It may seem odd, looking at the tracklist of this Signum Classics release, to see a Christmas album with a majority of instrumental tracks, especially inasmuch as the pieces are not familiar carols but rather unusual numbers. Yet the program makes sense, for the instrumental group Fretwork is trying to strike a balance between the celebratory holiday mood known today and the sober quality of a Christmas under the Protestant reign of Elizabeth I. The group picks wonderful examples of both. William Byrd is well represented; ...
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It may seem odd, looking at the tracklist of this Signum Classics release, to see a Christmas album with a majority of instrumental tracks, especially inasmuch as the pieces are not familiar carols but rather unusual numbers. Yet the program makes sense, for the instrumental group Fretwork is trying to strike a balance between the celebratory holiday mood known today and the sober quality of a Christmas under the Protestant reign of Elizabeth I. The group picks wonderful examples of both. William Byrd is well represented; although a Catholic, he grasped the requirement of direct emotional appeal and produced small masterpieces like the simple and vivid Out of the Orient Crystal Skies. There is not a "standard" work on the program here at all, and many listeners will want the album purely for unusual items like the anonymous Sweet was the song the Virgin sang, but there are several more attractions on the table. The vocals are by a single singer, mezzo-soprano Helen Charlston, and the combination of...
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Very good. Providing great media since 1972. All used discs are inspected and guaranteed. Cases may show some wear. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority!
