Audiophile Christmas music

[Wmcmanus]

There have been threads about Christmas music in past years, but I don't recall any that were targeted toward the audiophile market. Why, do you suppose, I'd be interested in such recordings? I don't know, maybe I'm into audiophile quality recordings, and I (((kind of, sort of))) like Christmas!

My favorites are:

1. Anything from Mannheim Steamroller! These are on the American Gramaphone Records label, and they are all magical. The ones I have are "Christmas Extraordinaire" (2001), "Christmas in the Aire" (1995), "Fresh Aire Christmas (1988), and "Christmas" (1984). But from the link I've just posted, I can see there are several more worth trying.

(BTW, I've also got the Johnny Mathis disc shown on this webpage, and it's nice but I wouldn't call it 'audiophile' by any stretch).

2. Charlie Brown's Christmas by Vince Guaraldi on SACD. This is a fun disc with (obviously) familiar music that the whole family can enjoy. It's one that can be enjoyed as background music while you're all unwrapping presents, but can also be listened to critically with pleasure. It's "nicely understated" in terms of the production, but without the life breathing brilliance and excitement of the Mannheim stuff.

3. The Manhattan Transfer - The Christmas Albulm This is an SACD only disc from Sony in 2000. It's quite nice and features lovely female vocals.

Any recommendations that you folks have would be greatly appreciated!

 

[KR...]

I don not have any of these but you can hear samples at www.Amazon.com

Telarc:

Christmas with The Pops
Label: Telarc
Catalog: #80226
Audio CD (October 8, 1990)
Number of Discs: 1
ASIN: B000003CWC

Christmas at the Movies
Label: Telarc
Catalog: #80485
Audio CD (September 29, 1998)
Number of Discs: 1
ASIN: B000009D6G

Carols Around the World
Label: Telarc
Catalog: #80202
Audio CD (November 8, 1989)
ASIN: B00000C3HR

Christmas With the Mormon Tabernacle Choir (Hybr) [HYBRID SACD]
Label: Telarc
Catalog: #60552
Audio CD (October 23, 2001)
ASIN: B00005NQI0


Reference Recordings :

Star of Wonder, Music for the Season
Label: Reference Recordings
Catalog: #21
Audio CD (December 17, 1993)
ASIN: B000001579

 

[Wmcmanus]

Thanks, KR. I'll probably order some of those Telarc discs. I'm a big fan of the Erich Kunzel approach, which is always "fun" for lack of a better word. I've got about 15 recordings of the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra, and not a bad one in the bunch.

 

[DLeeWebb]

I have two audiophile quality Christmas music CD's. Both are Telarc compact discs. One is called "The Many Moods Of Christmas," [Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and Chorus/ Robert Shaw] and "Songs Of Angels: Christmas Hymns & Carols," [Shaw, Robert Chamber Singers/Robert Shaw]. The song selection is great and the recording quality is as good or better than anything that I have ever heard in holiday/seasonal music. Happy Holidays!

 

[Wmcmanus]

Ok, so maybe I'm drinking too much eggnog already, but inspired by my own thread and KR's link to Amazon, I just went a little nuts shopping for Christmas music.

Here's the haul for the season:

First, I picked up Mannheim's latest:
Mannheim Steamroller Christmas Cellebration (2004)

Not much to say here, except these guys do phenomenal work so I've got high expectations which I know will be easily met.

Then, I added an "audiophile" recording:
Christmas With the Pops - Erich Kunzel and the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra

This is per KR's recommendation, and if it's anything like the other Telarc discs from Kunzel, it will be lovely.

Then I did some 'back filling' of my collection; tried and true favorites:
White Christmas - Bing Crosby
The Frank Sinatra Christmas Collection
The Christmas Song - Nat King Cole
The Spirit of Christmas - Ray Charles

One can never listen to enough Frank, Nat, and Ray! The Bing Crosby disc is one of my all time favorites from growing up, and I was surprised that I didn't have it already. My mom used to play the LP for us when we were little.

Then I added some funky jazz into the mix:
Boney's Funky Christmas - Boney James
Smooth Jazz Christmas - Dave Koz and Friends

The "friends" part of the Dave Koz disc include David Benoit on piano, Peter White on guitar, and the amazing Rick Braun on trumpet. I'm excited about this one!

How about some 'groove' to go with the jazz?
Christmas: What's It Gonna Be Santa - Chicago

Can you believe these guys are still putting out material after all these years? This was their 25th albulm!!!

Then I tried something completely new and different:
Christmas Trilogy - Trans-Siberian Orchestra

The description is what pulled me in:

"Trans-Siberian Orchestra, an inspired fusion of classical music and rock-opera pageantry. Their releases are visionary and timeless Christmas-themed concept albums, spotlighting lead guitars and classical string sections alike..." I'm hoping I'll like the "hard-edged guitar rendition of 'The First Noel/O Come All Ye Faithful' but am definitely taking a chance here.

Oh well, at least the first couple of recordings above do not do violence to the concept behind this thread; that is, to seek suggestions for audiophile level Christmas recordings.

 

[Bunnyears]

If you really want audiophile Christmas music, then look for something by John Rutter. I have this one: The Holly and the Ivy / John Rutter, Clare College Choir, but he has many other cd's of Christmas music and they are all wonderful.

 

[Bunnyears]

I also forgot the Tallis singers. They are a little more predictable, but they also get the holiday spirit going.

 

[Wmcmanus]

Thanks, Bunnyears. I'll check that one out.

 

[ReasonablyLucid]

The trans-siberian orchestra has some good xmas music. Has a little rock/metal flavor to it too

 

[Bunnyears]

Just got out the Christmas Music, and here are a few more audiophile quality recordings:
An American Christmas -- the Boston Camerata, Joel Cohen, director, ( a personal favorite!)
Christmas Night: Carols of the Nativity -- The Cambridge singers, John Rutter
A Waverly Consort Christmas -- Michael Jaffee, Director
The Christmas Revels: Sing We Now of Christmas -- John Langstaff, artistic director
A Renaissance Christmas Celebration with the Waverly Consort -- Michael Jaffee, director

 

[geoges.ravel]

"Cantate Domino" and "Hush The Angels Are Singing" are very reputable audiophile CDs

 

[Bunnyears]

Quote:

Originally Posted by geoges.ravel "Cantate Domino" and "Hush The Angels Are Singing" are very reputable audiophile CDs

Are we talking about the Belgian boys choir Cantate Domino, the Gabrieli Cantate Domino or the Sibelius?

Is this the recording?

And is this the Cantate Domino you refer to? Torsten Nilsson?

 

[geoges.ravel]

woops, you got so many of these

I meant this one:

and this one:

It is also refered to as the "Black Church"

 

[Bunnyears]

Merci beaucoup!

 

[mr_superlove]

It's certainly not Hi-Fi but I made an excellent CD via iTunes last year. Sinatra, Burl Ives, Gene Autry, The Supremes, Ella Fitzgerald, etc. Best Christmas album I could ever imagine. Christmas seemed to be much more innocent and less cynical back then. I think the seasonal music of that era reflects it. I suggest finding more gems there.

Also, Guaraldi. Nothing but reverence for that album.