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Description
Paul Halley's renowned choirs Chorus Angelicus and
Gaudeamus pair up for another spectacular offering.
The choirs sing with precision
and clarity while incorporating a warmth and immediacy to the performance of
each song. What Child Is This? comprises a selection of the
new, adventurous, and less familiar sacred Christmas repertoire, much of it
performed in recent years in the choirs’ annual Christmas Angelicus
concert series (now in its sixteenth season and broadcast annually by
National Public Radio.) More than half the arrangements on the CD are
Halley's work, which adds a refreshing, new sound to this mix of Christmas
music. Halley’s arrangements and
compositions, written for these choirs and previously unrecorded, deliver
the adventurous harmonies and captivating lyricism for which he is
celebrated.
As Absolute Sound magazine observed in an earlier
CD review "Halley's descants soar above ... fresh, audacious, and thrilling,
lifting a familiar carol into realms of glory.”
Reviews
from Gramophone Magazine
'The heartfelt cry from John Steane as he considers twelve Yuletide CD
offerings that actually provide cheer.’
from Focus/Christmas Discs ‘Tis
The Season To Be
Jollier'
“If like myself you find that such insistent authenticity induces, after a
while, not the most charitable of feelings, you might find further relief in
the combined efforts of Chorus Angelicus and Gaudeamus under Paul Halley in
“What Child Is This?”. These singers use their voices more naturally and
sound less as though enjoying themselves to order. Halley’s own
arrangements are pleasingly inventive, and there are others by Kenneth
Leighton, Simon Preston and Vaughan Williams. It’s a well ordered programme
ending gently with Watts’ Cradle Hymn after an exhilaratingly liberated Go,
Tell It on the Mountain.”
– John Steane
from The
American Organist
"This
Christmas album is in a class by itself. Nearly half of the 21 pieces
are arrangements by Paul Halley, who brings a fresh, lively, sometimes
daring approach to traditional tunes. His harmonic progressions are
colored by jazz sonorities and zesty rhythms. His modulations may catch
one off guard, but they lend an air of joy and surprise that is
delightful. Halley is a master of the descant; his treble lines are
alluring and eminently memorable. His text painting is vivid; his
setting of “Good King Wenceslas” is particularly noteworthy in its
casting of the story set in its five stanzas. His two ensembles, Chorus
Angelicus and Gaudeamus, produce a pristine sound, their youthful
freshness, vibrancy, and delectable sweetness balanced by musical
maturity abetted by superb balance, blend, diction, and intonation. This
is all the more evident in the ensembles’ renderings of standard
repertoire, including Victoria’s O Magnum Mysterium, Rachmaninoff’s
Bogorόditse Devo, and Ireland’s The Holy Boy. These performances are as
compelling as any. Christopher Lane skillfully collaborates at the
organ, adding another layer of color and interest. All is captured
beautifully in pleasing acoustical environments. This is a unique,
colorful musical garland that is certain to add joy and spice to the
holiday season – or any time of year!"
from The Choral Journal
"Depending on their tastes, you can safely choose one of the four discs
listed above and please nearly every choral aficionado on your holiday gift
list. If I could afford to order these by the dozen as stocking
stuffers, I’d do it. Each is special in its own way.
Paul Halley’s fresh but tasteful arrangements invigorate the latest offering
from his groups Chorus Angelicus (a children’s choir) and Gaudeamus (a
professional-level chamber choir). Spiced with inventive harmonies and
textures, pieces like 'Jesus Jesus Rest Your Head' and 'Good King
Wenceslas' take on new life. Recording and performances are superb, with the
sweet, transparent sound of Chorus Angelicus imparting something inimitable
and irreplaceable: innocent wonder at the season. Strongly recommended." –
Lawrence
Schenbeck
from 'With Heart and Voice', WXII Radio, Rochester, NY
I think this Christmas CD is your best yet. I am
particularly thrilled with the arrangements of What Child Is This,
Angelus Ad Virginem and Watts’ Cradle Hymn. Altogether first rate
singing and accompaniment. - Richard Gladwell
from The Living
Church
"With What Child Is This?, the 50-voice Chorus Angelicus children’s
choir of New England joins forces with the Gaudeamus chamber choir under the
direction of Paul Halley. Mr. Halley, who founded both groups in the early
1990s, chose the selections for this collection to include some of the most
popular lesser-known works that these choirs have performed in their
Christmas concert series in recent years and which, since 2004, have been
broadcast on National Public Radio.
