Search - Chanticleer :: Let It Snow

Not Chanticleer's Best Offering

Timothy Kearney | Hull, MA United States | 11/23/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Chanticleer is an a capella ensemble that has gained popularity in the mid 1990's due to it's beautiful and at times haunting sound and a renewed public interest in early classical music. Their previous releases at Christmas have been well received by loyal fans with good reason--they are fine recordings of beautiful music. My guess is that their most recent collection LET IT SNOW may not be as well received by Chanticleer's fans as their earlier recordings.



To be fair, their musicianship is consistent on this recording as it is in their past ventures. Some of the tracks are worth hearing: traditional favorites such as "Ave Maria" "Silent Night" "O Come All Ye Faithful and "O Holy Night." The foray into more contemporary Christmas songs such as "Let it Snow," "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" and "The Christmas Song" is fine even though some Chanticleer purists may disagree. For me the arrangements of medleys, one of "God Rest ye Merry, Gentlemen" and Feliz Navidad" the other being one called "Holiday Cheer" are troublesome. The first medley not only pairs two songs that do not belong together, it drags. The second sounds a bit too gimmicky, at least for my taste. I'm not saying that groups cannot have fun with Christmas music. Many Christmas songs are supposed to be nothing but fun, but the fun has to work, and in the case of the second medley, it just doesn't work.



Now don't get me wrong. It's not a horrible recording and if you take out about ten minutes of this CD, you'd have a nearly perfect recording. This collection does not deserve a home with Elmo and Patsy's Christmas collection that gave us the immortal "Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer" and "Percy the Puny Poinsettia" or the Wilson Phillips HEY SANTA. Most of the tracks are performed well; it's just not in the same category as Chanticleer's other holiday offerings.

"

Chanticorn!

Noah D. Towns | 11/18/2007

(3 out of 5 stars)

"This is a very nice christmas album. Not a vocally driven album by any means, however chanticleer has done some very nice work here. I would play it in the background for a nice christmas party but it isn't a sit down and listen album or even a distraction. When I put it in the stereo and sat to listen I found myself paying attention to things other than the music. I've never had a probelm absorbing myself with other Chanticleer titles. That being said, I own every chanticleer recording and i am proud to have this in my collection. Yet, it's no "Christmas with Chanticleer and Dawn Upshaw" or

even a "Sing We Christmas". Quality of performance is spectatcular as always and sound quality is great."

Good -- could be a little livelier

Glassy Raven | Blue Ridge Mtns, SC USA | 12/07/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Beautifully done, mostly very slow, peaceful interpretations of the various songs -- speeds up a bit toward the end. The characterization elsewhere as background music is very apt -- something to play during a relaxed Christmas dinner -- or when relaxing in front of a warm fire on a cold day. Ave Maria is roughly half orchestral and half vocal. Beautiful voices and harmony -- the tenors are truly amazing -- I thought I could hit some high notes."