3 comments about Aquitania.

1. Aquitania was a rich part of the medieval world. It was the land of the troubadours and of the admirable liturgical chants. It was the world of the first medieval troubadour, Guilhelm IX, Duke of Aquitania and grandfather of Eleanor, the powerful queen. This CD evokes this legendary place, its myths and its art of the 12th century. All the CDs of Sequentia are marvellous. Words are not enough of describing the sensitive work of this ensemble. I have heard Dante and the Troubadours, Aquitania, with Christmas Music from Aquitanian monasteries and Shining Light. These three CDs give us a powerful view of the aquitanian spirit. I feel the vibrant culture of that part of a medieval world, when I am listening the troubadours songs and the music from aquitanian monasteries performed by Sequentia.



2. 'aquitania' is the second collection of 12th century musical pieces from Aquitanian Monasteries performed by sequentia, or the 'Ensemble for Medieval Music' comprised of a chorus of male voices, a chorus of female voices, and an instrumental ensemble.
   
   Not being a professional musical antiquarian, the very best I can say about this recording is that it is better than the first collection, 'shining light'.
   
   Oddly, my biggest problem with both collections is that nothing on both recordings does anything whatsoever to evoke Christmas for me. I say that because there are some buyers who may be on the lookout for some unusual Christmas music and they just may be disappointed by what the do NOT hear on these recordings. That caveat aside, this collection is very, very good in its variety of male, female, and instrumental voices.
   
   What some tracks do evoke is an oddly Celtic sound, especially in some of the instrumental tracks. All the vocals are in Latin, meaning they were all written to be performed for and by the monks and nuns of the monasteries in the Christmas season.
   
   There is simply nothing here sounding remotely like 'O Little Town of Bethlehem', even in Latin.
   
   If you want a portal into the world of very old music, I can think of nothing better. It is certainly more diverse and more interesting than the otherwise excellent 'Anonymous 4' recordings of old Christmas music.
   
   Highly recommended.



3. Aquitania by Sequentia is a wonderful, exciting Christmas CD for connoisseurs of early vocal music. These early Christmas Latin songs of the 12th century has a total time of 73 minutes. This is a fantastic, rewarding CD for all those looking for something else than the usual Christmas favorites. Sequentia is simply music of the highest rank. Barbara Thornton and Benjamin Bagby are geniuses in that field. Moreover, you simply cannot go wrong with this CD at Amazon's price. Far from expensive, I bought their other CD Shining Light. Before they fall into deletion, hurry to get both at once. I invested every penny for them and I never regretted it.
   
   - Maurice Canada

5 comments about Home for Christmas.

1. I'm pretty finicky about Christmas albums. I hate most of them. This one is probably in my top 5, and I'm not even much of an Amy Grant fan. It's one of those extremely rare Christmas albums by a popular artist that actually sounds like Christmas. The arrangements are very traditional without being boring, and even the nontraditional songs fit in very well and aren't too "pop-y". Amy Grant's voice is perfectly suited to this kind of music and she knows how to sing a wonderful song and just let its natural beauty speak for itself. I shudder to think of this same set of songs mutilated by Christina Aguilera's relentless moans and gratuitous runs.
   
   The bottom line: you could put this CD on in July and it would bring visions of snowy lamp-lit streets, sleigh rides, mall Santas, manger scenes, and people being inexplicably kind to one another. And that's the way it should be. I'm talking to you, Ms. Aguilera.



2. I have about 20 Christmas albums in my CD collection and none comes close to this one by Amy Grant. The ONE holiday album that my family requests each and every holiday season.



3. This collection is a rare gift to listeners..when this album first came out, on a tape, I played it Christmas morning as my son came down to open his presents. That was many years ago. Now,as a teenager, he asks us to put on this cd, before he comes into the living room. This from a guy who is definitely not a country fan. In our home, it is simply not Christmas without this cd. It is a gentle, beautiful Christmas collection every family will treasure because Amy Grant shines and makes every song her own. Our family has gone through two tape version and about two CD copies..I am now ordering another one!!



4. I love this CD!! I have to listen to it every Christmas. Amy Grant puts a new spin on some old favorites and brought to life some new songs that I love. "Mary's Song" is probably my most favorite song on the whole disk, but I just love it and would recommend it to anyone and everyone!!



5. I own all of Amy Grant's Christmas albums, but I think this one is my favorite. My favorite song is "Emmanuel (God With Us)" and then "Breath of Heaven." Wonderful lyrics, beautiful arrangements of the songs... an all-around FANTASTIC album. I highly recommend it! :-)

4 comments about Gatlin Family Christmas.

1. Of the 64 Christmas cd's and cassettes (At the time of this writing)I have, this is my favorite. I've been trying for several years to replace a patched cassette and am truly pleased to see this cd listed here. The arrangements and harmonies are excellent. Sweet Baby Jesus, Steps, and Alleluia (written by Larry Gatlin)are my favorites. But all the others are equally amazing.



