanul (Violin),
Nathaniel Rosen (Cello)
Written: England 
17. What child is this? by Traditional
Performer:  Katherine Murdock (Viola), Arturo Delmoni (Violin), Nathaniel Rosen (Cello),
Alexander Romanul (Violin)
Period: Renaissance 
Written: 16th Century; England 
18. God rest ye merry, gentlemen by Traditional
Performer:  Nathaniel Rosen (Cello), Katherine Murdock (Viola), Arturo Delmoni (Violin),
Alexander Romanul (Violin)
Written: England 
19. Lully, lulla, thow littel tyne child "Coventry Carol" by Traditional
Performer:  Arturo Delmoni (Violin), Nathaniel Rosen (Cello), Alexander Romanul (Violin),
Katherine Murdock (Viola)
Period: Renaissance 
Written: 16th Century; England 
20. O come, O come Emmanuel by Traditional
Performer:  Arturo Delmoni (Violin), Nathaniel Rosen (Cello), Alexander Romanul (Violin),
Katherine Murdock (Viola)
Period: Renaissance 
Written: 15th Century; France 
21. In dulci jubilo by Traditional
Performer:  Alexander Romanul (Violin), Katherine Murdock (Viola), Arturo Delmoni (Violin),
Nathaniel Rosen (Cello)
Period: Medieval 
Written: 12th Century; Germany 
22. O sanctissima "Sicilian Mariners" by Traditional
Performer:  Nathaniel Rosen (Cello), Arturo Delmoni (Violin), Alexander Romanul (Violin),
Katherine Murdock (Viola)
23. We wish you a merry Christmas by Traditional
Performer:  Nathaniel Rosen (Cello), Katherine Murdock (Viola), Arturo Delmoni (Violin),
Alexander Romanul (Violin)
Written: England 
24. Musae Sioniae: Es ist ein' Ros' entsprungen by Michael Praetorius
Performer:  Arturo Delmoni (Violin), Nathaniel Rosen (Cello), Katherine Murdock (Viola),
Alexander Romanul (Violin)
Period: Renaissance 
Written: by 1609; Germany 
25. Ave Maria by Charles Gounod
Performer:  Emily Mitchell (Harp), Nathaniel Rosen (Cello), Natasha Lipkina (Viola),
Nina Bodnar (Violin), Arturo Delmoni (Violin)
Period: Romantic 
Written: 1859; France 
26. Adam lay ybounden by Traditional
Performer:  Nina Bodnar (Violin), Emily Mitchell (Harp), Arturo Delmoni (Violin),
Natasha Lipkina (Viola), Nathaniel Rosen (Cello)
27. L'enfance du Christ, Op. 25: L'adieu des bergers by Hector Berlioz
Performer:  Nathaniel Rosen (Cello), Natasha Lipkina (Viola), Nina Bodnar (Violin),
Arturo Delmoni (Violin), Emily Mitchell (Harp)
Period: Romantic 
Written: 1850-1854; France 
28. Il est né, le divin enfant by Traditional
Performer:  Arturo Delmoni (Violin), Emily Mitchell (Harp), Natasha Lipkina (Viola),
Nathaniel Rosen (Cello), Nina Bodnar (Violin)
Period: Renaissance 
Written: 15th Century; France 
29. In the bleak mid-winter by Gustav Holst
Performer:  Arturo Delmoni (Violin), Nina Bodnar (Violin), Natasha Lipkina (Viola),
Emily Mitchell (Harp), Nathaniel Rosen (Cello)
Period: 20th Century 
Written: by 1906; England 
30. Was mir behagt, ist nur die muntre Jagd!, BWV 208 "Hunt Cantata": Schafe können sicher weiden by Johann Sebastian Bach
Performer:  Natasha Lipkina (Viola), Arturo Delmoni (Violin), Nina Bodnar (Violin),
Nathaniel Rosen (Cello), Emily Mitchell (Harp)
Period: Baroque 
Written: 1713; Cöthen, Germany 
31. All through the night by Traditional
Performer:  Natasha Lipkina (Viola), Nathaniel Rosen (Cello), Nina Bodnar (Violin),
Arturo Delmoni (Violin)
Written: Wales, UK 
32. El noy de la mare by Traditional
Performer:  Natasha Lipkina (Viola), Nathaniel Rosen (Cello), Nina Bodnar (Violin),
Arturo Delmoni (Violin)
Period: Romantic 
Written: Spain 
33. Once in Royal David's City by Henry John Gauntlett
Performer:  Nina Bodnar (Violin), Natasha Lipkina (Viola), Arturo Delmoni (Violin),
