1 comments about Gloria - An Acoustic Guitar Christmas.

1. I own several of Peter Pupping's CDs and enjoy them all. Gloria was the first one I purchased. If anyone appreciates the classical guitar, he or she will appreciate this CD. Peter's version of Canon in D Minor just blows me away, it was recorded in a mission in California and the acoustics are incredible. If you get the chance to see him and his band perform live in Southern California it will be worthwhile.

5 comments about Evergreen: Mandolin Music for Christmas.

1. This is my all time favorite. I truly love it, It makes me sad that Christmas is over and I've put it away untill next Christmas.



2. I really enjoy this CD -- I got it last year as I am adding to my Christmas Music collection and it is definitely one of my favorites. Very pleasant -- perfect for a relaxed afternoon with the family or background music for a holiday gathering. I highly recommend it -- it'll put you in the holiday spirit!



3. After seeing the movie Return To Oz I became fascinated with the mandolin after one of the characters played it in the movie, it has such a unique old world classical sound to it and the mandolin can also be played in the mountain music style. I was so glad to find this cassette tape in a store a few years ago afer trying for a long time to find a tape of mandolin music and I really like the tape which is probably one of the most unusual Christmas albums I own!



4. A truly wonderful collection of instrumental holiday music with the sounds of traditional mountain instruments, especially the mandolin.



5. Playing Time - 41:14 -- Evergreen, an album produced by Nashville mandolinist Butch Baldassari, is subtitled "Mandolin Music for Christmas." Butch's mandolin (or one of its cousins: bouzouki or mandola) is dominantly featured in every one of these carols, and he ably proves that this stringed instrument family is ideal for creating a pleasant holiday sound. This album trumps many others by bringing in some excellent accompanists to play guitar, bass, fiddle, dobro, flute, viola, cello, triangle, and even bells on various pieces. These guest artists include Sam Bacco, Mike Bub, Shawn Camp, John Catchings, Mark Horwitz, Randy Howard, Mark Schatz, Tim Stafford, Gene Wooten and Andrea Zonn.

   None of the tracks are over-arranged, and three (Joy to the World, The First Noel, and Deck the Halls) only feature Baldassari. Some cuts might even have been further enhanced with instrumental harmony, such as was done with fiddle on "Angels We Have Heard On High" and fiddle and mandolins on "Beautiful Star of Bethlehem." Of special note are those carols that also feature lead work by Baldassari's guests - Randy Howard's fiddle on "Do You Hear What I Hear," Howard's guitar on "Angels We Have Heard On High," Mark Horwitz's flute on "What Child Is This," and Gene Wooten's dobro on "The Little Drummer Boy," "Silent Night" and "Away in a Manger." These familiar tunes are given a full ensemble sound with a palate of aural holiday pleasantry. Originally released in 1990, Evergreen was reissued in 2002 with a slightly different order of the tunes. It's a very appealing set of Christmas music that will make a nice addition to your library so that the mandolin is adequately represented among your holiday collection. (Joe Ross, staff writer, Bluegrass Now)

No comments about The Christmas Anthology: 1942-1955.

5 comments about Christmas with Kiri.

1. There are apparently two versions of Christmas with Kiri, this one, now being sold as London Classic, but released in 1986 as produced by Polygram and a 1990 release with the same title, UPC and part number as the one I own but a different picture and much blander and much less fun music (based on clips sampled from the album) and reviewed as "ordinary" This album is stunning with Kiri soaring above the London Voices and playing with and against the orchestra. The range of songs is very wide. The 12 Days of Christmas that concludes the album has a marvelous interplay of voice, orchestral solos, and choir; the variations of just the 5th day are extraordinary. I came to the site to buy two more copies as gifts, having owned it for years.



2. This is simply a wonderful Christmas album. It's full of standard classics and Kiri's gorgeous voice suites it well. I would be hard-pressed to find these pieces done any better in a collection. Highly recommended!



3. With a nice balance between sacred and secular music, this is a fine addition to anyone's Christmas collection. Yes, the orchestrations are a little smalzty, and the chorus ("London Voices" sounds suspiciously like a pick-up group) could have been a little more precise, but, come on, this is a Christmas album whose primary purpose is to summon some Christmas spirit and that it does, very effectively.

   Te Kanawa's voice is at its most beautiful, her enunciation excellent and her switches in style between such standards as "Winter Wonderland" and "Mary's Boy Child" and carols like "Angels from the realms of glory" and "Silent Night" are admirable. My two favorite tracks are "O Holy Night" which she builds to a spine-tingling climax and "The Most Wonderful Birthday of All", a carol-like anthem that seems to have been composed by Carl Davis, the conductor of this recording. If I'm not mistaken, this is the only recorded performance of that song, a pity, as the tune is memorable and the text simple but moving.