2. Yesssss! I finally found it! I, too, have been trying to find this cd for a long time to replace a vinyl LP that got warped during a move. The Gatlins have the greatest harmonies - especially on the three songs the first reviewer mentioned - Sweet Baby Jesus, Steps, and Alleluia. And the children singing on Away in a Manger will melt your heart - and besides, their sweet little Texas drawls remind me of my childhood in West Texas!



3. I am a big Gatlin Brothers fan however I was a bit disappointed in this CD. 5 of the songs were already included on their other 2 Christmas CDs. The arrangements on some of the songs were very outdated and need updating. The Away in a Manager version was too childish. Their rendition of Sweet Baby Jesus is very heartwarming. I'd love it if they recorded a new CD with traditional Christmas songs.



4. This is the best music! The three-part harmony is beyond compare! I always enjoy listening to this CD!

5 comments about The Christmas Music of Johnny Mathis: A Personal Collection.

1. This 90's recording is a worthy follow-up to the 1950's "Merry Christmas" album. Four decades has brought out the more mature warmth of Mathis' golden voice, while maintaining the charm he has always possessed for this material. While there are a few overlapping signature songs ('Silent Night', 'Winter Wonderland' and 'Sleigh Ride'), most of the numbers on "A Personal Collection" are whimsical originals, possessing a beautifully organic flow of sentiment. From 'Marshmallow World' to 'Christmas Waltz', and into 'We Need A Little Christmas' and the ubiquitious 'Most Wonderful Time of the Year', Mathis manages to single-handedly throw off the "Scrooge-iness" of the holiday hub-bub with a genuine outpouring of equal parts heart, mirth and sentiment. This, together with his earlier work, provides the perfect backdrop to decking the halls and lighting the yule log.



2. This CD has lots of favorite Christmas carols and is great to listen to while decorating or wrapping gifts.



3. Johnny is a great christmas music singer so this cd is one of my favorates



4. His soft,smooth voice perfectly reflects the gentle joyful subject of these songs. It's a lovely background for any Christmas gathering-- dinner, present exchange,reflection on the "Reason for the Season".



5. Johnny Mathis is a wonderful singer. His voice is so smooth. I wanted something with the song "We Need A Little Christmas." I got that and a whole lot more. I loved listening to the cd during the holidays. It was a great addition to my Christmas collection.

5 comments about Noel, Noel!: Noels Francais/French Christmas Music (1200-1600).

1. Beautifully clear voices mix with period instruments and voices of character to present a lively, touching, and thoroughly enjoyable mix of music of centuries past.



2. I am a musician and a medieval history buff, and first heard the Beauvais segments of this recording over the car radio, as I parked intending to do some Christmas shopping. I could not leave the car until the last note was sung and immediately began a search for the recording. The music is so...right, like a little time trip, haunting, triggering the imagination.



3. I was looking for something different from all the popular American Chirstmas music that has been re-done so many times. Here is a collection that satisfied me, and will delight both Franco-phones and Anglo-phones (English speakers) Some of the pieces are very chant like, but others are lively songs with lots of energy. Especially notable are tracks # 18, Or vous trémoussez, pasteurs de Judée, # 13, Noe, Noe, and my personal favorite, # 27, O l'heureuse journée. You likely will not recognize any of the tunes, so it may take a bit for this album to sound like Christmas, but it quickly did for me. The ancient instruments employed also give the music a unique sound that is really neat. This is a CD worth purchasing



4. If you are as tired as I am of canned Christmas muzak, you will find this to be refreshing, beautiful, and uplifting for the season of Christ's birth.



5. the music on the "noel, Noel!: Noels Francais/French Christmas Music (1200-1600) was not adequately represented in the sample online - much more discordant that I wished ; I also missed the info that it was ancient/pre-classical music

5 comments about When My Heart Finds Christmas.

1. 
   This CD has been a family favorite for years. I have given it as a gift many times and it is always well received.



2. We bought this back in the early nineties, and it is a good blend of old classics and a few songs you will always associate with Harry Connick, Jr. (and his version of "Winter Wonderland" is classic already). Since then we have been disappointed by his offerings. "Harry for the Holidays" features seemingly uninspired songs by comparison, and the drunken-sounding duet with George Jones is enough to make me turn that one off.
   
   Especially since it has come down in price so much, this is the Harry Connick Jr. Christmas album that you want.



3. Best Holiday Christmas CD Ever. Takes me back to my childhood with my family, great food and a warm fire. The selection of songs is excellent nice variety not the same old stuff.



4. This was recorded years ago, but the recordings still work and sound fresh. An excellent Christmas album.



5. I bought this cd because I was looking for music for my bridesmaid to walk in. Cliche I love Ave Maria but I didn't want to use to simple and originally version so I heard Harry Connick Jr sing it and it was absolutly melting. So of course we used his version for my maids of honor.

5 comments about Here We Come A-Caroling.

1. Ray Conniff was a talented trombonist who hit upon a winning commercial formula in the 1960s. He could take any piece from any musical source, run it through his formula and come out with a sound that appealed to millions. He became immensely popular as the kind of music one heard in elevators and supermarkets. Conniff never took himself or his product too seriously and was smart enough to never deviate from his method.
   