Emily Mitchell (Harp), Nathaniel Rosen (Cello)
Period: Romantic 
Written: 19th Century; England 
34. Ding Dong! Merrily on high by Traditional
Performer:  Natasha Lipkina (Viola), Nathaniel Rosen (Cello), Nina Bodnar (Violin),
Arturo Delmoni (Violin)
Period: Renaissance 
Written: 16th Century; France 
35. Fairest Lord Jesus "Crusader's Hymn" by Traditional
Performer:  Natasha Lipkina (Viola), Nathaniel Rosen (Cello), Nina Bodnar (Violin),
Arturo Delmoni (Violin)
36. Ellens Gesang III, D 839/Op. 52 no 6 "Ave Maria" by Franz Schubert
Performer:  Nina Bodnar (Violin), Emily Mitchell (Harp), Nathaniel Rosen (Cello),
Natasha Lipkina (Viola), Arturo Delmoni (Violin)
Period: Romantic 
Written: 1825; Vienna, Austria 
37. Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben, BWV 147: Jesu bleibet meine Freude "Jesu, joy of man's desiring" by Johann Sebastian Bach
Performer:  Natasha Lipkina (Viola), Nathaniel Rosen (Cello), Nina Bodnar (Violin),
Arturo Delmoni (Violin)
Period: Baroque 
Written: 1723; Leipzig, Germany 
38. The Eastern Star So Bright And Clear by Traditional
Performer:  Natasha Lipkina (Viola), Nathaniel Rosen (Cello), Nina Bodnar (Violin),
Arturo Delmoni (Violin)
39. I saw three ships by Traditional
Performer:  Natasha Lipkina (Viola), Nathaniel Rosen (Cello), Nina Bodnar (Violin),
Arturo Delmoni (Violin)
Written: England 
40. Insprugk, ich muss dich lassen by Heinrich Isaac
Performer:  Natasha Lipkina (Viola), Nathaniel Rosen (Cello), Nina Bodnar (Violin),
Arturo Delmoni (Violin)
Period: Renaissance 
41. He Shall Feed His Flock by John Ness Beck
Performer:  Natasha Lipkina (Viola), Nathaniel Rosen (Cello), Nina Bodnar (Violin),
Arturo Delmoni (Violin)
42. Cherry Tree Carol by Traditional
Performer:  Natasha Lipkina (Viola), Nathaniel Rosen (Cello), Nina Bodnar (Violin),
Arturo Delmoni (Violin)
Written: England 
43. O Jesulein süss, o Jesulein mild by Samuel Scheidt
Performer:  Natasha Lipkina (Viola), Nathaniel Rosen (Cello), Nina Bodnar (Violin),
Arturo Delmoni (Violin)
Period: Baroque 
Written: by 1650; Halle, Germany 
44. Lute-book lullaby by Traditional
Performer:  Natasha Lipkina (Viola), Nathaniel Rosen (Cello), Nina Bodnar (Violin),
Arturo Delmoni (Violin)
45. Wexford Carol by Traditional
Performer:  Natasha Lipkina (Viola), Nathaniel Rosen (Cello), Nina Bodnar (Violin),
Arturo Delmoni (Violin)
Written: Ireland 
46. How brightly shone the morning star by Traditional
Performer:  Emily Mitchell (Harp), Arturo Delmoni (Violin), Nina Bodnar (Violin),
Natasha Lipkina (Viola), Nathaniel Rosen (Cello)
47. Carol of the Bells by Traditional
Performer:  Ellen DePasquale (Viola), Arturo Delmoni (Violin), Danielle Maddon (Violin),
Rafael Figueroa (Cello)
Written: Ukraine 
48. All my heart this night rejoices by Anonymous
Performer:  Ellen DePasquale (Viola), Arturo Delmoni (Violin), Danielle Maddon (Violin),
Rafael Figueroa (Cello)
Written: by 1704 
49. Candlelight Carol by John Rutter
Performer:  Ellen DePasquale (Viola), Arturo Delmoni (Violin), Danielle Maddon (Violin),
Rafael Figueroa (Cello)
Period: 20th Century 
Written: 1984; England 
50. Concerto for Oboe in D minor: 2nd movement, Adagio by Alessandro Marcello
Performer:  Arturo Delmoni (Violin), Timothy Smith (Organ)
Period: Baroque 
Written: by 1717; Italy 
51. The Christmas Rose by Gilbert M. Martin
Performer:  Timothy Smith (Organ)
52. When Christmas morn by Traditional
Performer:  Arturo Delmoni (Violin), Rafael Figueroa (Cello), Danielle Maddon (Violin),