Listeners will find many
familiar favorites, including Mr. Halley’s arrangements of American and
English traditionals. But they will also delight in the soaring voices on
the Irish song 'Beannacht Leat', the prayerful quality of
Rachmaninoff’s 'Bogoroditse Devo' (Ave Maria), and the precision with which
the choirs perform Tomas Luis de Victoria’s Matins responsory for Christmas
day, 'O Magnum Mysterium'. Mr. Halley’s own composition, 'Agnus Dei',
is a particular treat.
In many parts of the
country, at least one radio station plays nothing but secular holiday hits
from early November through Christmas day. If you would like to take a more
meditative approach to getting into the spirit of the season, both of these
CDs will be welcome additions to your music library."
– Michael O’Loughlin
from The New Liturgical Movement
'An Actual Christmas CD
Worth Owning'
I hate to admit this for fear of being pilloried, but years ago I burned
out on the "sounds of Christmas." For one thing, you hear them in
Advent. And those medleys in which various tunes are smashed together in
some not-clever way make my ears hurt. The secularism is bad enough but
even the religious material is more than I can stand. So, I long ago
turned to listening to the most obscure possible Christmas CDs, anything
with melodies with words I don't recognize, anything to freshen up the
repertoire -- from some far-flung country, from the 11th century by Anon.
All of this is to say that I was prepared to not like a CD called "What
Child Is This" by the Chorus Angelicus and
Gaudeamus, directed by Paul Halley. Then I heard it. All I can say is
that this CD takes popular Christmas music to a completely new level.
The arrangements are just dazzling. The tempos are quick and charming.
The balance of singers is impeccable. But above all else, I can't say
that I've ever heard a children's choir that is so great. There are
moments when your jaw just drops to the floor in astonishment at the
beauty.
I say it is popular music, but it is not entirely
so. Vitoria is here. And Vaughan Williams. But even the old favorites
are completely redone with ear-turning harmonies and transitions. Even
the song I dread the most--"Go Tell It on the Mountain"--is actually
good here, even bringing a smile to the face of this Christmas-carol
crab.
It's not for liturgy but more for home listening,
but let's face it: we all must play music at home during Christmas. I
think I'll play this one 100 times. It's dreamy. This CD is capable of
making me fall in love with the "sounds of Christmas" all over again.
- Jeffrey Tucker
from The
American Guild of Organists, Waterbury, CT Chapter
Just the other day, I received an email from Pelagos Music. It seems
that, apparently, one of the “perks” of being Dean of this great chapter
is being asked to review the occasional new CD release! At least that
is what Pelagos, which is the music company representing Paul Halley,
requested that I do for the Pipeline. Of course this involved actually
laying hands on a copy of the CD in question; and so, after my
enthusiastic reply in the affirmative, the album arrived. I quickly
arranged a listening session in the theater of the Palazzo Vallillo,
complete with a steaming cup of my favorite tea, and settled in for a
listen.
The names of Paul
Halley, Chorus Angelicus, and Gaudeamus should be familiar to any music
lover in Connecticut. Halley, one of America’s pre-eminent organists,
was actually a member of this chapter for some years. One of the best
improvisers around, his musical reputation extends beyond the organ
world. The Choral groups he founded and leads, Chorus Angelicus and
Gaudeamus, are famous for the marvelous quality of their harmonies.
This, their latest album, certainly lives up to this well-deserved
reputation. Beautiful choral music is to the ear what fine chocolate is
to the palate: a delight to body and soul! When you add in some
wonderful organ accompaniments from a master musician, the effect is
sublime!
