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Britten: A Ceremony of Carols | 
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| Creators: Gordon Jones, Benjamin Britten, Robert Jones [countertenor], Sioned Williams, James O'donnell, Simon Davies
Label: Hyperion UK
Category: Music
List Price: $23.98
Buy New: $20.79
You Save: $3.19 (13%)
New (5) from $20.79
Rating:  5 reviews
Sales Rank: 92241
Format: Import
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 5.6 x 5 x 0.5
MPN: 66220
UPC: 034571162201
EAN: 0034571162201
ASIN: B000002ZJC
Release Date: November 12, 1993
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: Expedited shipping available
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: Brand new Item. CD, DVD, Book, VHS more than 400 000 titles to choose from. ALL days Low Price !
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| Tracks:
| • | Procession | | • | Wolcum Yole! | | • | There is no rose | | • | That yonge child | | • | Balulalow | | • | As dew in Aprille | | • | This little babe | | • | Interlude | | • | In freezing winter night | | • | Spring carol | | • | Adam lay i-bounden | | • | Recession | | • | Kyrie | | • | Gloria | | • | Sanctus and Benedictus | | • | Agnus Dei |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com essential recording
Of the many accounts of Britten's Ceremony of Carols in the catalog, this one is the best. This was the first work Britten wrote for boys' voices, and with his keen ear and extraordinary imagination, he achieved many wondrous and memorable effects. At the heart of this 1986 performance are the boys of the Westminster Cathedral Choir, obviously a well-trained group. With their outstanding intonation and hearty sound, these London boys outclass all the competition. Their singing is free and expressive, yet very disciplined, even in the triple canon of "This Little Babe," which has a way of bringing all but the most skillful groups to grief. The playing of harpist Sioned Williams is especially accomplished--she delivers a superb realization of the solo interlude based on "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel"--and David Hill's direction is right on the mark. The recording, made in Westminster Cathedral, is spacious and extremely appealing, right down to the comings-and-goings of the procession and recession, both of which work beautifully. A fine sampling of Britten's other choral music, including the beautiful Missa Brevis in D, rounds out the disc. --Ted Libbey
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| Customer Reviews:
Exquisite - don't miss December 24, 2008
Susan Szekely (ellicott city)
This is a must-have on everyone's holiday music list. I purchased one for my family; upon receipt, quickly ordered two others for gifts. Heavenly!!
Holiday choral music January 12, 2008
J. A. Riley (MA USA)
This collection of holiday choral music by Benjamin Britten and the fantastic choir of the Westminster Cathedral is a real treat. It is a nice change from the more popular holiday choral music. Chorus members will love listening to it and will appreciate the work that goes into creating such beautiful sounds.
Buy This One December 18, 2006
Shorty (Georgia, USA)
0 out of 2 found this review helpful
I just purchased this CD, and the performance of Ceremony of Carols is absolutely ravishing.
Better than Vienna Boys' Choir; essential for any Christmas or classical collection January 3, 2006
R. J. Tuggy (Georgia, USA)
11 out of 11 found this review helpful
I have to agree with other reviewers that this is the best version of "A Ceremony of Carols" available. The piercing purity of the treble solo voice on "Balulalow" brings tears to my eyes nearly every time I listen to it, and the quality of the rest of the album matches that performance.
These are exceedingly well-trained children; I often get a little concerned when a choir approaches "This Little Babe," but this choir tosses off the difficult challenge with an ease that lets me forget the notes and instead be shaken by the poetry of young boys singing a fierce war-cry about the hero Christ-child who, in his naked, infinitely vulnerable infancy, is humanity's shield against all hell.
This is not "pretty" music - yes, it's just boys and a harp - but it's powerful, lulling, agressive, disarming. I can't stop talking about this recording to my friends and family.
The best version of this piece! September 23, 2000
Amy Parsons (Mesa, AZ United States)
45 out of 45 found this review helpful
This is the best version of the Ceremony of Carols available. It is sung completely by trebles and is accompanied only by harp, which is how it was written. Trebles = boys. I thought it was out of print and I am very happy to see that it is not. The only problem with this version is that it is very quiet, and needs to be turned up to double the usual volume, but it isn't a major problem. In case you're not familiar with this piece, it is a very beautiful set of carols written in old English (even though it was written in the 20th century). The songs are very complex, especially my favorite "This Little Babe" which has 3 sections of the choir singing the same lyrics a beat apart... very difficult, and very exciting. There is also the beautifully dissident "That Yonge Child", and practically everyone's favorite "Balulalow". The harp interlude is also very popular. I highly recommend this CD.
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