Christmas Revels CDs

[JBillyGirl]

I was going to post this in the Christmas listening thread, but it got long enough that I decided to start a new thread. This is wonderful Christmas music and I really wanted to share it with all of you.

If you have any interest whatsoever in folk, traditional, or medieval/renaissance music, or simply want something different from standard holiday fare, you owe it to yourself to check out the magnificent CDs from the Christmas Revels. I return to these recordings year after year and they never wear out for me. Lots of stuff way off the beaten path, but some chestnuts too, almost all with traditional instruments. Lots of good, appropriate secular stuff mixed in with the religious themes. I'm gonna post Amazon links for those who'd like a sample listen. (I hope the links fit...)

This is the original Revels recording, called simply "The Christmas Revels," with a largely English medieval flair, and probably THE one to listen to if you want to learn what the Christmas Revels are all about:

http://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Revels- ... im_m_img_1

Another largely English traditional album, "Christmas Day in the Morning," so good you almost forget about the bizarre addition of a synthesizer (an experiment that would not be repeated):

http://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Day-Mor ... _m_title_7

"Wassail! Wassail!" crosses the pond for American traditional music, with the help of Jean Ritchie, a famous folk singer (ghostjmf might like to check out this one):

http://www.amazon.com/Wassail-Early-Ame ... _m_title_2

"Sing We Now of Christmas" is roughly half-English, half-French music, and features a hauntingly beautiful children's choir:

http://www.amazon.com/Sing-We-Now-Chris ... _m_title_3

"Rose and Thistle" consists of English and Scottish music, and has some marvelous solo singing ("Ca' the Yowes" sends chills down my spine), among other delights:

http://www.amazon.com/Rose-Thistle-Engl ... _m_title_5

Last but not least, "Christmas in an Irish Castle" is a trove of Irish traditional music and story that may be my personal favorite of the bunch. Unfortunately Amazon gives us no CD samples, but let me just say that I think silvercamaro should get her hands on this CD as soon as she can:

http://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Castle- ... gy_m_img_b

There are other CDs, but these are the ones I know and love. I hope some of you might come to know and love them, too. Grand and lovely stuff.