Listeners who love the sound and mood of the most traditional Christmas carols and hymns should be delighted with this collection of choral arrangements made by Ralph Vaughan Williams. The majority of the pieces are traditional English carols, many of which the composer collected himself as part of his research on folk song. For several of the carols where only a text survives, he wrote the melody. A few of the selections may be familiar to American audiences and a few more to fans of English choral music, but by and large these carols will be obscure to general audiences. Their tone tends to be gently contemplative rather than exuberantly celebratory; they're more similar to "Away in a Manger" than "Joy to the World." Vaughan Williams' intent was to create music that could be sung by the average church congregation or church choir, so the arrangements are simple and traditional. Some are arranged for unison singing, but most are in four parts.

Songlist: Hereford Carol, While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks By Night (unspecified tune), Snow in the Street ("From far away we come to you"), carol for chorus, Song of the Crib, The Holy Well, carol for chorus or voice & piano (Traditional Carols from Herefordshire No. 1 & No. 2; 2 versions), The Salutation Carol, Blake's Cradle Song ("Sweet dreams, form a shade o'er my lovely infant's head"), carol for chorus, O Little Town of Bethlehem, carol (arr. from English traditional, "Forest Green"), Wassail Song ("Wassail, wassail, all over the town"), carol for chorus ("Gloucestershire Wassail"), The Miraculous Harvest, carol for chorus or voice & piano (Traditional Carols from Herefordshire No. 10), How Far Is It to Bethlehem? (Children's Song of the Nativity) (Tune: Stowey) (English), The Golden Carol ("Now is ChristÃmas y-come"), carol for chorus, Wither's Rocking Hymn ("Sweet baby, sleep! What ails my dear?"), carol for chorus, Behold the great Creator makes, hymn ("This Endris Nyght"), Christmas Hymn ("Now Blessed by Thou, Christ Jesu"), for baritone or tenor, chorus & orchestra in F major (Choral Hymns No. 2), The truth sent from above, carol for chorus or voice & piano (Traditional English Carols No. 6), And All in the Morning ("On Christmas Day"), carol for chorus or voice & piano (Traditional English Carols No. 1), On Christmas Night, carol for chorus or voice & piano ("Sussex Carol"; Traditional English Carols No. 2)

Founder and artistic director of the SCC Kris Mason directs her talented charges in a lovely, sumptuous holiday collection, "A Candlelight Christmas." Approximately 200 choristers are enrolled in the Chorus, which offers choral training on several different levels. These 16 live songs are performed by the Training Chorus ("O Come Little Children," "Once in Royal David's City," "Dormi, Dormi"); the Intermediate Chorus ("Little Red Bird," "Riu, Riu Chiu," "The Little Drummer Boy"); the Chamber Singers ("Hodie, Christus natus est," Clean as the Wind," "Rocking" and "Sussex Carol"), and the Combined Choruses ("Candlelight Carol," "Hallelu!," "The Lord Bless You and Keep You"). The other 13 songs are performed by the Performing Chorus. Some favorites are "A Ceremony of Carols," "Procession," "There is no Rose," "That yonge Child," "Balulalow," "This little Babe," "In Freezing Winter Night" and "Deo Gracias." What could be better than listening to the sweet voices of finely-trained young singers to celebrate the birth of the Christ child?

Songlist: A Ceremony of Carols, O Come, Little Children, Once in Royal David's City, Dormi, Dormi, Hodie, Christus natus est, Clean as the Wind, Rocking, Sussex Carol, Little Red Bird, Riu, Riu Chiu, The Little Drummer Boy, Christmas Lullaby, Song of the Crib, Candlelight Carol, Hallelu, The Lord Bless You and Keep You

The sound of the children's voices raised in song is a touchstone of the holidays. Add to the mix the internationally renowned tenor Ben Heppner and members of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, and you have a recipe for a truly special Christmas disc! The Chorus invokes a magical quality to Christmas music past and present, ranging from traditional favourites to a contemporary holiday fable sure to charm even Scrooge!

Songlist: Star Carol, The Kings, Sussex Carol, See Amid The Winter's Snow, Jesus Child, Song Of The Crib, Wexford Carol, The Garden Of Jesus, Good King Wenecelas, Hey Now, Mid-Winter, Farewell!!! Advent, Shepherd's Pipe Carol, Jesus Christ The Apple Tree, The Last Straw - A Christmas Fable

Rejoice and Sing, by the Trebel Chorus of New England, offers a varied selection for the Christmas season. The chorus led by founding directior Marie Stultz is expanded on this CD to include tenors and basses for some pieces. Many of the pieces featured were originally intended for childrens voices, such as "Wolcum Yole" and "This Little Babe" from Britten's Ceremony of Carols. The disc includes many traditional favorites (O, Come All Ye Faithful; O Holy Night) as well as a piece written by Stultz (Suite on the Nativity). These children are sure to brighten up your holiday mood.

Songlist: Wolcum Yole, This Little Babe, Lo, I Bring Joyful Tidings, Wir eilen mit schachen, In dulci Jubilo, Psallite, Song of the Crib, O, Come All Ye Faithful, O Holy Night, Lullaby, Panis Angelicus, Suite on the Nativity, op. 3, Maria Walks Amid the Thorn, Wake, Awake for Night is Flying, Susani, Come Running, You Shepherds, Queen pastores laudavere, Gloria