Ellen DePasquale (Viola)
53. Stille, stille, lasst uns lauschen by Traditional
Performer:  Ellen DePasquale (Viola), Arturo Delmoni (Violin), Danielle Maddon (Violin),
Rafael Figueroa (Cello)
Period: 20th Century 
54. While shepherds watched their flocks by night by Traditional
Performer:  Arturo Delmoni (Violin), Rafael Figueroa (Cello), Danielle Maddon (Violin),
Ellen DePasquale (Viola)
Period: Renaissance 
Written: by 1592; England 
55. Christmas lullaby by John Rutter
Performer:  Ellen DePasquale (Viola), Arturo Delmoni (Violin), Danielle Maddon (Violin),
Rafael Figueroa (Cello)
56. Sans Day Carol by Traditional
Performer:  Ellen DePasquale (Viola), Arturo Delmoni (Violin), Danielle Maddon (Violin),
Rafael Figueroa (Cello)
Written: Cornwall, England 
57. Noëls (6) for Harp, Op. 32 by Marcel Tournier
Performer:  Emily Mitchell (Harp)
Period: 20th Century 
Written: France 
58. Noël Breton by Traditional
Performer:  Ellen DePasquale (Viola), Arturo Delmoni (Violin), Danielle Maddon (Violin),
Rafael Figueroa (Cello)
59. March of the Three Kings by Traditional
Performer:  Ellen DePasquale (Viola), Arturo Delmoni (Violin), Danielle Maddon (Violin),
Rafael Figueroa (Cello)
60. Thy little ones, dear Lord, are we by Traditional
Performer:  Ellen DePasquale (Viola), Arturo Delmoni (Violin), Danielle Maddon (Violin),
Rafael Figueroa (Cello)
61. From Heaven Above by Traditional
Performer:  Ellen DePasquale (Viola), Arturo Delmoni (Violin), Danielle Maddon (Violin),
Rafael Figueroa (Cello)
62. Angel's Carol "Have you heard the sound of angel voices" by John Rutter
Performer:  Ellen DePasquale (Viola), Arturo Delmoni (Violin), Danielle Maddon (Violin),
Rafael Figueroa (Cello)
Period: 20th Century 
Written: England 
63. Le Sommeil de l'Enfant Jesus by Paul-Henri Büsser
Performer:  Arturo Delmoni (Violin), Emily Mitchell (Harp), Timothy Smith (Organ)
Period: 20th Century 
Written: 1896; France 

Featured Sound Samples

Joy to the World (Mason)
The First Nowell (Traditional)
Adeste fideles "O Come, All Ye Faithful" (Wade)
Es ist ein' Ros' entsprungen (Praetorius)
Ave Maria (Gounod)
In the Bleak Mid-Winter (Holst)
Was mir behagt, ist nur die muntre Jagd!, BWV 208 "Hunt Cantata" (Bach): Schafe können sicher weiden (Sheep May Safely Graze)
Once in Royal David's City (Gauntlett)
Ding Dong! Merrily On High (Traditional)
Carol of the Bells (Traditional)
Stille, stille, lasst uns lauschen (Traditional)
While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks by Night (Traditional)
Sans Day Carol (Traditional)

Customer Reviews

Average Customer Review:  ( 2 Customer Reviews )
 Not what I expected December 23, 2012 By G. Fernandez (West Orange, NJ) See All My Reviews "This album has a few good songs, but there are too many other Non-Christmas songs. One CD would have been enough, not 3. Also, the actual quality of the CD is below average. The CD itself and the case feel like the kind you would get from a street vendor in NYC for $5. The CD would not play in my boombox, as if it were a cheap copy." Report Abuse
 Relaxing holiday music for the weary December 21, 2012 By Norbert B. (Portland, OR) See All My Reviews "Think of sitting in your chair before the fireplace drinking tea and eating cookies and cakes while a mesical ensemble is playing in the next room. This will reenergize you from all the sales and blaring mall tunes and put you back into the real spirit of Christmas. Enjoy." Report Abuse
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