Christmas recordings featuring boys choirs are not exactly a scarce commodity, but besides the pleasingly round, warm ensemble sound, this one offers some very interesting repertoire, some of it familiar but most (and I’m speaking for North American listeners here) virtually unknown. And even some of the familiar hymns and carols–among them “Hark the herald angels sing”, “Silent Night”, “Infant holy, infant lowly” (all sung to German texts)–are performed either with entirely different words or in a different harmonic or even slightly changed melodic setting from what we’re used to.
There are some really lovely pieces here, several found among the group of 14 Polish carols set by Arnold Möller, including the lively Hirten zogen mit Gesang (Shepherds traveled with their songs), the evocative Einsamkeit hüllet (Solitude is all around), and the sweetly rocking lullaby Luleise, Jesulein (Lulaley, sweet Jesus). Some selections feature the richer, fuller men’s voices, others use only the trebles.
A small string ensemble accompanies the Polish carols, and while it adds a nice touch of color and textural variety, the engineering makes it sound oddly disembodied from the choir. Another problem surfaces in many places throughout: the sopranos have a tendency to sing sharp, which certainly gives a measure of brightness to the sound, but it also tends to confound the ear! Otherwise, we’re treated to some very well-disciplined singing and yet another batch of Christmas songs that aficionados will be grateful to hear.
