Search - Peter Holman :: M Praetorius: Christmas Music /Westminster Cathederal Choir * Parley of Instruments * Hill

A bit too "accurate" for my taste

Melanchthon | USA | 09/16/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The selections on the CD can't be beat and the music in itself is incomparable. However, I prefer a more melodic singing style in this type of thing (in comparison to the focus on period accuracy that is "in" in Baroque recordings right now); the sound is more percussive and so the music is not as relaxing as it could be."

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas ...

Eileen O'Brien | Amherst, NH, USA | 01/11/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"... or, as the Germans say, "Es weihnachtet sehr." Praetorius was quite the serious religious musician and some of his works are heavy going. The selections here are of the sing-along variety, and I have been known to do so in the car when the mood struck me. It helps to know the German lyrics, too, and I've heard these selections so often, I've memorized them! I don't know, however, why the dances from "Terpsichore" are included on this CD. "Terpsichore" has nothing to do with Christmas, especially not the earnest type of Christmas the Germans of that time celebrated. What the heck, the "Terpsichore" melodies have a good beat, and you can dance to them. All in all, a nice CD, and I have several copies."