There is a lot of
music on this album, 21 pieces in all. For me, some of the selections,
although old in a chronological sense, are new. There are also old
favorites, many with intriguing new harmonies and, occasionally,
melodies, just to keep things interesting! The technical quality of the
recording is excellent, and the engineers have done a superb job of
capturing the dynamic range from a whisper to a roar. I do wish there
were about 5 additional seconds of reverberation after the final chords,
but that might have ruined the crisp vocals! As it is, there is an
excellent sense of three dimensional depth in the recording, even
without “surround” processing in the playback process. The organ is
superbly registered and recorded, balancing exactly with the choral
voices – never overpowering or being overpowered.
The vocals are
sublime – ranging from the hauntingly ethereal to the “joyful noise” for
which these groups are known! It is easy to imagine oneself in heaven,
or at least in the musician’s suburb of it, when listening to the a-capella
selections, particularly in “A Nativity” (track 14).
I cannot give you a
favorite selection, I liked them all! If you want to hear some really
great organ accompaniment, try “What Child is This?” and “Good King
Wenceslaus” in particular and enjoy the perfect balance of the voices
with the King of Instruments. There are a few pieces in which I
literally could not be sure if the singing was a-capella or organ
accompanied – I suspect the latter, but the registration and blending is
so good that the organ, if present, becomes literally another voice in
the chorus. Now that’s Voix Humaine!
This is an album
you could give as a Christmas present to just about any music lover,
especially yourself! And the bonus is that the King of Instruments is
showcased perfectly in one of its’ major roles – the accompaniment of
singers. Thus this album can help to broaden the appeal of our
instrument, particularly in the upcoming “Year of the Pipe Organ”. A
perfectly timed release indeed! I highly recommend it. - Tony Vallillo, Chapter Dean
from The
Journal of the Association of Anglican Musicians
"Paul Halley’s Go Tell It On The Mountain is an exciting and quite
challenging arrangement of the familiar text and tune. Rich,
jazz-inspired harmonies, carefully scripted syncopations, and a couple
of tricky modulations, will keep everyone on their toes, but could well
also bring a congregation to its feet.
Also worth mention here, is Halley’s setting of Longfellow’s poem, 'Tis Winter Now.
This is a richly atmospheric text not specifically tied to Christmas,
but quite handy for a cold week sometime after Epiphany when a ‘general’
anthem seems to be in need. Global warming may soon put this piece out
of business, but until it does, Halley’s setting evokes the frigid air
as effectively as anything since Vivaldi’s fourth Season."
CREDITS
Chorus Angelicus
& Gaudeamus
Directed by
Paul Halley
Paul Halley,
Organist
Christopher
Lane,
Recording Accompanist
Produced by Tom Bates,
Paul Halley & Margaret Race
Margaret Race,
Executive Producer
Tom Bates,
Recording Engineer
Jonathan ‘Der
Tonmeister’ Rogers,
Assistant Engineer
Samantha Halley,
Project Manager
Elizabeth Rogers,
Project Assistant
Margaret Race,
Art Design and Production
Choirs recorded
at
St. Francis of Assisi Church,
Torrington, CT
Organ recorded at
Trinity Episcopal Church,
Torrington, CT
Chorus Angelicus
Senior Choristers
Keith Boratko
Anna Carlson
Christine Cascella
Rachel Cunningham
Michelle Gara
Anna Gunod
Kati Hinman
Georgia Johnston
Lily Johnston
Karina Lorenc
Katie Rogers
Gaudeamus
Sopranos
Anna Carlson
Eryn Deprey
Vanessa Halley
Jennifer Lamson
Jolanta Lorenc
Emily Werne
Altos
Daniel Brondel
Samantha Halley
Pamela Johnson
Marie Laser
Tenors
Ehren Brown
Terrence Fay
Nicholas Halley,
Floyd Higgins
John LaPorta
Steven Wilson
Basses
Kevin Andersen
James Barrett
Shaylan Burkhart
Bruce Fifer
Lawrie McEwan
© 2006 Pelagos Incorporated
All Rights Reserved
Made in USA
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