A Choral Christmas

Exceptional

     

This is an extraordinary album of traditional and modern Christmas music. The Trinity Choir has a quality that is unsurpassed. Intonation, diction, expression - it doesn't get much better than this. The carols with harp accompaniment are brilliant. "Ding! Dong! Merrily on High," with organ accompaniment, brings a whole new sound to a carol I usually hear sung a capella. The new setting of "In the Bleak Midwinter" is by Bob Chilcott and worth the price of the album alone. Jones' own arrangement of "O Little Town of Bethlehem" incorporates both the English traditional tune (Forest Green) and the tune known to most Americans. There is a delightful interpolation of both tunes that shows Jones' skills as a music theoritician, composer, and hints at a keen sense of humor. This is an album that helped make my Christmas even more special. I look forward to more great quality releases from one of America's premier choral organizations.