   I've been collecting opera-singer Christmas albums since the early '60's and rank this one among my top three favorites. The only two that equal it are the solo albums of Leontyne Price (with Von Karajan conducting) and Joan Sutherland (hard to find in its entirety although portions have been re-released along with other artists).

   (Very personal opinion: this recording should be repackaged with a different picture of Miss Te Kanawa, who has only gotten more beautiful with time, and who no longer wears her hair in that fluffy '80's style -- the present picture makes the CD appear to be too dated.)




4. CHRISTMAS WITH KIRI is simply an enjoyable Christmas album. It was recorded while her voice was in its top form, and she has fun with the music. There are the expected tracks of Christmas standards such as "White Christmas," "Silver Bells," and "Silent Night." There are heartfelt renditions of lesser known songs such as "The Virgin Washes the Swaddling" (recorded on another album in Spanish by tenor Placido Domingo) and "The Most Wonderful Birthday of All." Yet I believe that most fans of the disk love her somewhat outrageous renditions of "The Twelve Days of Christmas" and "Angels from the Realms of Glory" (To the tune of "Angels We Have Heard on High"). She uses these two pieces to show off her vocal ability and in doing so, gives the listener a musical treat.

   This collection seems to fit her musical personality. Whenever she is interviewed, Kiri Te Kanawa always seems pleasant and likable-the sort of person one would want at a Christmas party. This disk has all the attributes often associated with Kiri-lightheartedness, great vocal ability, and fun. So put on the disk and invite Kiri to your home for the holidays.




5. I already own this album on cassette but wanted to get it on CD which proved quite difficult. I was thrilled to actually be at the Barbican Concert in London when this album was recorded back in the mid 1980s. It was a magical concert and the album is a wonderful collection of Christmas music. Enjoy !

No comments about Welcome All Wonders!: Christmas at Washington National Cathedral.

5 comments about A Christmas Together.

1. This is the only Christmas Album that I will listen to during the holidays. My brother and I burned through 2 vinyls of this and I have been trying to lay my hands on the CD for years.
   
   This album has some of the most beautiful original Christmas music as well as funny and good versions of classics. Recommended to anyone who has children or who watched the Muppet Show as children.



2. I grew up listening to the "John Denver and the Muppets Christmas Together" CD and have always loved it. This year I couldn't find mine so I decided to order a new one. While I was at it I ordered a few extras for my daughter to give them to her little friends as Christmas presents. Well, they arrived quickly, the price was great, but I was somewhat disappointed when I realized this CD is missing some of the original songs-some of my favorites. I'm not sure why they aren't on this disc, it was a really short cd without them. So, the songs that are on it are great-I would give them 5 stars, but the length of the CD and the missing songs are what make me give it only 3 stars.



3. John Denver and the Muppets is one of the best christmas CDs out there. It is focused on the under 10 audience, but it definitely can be enjoyed by listeners of all ages.



4. I have had this in various forms since in my late 20's (am ever so much older now) and it still remains one of my all time favorites. I used to sing my now 27-yr. old daughter to sleep with some of the songs, and trimming our tree wouldn't be the same without it. It contains the only version of 12 Days of Christmas that I can tolerate...



5. I grew up with this album. It is the best. I am so glad that I was able to "upgrade" to the cd, my cassette tape was so warbly. John Denver had such an amazing voice. Christmas is a time to come together, and the story of the Christmas tree are my favorites along with Miss Piggy singing the Twelve days of Christmas.

5 comments about there's a small hotel.

1. What a great gift to yourself and for others. When David plays the violin, I hear the beauty of each note, and have a deep sense of peace and delight. I experience his unique sound, and play his CD (on loop cycle) at least five days of each week. His CD is also a MUST whenever we have guests.



2. I first heard David Wilson performing live at Il Cielo restaurant in Beverly Hills, many years ago. It was a starlight summer evening, we were dining outdoors, and David strolled from table to table, serenading each couple in the best European tradition. His wonderful violin music added immeasurably to the old-world romance of our dinner, and I ended up buying two copies of "There's a small hotel" on the spot. This CD is highly recommended for lovers of romance and European nostalgia.



3. My wife bought this CD on a whim. I assumed it would be like many others that she had purchased and after one play, collected dust. However, it only took one playing until I was hooked. I have never heard a violin "sing" like it does on this CD. It is always on our CD player and we have had many friends hear it and go buy one. We are now ready to buy his other CDs.



