The UCLA Madrigal Singers, the 22 member mixed-voice premiere chamber choir led by director/arranger Donn Weiss, brings us this 'best-of' holiday album, which represents nearly 25 years of audience favorites, the best-loved Christmas songs heard at Royce Hall and at their traditional Twelfth Night concerts. We of course enjoy standards like 'Angels We Have Heard on High,' 'Deck the Hall,' 'O Holy Night' and 'Stille Nacht,' but we particularly like more obscure music like Catherine Bennett's 'Christ Child Carol,' Benjamin Britten's 'Christ Child Carol,' the Scottish Carol 'Balloo Lammy,' Herbert Howells' 'A Spotless Rose,' the Spanish 'Carol of the Birds,' Daniel Pinkham's 'Come Love We God,' the Austrian carol 'Still, Still, Still,' and the Puerto Rican folksong 'De Tierra Legana Venimos.' The full, rich sound of the Singers makes 'Bells' ring out as a very special and varied Christmas collection. Occasional light accompaniment.

The 23 mixed voices of the UCLA Madrigal Singers was directed by Donn Weiss for 25 years. In addition to regular tours throughout the Western US and Canada, the group has traveled to Australia and Hawaii, and provided vocal music for Hollywood films like 'Tron.' 'Choral Music' is a varied collection of 23 works by 20th century American composers. Some favorites are the 4 movements of Daniel Pinkham's 'Wedding Cantata,' Halsey Stevens' 'The Amphisbaena,' the Weiss-arranged spiritual 'Mumblin' Word,' Williametta Spenser's moody 'These Are the Days When Birds Come Back,' Samuel Barber's 3-part 'Reincarnations,' the Anglo-American Ballad 'Barbara Allen,' 'Spring,' by Kirk Mechem, two 'Selections from Dickinson Madrigals' by Roger Bourland, and two by Aaron Copland, 'The Promise of Living' and 'Stomp Your Foot.' These are some rarely-heard, lovely, eclectic pieces by American composers, sung by a talented mixed-voice student ensemble. Some light accompaniment. Extensive liner notes with all the lyrics.