Wolcum Yule: Celtic and British Songs and Carols - Anonymous 4 with Andrew Lawrence-King

Wolcum Yule: Celtic and British Songs and Carols - Anonymous 4 with Andrew Lawrence-King | John Tavener, Richard Rodney Bennett, ... | Goose Flesh!

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Wolcum Yule: Celti...

	Wolcum Yule: Celtic and British Songs and Carols - Anonymous 4 with Andrew Lawrence-King John Tavener, Richard Rodney Bennett, ... Harmonia Mundi Fr., 2003 average customer review:based on 5 reviews view larger image
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This offbeat disc of seasonal songs and carols by the Anonymous 4 will delight their fans and please everyone else. The 19 selections include traditional folk melodies and texts, some of which date back to the Middle Ages, interspersed with fitting selections by contemporary composers including John Taverner, Benjamin Britten, and Peter Maxwell Davies, whose ethereal a cappella A Calender of Kings gets its first recording. Andrew Lawrence-King, playing Irish harp, Baroque harp, and psaltery with his accustomed finesse, is a major reason for the disc's success, accompanying most of the vocals and contributing three lovely solos. The disc is crammed with highlight tracks, like the lilting Cornish Wassail song and the Irish Good people all, and haunting numbers like "Flight into Egypt," sung in Gaelic, and "Behold, here is the best morning," sung in Welsh. Excellent sonics and Harmonia Mundi's typically fine production values also help make this a Christmas disc that will give joy in July. --Dan Davis

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lovely and unusual Yule album

Anonymous 4 has brought us a beautiful selection of 19 traditional songs from England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland. These include a lesser known work by Henry VIII as well as more contemporary songs by John Tavener, Richard Bennett, Geoffrey Burgon and Benjamin Britten, and a piece commissioned for the group from Peter Davies. Andrew Lawrence-King accompanies on Irish harp, Baroque harp and psaltery. There is a short essay on the traditions and legacy of the concept of Yule, a Cetic midwinter celebration, and this and the informative liner notes are given in English, French and German, accompanied by Celtic drawings.

The songs are pure, simple and very beautiful -- a welcome addition to your holiday listening.

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Goose Flesh!

This is a remarkable quartet, singing with purity and style, from the haunting to the merry, medieval chant to modern settings of Celtic religious texts. Where there are arrangements, they are lovely and the instrumental pieces are simple and beautiful. This is the first time I have heard this group of women, and I am enchanted. It's a cappella at its very best: look to your laurels, King's Singers and Chanticleer, here come the ladies!

Another great Anonymous 4 program!

As usual, Anonymous 4 has researched (usually one year) and compiled an album of music that flows as if the pieces were written to be performed together. The musicality and the pitch is impeccable. Those who gave few stars to this recording and performance are commenting with regard to personal preference rather than truly rating this wonderful performance. These women research, arrange and perform historic pieces that present programs in a set time period. Lovely, just lovely. As a musician, I find no fault with this compilation.

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