Simply Christmas
25-Nov-2004
Celebrating Christmas...in music, word and song
Various Artists
SP&S Recordings: SPS191CD
Total playing time: 74.50
This is simply a lovely recording in which to enjoy Christmas in a musical way. SP&S Recordings has brought together a whole host of fine artists to celebrate the joy of the festive season, and this release will make a fine present for anyone who wishes to enjoy the musical celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ.
The Salvation Army has of course a rich and rather formidable catalogue of music to choose from for such an occasion, and this release is full of excellent arrangements played by some of the best brass bands in the business, as well as the fine talents of the International Staff Songsters, Halifax Choral Society and Llandaff Cathedral Choir, in addition to some excellent solo voices and individual brass soloists.
The bands in question are indeed some of the very best; Black Dyke, Yorkshire Building Society, Fairey FP (Music) and Fodens (Courtois) have items from past recordings cherry picked for this release, whilst there are some lovely solo contributions from David Daws, David Childs, Iwan Williams, Chris Jeans and Stuart Lingard.
The arrangements are all excellent; none are overindulgent with the simplicity that retains the beauty and meaning of the original. You wouldn't expect anything less from the likes of Ernest Tomlinson, Mark Freeh, Robert Redhead, Leon Ballantine, Joy Webb etc and it allows the listener to sit back and relax and enjoy the whole 74 minutes of the CD, without ever having to skip a track.
For us though, the most enjoyable tracks were in fact not the brass band ones, but those of the International Staff Songsters who provide a wonderfully warm and cultured balanced ensemble sound in their offerings. The erudition is crisp and clear and the understanding of the subject matter, even in the most simple of carols is wonderfully brought to life; this really is singing with meaning.
It is also nice to listen to fine a plumby voice in the narrations in the 'The Birth of Jesus', 'The Visit of the Magi' and 'The Shepherds and the Angels' from Jamie King and also the sublime vocal talents of James Eager on 'Song of Peace' and Christina Rossetti's beautiful, 'In the Bleak Mid Winter'.
The other vocalists also shine, with Darren Bartleet, Cheryl Stone and Kevin Fenton - Herring all excelling, whilst there should be a special mention as well to the formidable talents of David Childs, David Daws and the rest of the brass band soloists who perform even these simple carols with a tenderness and sympathetic understanding of the musical line.
The recording also offers the chance to get your feet tapping as well, with clever arrangements of 'Ding Dong! Merrily on High' and 'Sleigh Ride' whilst the ubiquitous 'Hallelujah Chorus' (no Christmas would be complete without it) rounding off the recording in full throated fashion from Black Dyke and the Halifax Choral Society.
This is a very pleasant and enjoyable Christmas recording: fine playing and very fine vocal singing combine to provide the perfect CD to be played in the background as someone prepares the turkey, or fills up the first glass of sherry of the day on Christmas morning, or just as an accompaniment to quiet reflection of the true meaning of the birth of Jesus Christ. Just let it all float around you and enjoy some wonderful music written for a wonderful occasion.
Iwan Fox
What's on this CD?
1. Ding Dong! Merrily On High, Branle de L'Official, 1.58
The International Staff Songsters
2. Sleigh Ride, Leroy Anderson, arr. Tomlinson, 2.47
Yorkshire Building Society
3. Candlelight Carol, John Rutter, 4.38
The International Staff Songsters
4. O Holy Night, Adolfe Adam, arr. Childs, 4.21
Philip Wilby — Organ, Georgina Wells — Harp
Euphonium Soloist: David Childs
5. The Holly And The Ivy, Traditional, arr. Ballantine, 1.54
The International Staff Songsters
Vocal Soloists: Cheryl Stone & Kevin Fenton-Herring
6. Jingle Bells, James Pierpont, arr. Ashmore, 2.14
Yorkshire Building Society
7. Coventry Carol, Traditional, 2.46
The International Staff Songsters
8. The Birth Of Jesus — Luke 2: 1-7, 0.43
Narrator: Jamie King
9. Good Enough For Him, Peter Chesters, arr. Bartlett, 4.05
Vocal soloist: Darrent Bartlett
10. The Shepherd's Song, Joseph Canteloube, arr. Richards, 3.26
Yorkshire Building Society
Cornet Soloist: Stuart Lingard
11. White Christmas, Irving Berlin, arr. Freeh, 3.56
Yorkshire Building Society
12. O Little Town Of Bethlehem, Robert Redhead, 3.37
Fairey FP (Music)
Cornet Soloist: David Daws
13. In The Face Of A Child, John Larsson, 5.04
The International Staff Songsters
14. In The Bleak Mid-Winter, Harold Darke, 4.16
Llandaff Cathedral Choir
Vocal Soloist: James Eager
15. Away In A Manger, William Kirkpatrick, arr. Graham, 3.54
Yorkshire Building Society
Flugel Horn Soloist: Iwan Williams
16. A Starry Night, Joy Webb, 2.25
The International Staff Songsters
17. The Shepherds And The Angels — Luke 2: 8-20, 1.23
Narrator: Jamie King
18. Rise Up, Shepherde, Traditional, arr. Ballantine, 2.35
The International Staff Songsters
19. When A Child Is Born, Zacar & Fed Jay, arr. Golland, 3.32
Fodens (Courtois) Band
20. The Visit Of The Magi — Matthew 2: 1-15, 1.26
Narrator: Jamie King
21. How Far Is It To Bethlehem, Frances Chesterton, arr. Ballantine, 2.31
The International Staff Songsters
22. Silent Night, Franz Gruber, arr. Gott, 2.56
Yorkshire Building Society
Trombone Soloist: Chris Jeans
23. Song Of Peace, Vocal Soloist: James Eager, Darren Bartlett, 4.33
Vocal Soloist: James Eager
24. Hallelujah Chorus, Georg Friedrich Handel, arr. Wright, 3.54
Halifax Choral Society & Black Dyke
Total CD running time: 74.50
