Reviews: Carols for Brass, Vol. 2
Al Fasoldt, Fanfare (November/December 1983)
The MHS Review 391 Vol. 11 No.13 1987
Arrangements for Brass by Richard Price.Joy to the World; Rejoice and Be Merry (Gallery Carol); It Came upon the Midnight Clear; 0 Come, All Ye Faithful; Once in Royal David's City; Deck the Halls; Wexford Carol; Ding Dong Merrily on High; Weelkes: Hosanna to the Son of David; Anon., 16th-Century English: Rejoice in the Lord Always; Victoria: Quero Vidistis Pastores?; Billings: Boston; Judea; Scheidt: Puer Natus in Bethlehem; In DulciJubilo; Palestrina: Hodie Christos Natus Est; Gibbons: Hosanna to the Son of David. The Galliard Brass Ensemble with guest artists.
Carols for Brass, Vol. 2 was submitted as part of a survey of audiophile Christmas recordings. Most of the recordings from other sources were unexceptional, but Carols for Brass, Volume 2 caught my ear immediately. One side trumpets out your everyday stand-outside-the-window-with-Bing-Crosby carols (Joy to the World, Deck the Halls, and so forth), but the other side is a surprisingly fascinating collection of lesser-known carols (including two by William Billings). Brass buzzes on this disc just like it does in small concert halls. There is a joyous, raspy blattering here that anyone who loves brass bands will recognize immediately. Surfaces were fair, or ... fair-to-good; but the test pressing may not have been representative of MHS' recent quality, which has been quite high.
Arrangements for Brass by Richard Price.Joy to the World; Rejoice and Be Merry (Gallery Carol); It Came upon the Midnight Clear; 0 Come, All Ye Faithful; Once in Royal David's City; Deck the Halls; Wexford Carol; Ding Dong Merrily on High; Weelkes: Hosanna to the Son of David; Anon., 16th-Century English: Rejoice in the Lord Always; Victoria: Quero Vidistis Pastores?; Billings: Boston; Judea; Scheidt: Puer Natus in Bethlehem; In DulciJubilo; Palestrina: Hodie Christos Natus Est; Gibbons: Hosanna to the Son of David. The Galliard Brass Ensemble with guest artists.
Carols for Brass, Vol. 2 was submitted as part of a survey of audiophile Christmas recordings. Most of the recordings from other sources were unexceptional, but Carols for Brass, Volume 2 caught my ear immediately. One side trumpets out your everyday stand-outside-the-window-with-Bing-Crosby carols (Joy to the World, Deck the Halls, and so forth), but the other side is a surprisingly fascinating collection of lesser-known carols (including two by William Billings). Brass buzzes on this disc just like it does in small concert halls. There is a joyous, raspy blattering here that anyone who loves brass bands will recognize immediately. Surfaces were fair, or ... fair-to-good; but the test pressing may not have been representative of MHS' recent quality, which has been quite high.