O Come All Ye Faithful - Robert Shaw, Oakeley, Frederick
O Sanctissima
Joy to the World - Robert Shaw, Handel, George Frid
Away in a Manger
Fum, Fum, Fum/March of the Kings
What Child Is This? - Robert Shaw, Dix, William Chatte
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing - Robert Shaw, Mendelssohn, Felix
Bring a Torch, Jeanette, Isabella
Angels We Have Heard on High
Break Forth, O Beauteous Heavenly Light - Robert Shaw, Bach, Johann Sebast
The First Nowell
O Little Town of Bethlehem - Robert Shaw, Brooks, Phillip [1]
I Saw Three Ships - Robert Shaw, Sandys, William
Deck the Halls With Boughs of Holly
No Description Available
No Track Information Available
Media Type: CD
Artist: SHAW,ROBERT CHORALE
Title: MANY MOODS OF CHRISTMAS
Street Release Date: 10/14/1997
No Description Available
No Track Information Available
Media Type: CD
Artist: SHAW,ROBERT CHORALE
Title: MANY MOODS OF CHRISTMAS
Street Release Date: 10/14/1997
"I purchased the original performance of this album conducted by the arranger, "Robert Russel Bennet", (Victory at Sea, Arr.), with the RCA Symphony Orchestra and the Robert Shaw Chorale. I was so impressed by the spirit and power of the rendition that I purchase seven more albums to distribute to friends and family that holiday season. I still have the original vinyl, now taped many times, but alas, the LP has reached a senescence commensurate with it's 30 plus years. The remake by R.Shaw on CD, now conducting the Atlanta Symphony along with his esteemed Chorale, is a faithful technical duplication of R.R. Bennet's original arrangements, but the inspirational exuberance of the first flowering is absent from the Atlanta offering, even the organ is a bit insipid. This remastering of the original glorious performance should rate among the top few renderings of traditional yuletide music and should be offered every future midwinter festival to delight the ear of Christian, Jew, Moslem, Buddhist, Agnostic and/or atheist alike. Great music is truly universal and this should be a top seller for a long, long time. V.C. Heath, USN, Ret."
After 40 Years, Still the Best Christmas Recording Available
A. Wolverton | Crofton, MD United States | 12/20/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This reissue of the classic 1963 recording stands the test of time for two reasons: Robert Shaw's incredible Chorale Singers and the masterful arrangements by Robert Russell Bennett. Nearly 40 years have passed, yet these arrangements still pack a wallop. Few of today's Christmas recordings even come close to the vibrant, joyful, playful and powerful scores of Bennett. Be sure to purchase this version and not the lackluster re-recording that was made in 1983. Total time: 47:18"
Best Christmas recording ever
Irvin H. Murrell, Jr. | Graceville, Florida United States | 11/12/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I got the original LP when it first came out in 1963, and the Atlanta version in 1983. For me, all other Christmas albums pale into total oblivion when compared to this album, and here I speak of the original 1963. "Many Moods" is exactly what there are here: the meditative "What Child Is This" and "O Sanctissima" to what for me is the ultimate song on the CD and LP, the fantastic arrangement of "O Come, All Ye Faithful." The basses seemingly pick up the opening pitch (an Ab) from nowhere. Actually, it's a minor 6th above the last pitch.) I have many other Christmas LPs and CDs, including many others by Shaw. For me, however,this one is the all-time gem. It was reviewed by Richard Dinwiddie in Christianity Today as the all-time best Christmas album. I heartily agree, and encourage everyone to get it."
A Huge Disappointment
this ad only | los angeles | 12/18/2008
(1 out of 5 stars)
"There are two almost identical versions of "The Many Moods of Christmas" this is the first 1963 recording. There is a 1990 recording of the same material and arrangements on the Telarc label. I have to say I was looking forward to getting this original recording. I remember the vinyl as being quite good and many early analog recordings are spectacular. I suspect this was spectacular before the digital remastering engineers at BMG/RCA got a chance to "improve" it. The program is sadly compressed to death. The quiet parts are loud and the loud parts just get painful, shrill and unlistenable.
I also have the newer Telarc CD of the very same material. I know others have hinted that the original is better musically but I'd have to get a copy of the original on vinyl and haul out the old turntable to know. The dynamics are changed so radically on this remastering that there is no reason to buy it. Maybe one day the 1963 master tapes will be revisited by musical engineers and we'll all be able to hear the 1963 version as it was recorded with depth and musical dynamics. This CD is sad and I wish I could return it and not just throw it away.