   I am not his target customer and find the kind of easy snappy music kind of dead. However, I don't want to take anything away from those who really enjoy it, and there are many because the music is still in print after 40 years! That is saying something. I am simply not the target customer.
   
   The sound is basically a kind of anonymous mixed voices singing style with a soft rock beat, with guitars, and small orchestra. Nothing much changes from song to song.
   
   Having this as background music at a holiday party would be honoring this music for exactly the purpose for which it was created.



2. It's nothing fancy, but "Joy to the World" just rocks. As a matter of fact, if you listen closely you will hear what I think is perhaps a special guest appearance by the lovely and most talented soprano hippopotamus from Pee Wee Herman's "Under The Big Top". It doesn't get any better than singing hippos at Christmas.
   If you're still a bit uptight, there is plenty of other stuff on here to suit your fancy.



3. We had had this in tape form, but wanted a CD. It'sjust what we expected and we are very happy to have found it.



4. Thank you for this "wonderful" addition to my Christmas collection. CD was in perfect condition and recieved promptly. Thanks again.



5. Such great vocals, music, arrangements and the way Christmas music should be to me, very classy and traditional. You won't get this sound today in music, simply a holiday favorite for me to mix with many other xmas music I have. You can't go wrong as you have the option to listen to piece of the songs before buying the CD or buying individual songs.

5 comments about Healing from the harp.

1. This is an absolute wounderful CD. Ms Fletcher has brought the harp to new hights of excellency. I am an RNC in a level 3 neonatal intensive care unit(NICU) with very sick and premature infants. I brought this CD to play softly in the NICU for the infants. The parents, the staff and the babies love it. Crying babies are soothed, parents are comforted and relaxed upon entering the room where the music is played softly. In some cases I have seen little heart rates steady and labored breathing be come easier upon hearing this CD played softly. I am going to purchase one for my home. All parents of newborns should have this cd for themselves and the baby.



2. I loved the first one so much that i am giving this one as a gift.



3. I was a tad disappointed - this is well played music, but not something that takes you to another place... There are several songs that are trite and so well known they make you mind want to sing along - rather than travel to another place in your mind and meditate or really relax.



4. I play this CD for my aerobics during the stretching and meditation section. My class loves the music, and over 12 of them have bought the CD to enjoy at home! I highly recommend this CD to any other aerobics instructors looking to enhance their relaxation segment of their class, and to any others looking for some truly soothing sounds!



5. It serves the purpose for which I purchased it. It is very soothing and relaxes me to go to sleep.

2 comments about Christmas With the Tallis Scholars.

1. Many different types of Christmas music on one collection, from chorales, chants and carols, to masses, motets and hymns. A perfect "traditional" disc to put in the seasonal mix!



2. I bought five of these to give to all my friends, whether they like classical or not. Perfect for both the intense or new fan to polyphonic.

5 comments about Christmas.

1. Great Christmas album. Also highly recommend his instrumental album Freedom. It's one of my all-time favorite recordings.



2. Spectacular. Still.
   I look forward to listening to this CD every Christmas season and it hasn't let me down yet. It stands virtually unparalleled for its scope and sequence.
   In a clear departure from his previous Contemporary Christian sound, which itself had been ratcheted up a notch with _The Big Picture_ and _i2eye_, Smith delivers a thoughtful, introspective, and diverse set of songs--majestic one moment, intimate the next. He steps aside and lets his arranging and songwriting do the work: choral, instrumental, duet--it's all here.
   The choral "Overture" is a grand affair, "Lux Venit"continues that choral feel (with gorgeous lyrics), "Anthem for Christmas" is, well, "anthemic." "First Snowfall" is a beautiful instrumental piano piece that recalls some of his earlier instrumental numbers. "Christ the Messiah" returns to the epic sound from the first couple of tracks, "No Eye Had Seen" is a duet with Amy Grant that previews "All is Well," a stunning boy's choir number with an equally stunning solo by one of the choir's members. It is simply chilling (in a good way). Another instrumental medley of carols shows Smith's composing and arranging skills, "Gloria" confirms those arranging skills, with a take on "Angels We Have Heard on High." The disc concludes with quite possibly the most striking song on the CD: "Silent Night." It is a stunningly simple arrangement, brief, not cluttered up with sappy vocals or the cliched lyrics.. Smith brings out the profound simplicity of the season with this solo piano arrangement, brief though it is. Longer and/or louder would have been too much--it is the perfect closing to a near-perfect effort.
   It just doesn't get any better than this for Christmas CDs, and only two or three others are in the conversation for me.



3. An excellent CD that captures the feeling of adoration that should be present during every Christmas season. Very estimulating arrangements make of this album one of fresh celebration that you will cherish for years to come. If you're looking for the obvious, you won't find it here (rudolph, chestnuts, let it snow - thank God!) but you will certainly be propelled into a reflective, delectably worshipful time... much like Christmas should always be!



4. I like my Michael W. Smith "Christmas" CD. In fact, I also have his "Christmastime" CD, which I forgot to mention by name. Michael W. Smith is one of my favorite Christian artists. I want to thank the seller and amazon.com.



5. The BEST music! I listen to it all the time; just not during Christmas. The message is timeless.