4. Having an appreciation for "easy listening" music, I thought I had heard about the best, until I was enthusiastically introduced to the CD "There's A Small Hotel".

   There is no comparison to David Wilson's playing of the violin: a flow and technique so captivating that it compares to reading a good book and not being able to lay it down. He plays the violin with such mastery, as would a fine chef prepare his delicacies.

   I am able to play this CD non-stop and never tire of it. It's wonderful to fall asleep listening to this collection of beautiful songs played by David Wilson.




5. While on a business trip about a year ago in Alabama I stopped in an eclectic boutique furniture store and they were playing David Wilson's music. This wondrous music kept me in the store much longer than I had planed on. It was so light and cheerful and somewhat magical sounding. I soon found someone who worked there in the store and I asked if they knew who the music was by. They had supplies of his cd's on the counter. The lady told me that they had so many people ask about the music that they now were selling it. I bought both, "The Romance of Paris" and "There's a Small Hotel."
   It is not your typical `easy listening' style of music. It is a little hard for me to explain other than it makes me feel deep down in my soul with a sway and a smile. The harmony is so sweet and swirls around in such a way as to lift you gently and ever so slightly up off your heels and onto your toes.

1 comments about Scandinavian Christmas.

1. This is by far my favorite Christmas CD of all time.
   I stumbled upon it while looking for a recording of a Scandinavian Christmas song that my junior high band was playing. This was the only link I got to Scandinavian Christmas songs so I bought it.
   The best purchase I've ever made! It's different than anything you've ever heard. You won't hear any familiar holiday tunes unless you happen to be familiar with the music of Scandinavia. The chord structures of the music are incredibly different but they really work with the melodies. This choir is amazing too! They sing so well in tune that you can hear the overtones and their diction is so clear that I feel like I could really speak Norweigen, Swedish, and Danish if I tried.
   My only complaint with the CD is the organ music in between the choral arrangements but that's a personal issue - I just don't like the sound of the organ.

2 comments about Mas! A Caribbean Christmas Party.

1. This CD is really special. A great collection of Christmas songs with that unique Caribbean flavour for a real departure from the usual North American/European classics. All different moods from ballads to exuberant dance-ables and mellow jazzy stuff, too. All Caribbean cultures are represented here with new and old songs. The liner notes alone are worth the price of the CD! In addition to the lyrics are factual notes about each song explaining the cultural and historical aspects -- I learned a lot just from reading them! And Machel's Soca Santa is now an absolute staple in our house every Christmas. You can't not dance to it and my nieces in Boston play it all year 'round! Give yourself a great gift and buy this CD!



2. I took a chance and purchased this CD about 10 years ago and everytime I listen to it, it sounds better and better. The variety of artists from Trinidad to Puerto Rico are phenomenal. The only song I have never been crazy about is #8-Santa Claus Is Comin To Town; otherwise, this is an outstanding album. It takes you away to the Caribbean for a different kind of Christmas celebration and keeps you dancing. A must have! A little rum anyone?

5 comments about Alligator Stomp, Vol. 4: Cajun Christmas.

1. I love this CD of upbeat Cajun sung christmas music. I play loud and often. It is a nice change to the season of elevator music. My 21 month old son loves to dance around the room while this CD is playing.



2. This is a MUST for anyone who can get a little cranky around the holidays from stress. I haven't played it for anyone whose feet and hands could remain still as they listened. This will be a "first grab" out of my CD collection for many years to come.



3. Wow! If you want Christmas music that will lift your spirits and put a smile on your face, get this CD! Upbeat Cajun arrangements of standards such as "Joy to the World" sit alongside similar arrangements of contemporary classics such as "Jingle Bell Rock". Then, add a few originals, most notably "Christmas Bayou" (which is like a Cajun "Home for the Holidays" with its vivid imagery of home and family, except it's much more upbeat) and you've got a musical Christmas gumbo! If Christmas music sung in French and backed by an accordian doesn't sound like your idea of a good time, think again! If you like Cajun music, and if you love Christmas, then this will probably become one of your favorite CDs!



4. This CD features Cajun musicians performing Christmas songs. About half the songs are instrumentals, with the other half being sung in either English or Cajun French. This is happy, fun music, featuring an emphasis on accordions and fiddles. All the music here is great. My personal favorite is Belton Richard's "Please Come Home For Christmas", sung in Cajun French, which is the best version of that song that I have ever heard. This CD is sure to make any Christmas party swing.



5. Great buy!!! One of two hard to find items. This fun CD bought back lots of memories of fun Christmases with family and friends back in the Bayou Country of Louisiana.