Christmas music fans will find a generous mix of familiar carols with seasonal songs from a wide variety of European countries, the latter consisting of many selections rarely heard or completely unknown to North American audiences. Adding to the program’s interest are the inventive, characterful, often very ambitiously conceived arrangements and orchestrations by choir director Gilbert Patenaude. Among the 22 tracks are “Noël nouvelet” and “Un flambeau, Jeannette, Isabelle” (France), “The first Nowell”, “God rest you merry, Gentlemen”, and “Deck the hall” (England), “O Tannenbaum” (Germany), a most unusual setting of “Stille Nacht” (Austria), a version of the tune “Greensleeves” from Ireland, and “Les Anges dans nos campagnes” (otherwise known as “Angels we have heard on high”) from France. Less-familiar are carols from Spain and Chile, Italy, Sweden, and Poland, but among these are some of the disc’s more engaging and exciting offerings–for example “Con guitarras y almireces” (with its colorful orchestration for flute, oboe, and strings) and the lively, dancing “Asi Cristo nacio”, the swiftly rollicking “Nu är det Jul igen” from Sweden, the sweetly rocking song of the shepherds, “Wsrod Nocnej Ciszy” from Poland, a tender song to the Infant, “Tu scendi dalle stelle” and the cradle song “Dormi, dormi o bel Bambin!” (twice interrupted by a tarantelle!), both from Italy.
Occasionally, the arrangements are just too busy, obscuring detail and clarity–but some of this is the fault of the recording, which presents some uneven balances between orchestra and singers and tends to saturate when textures become too thick, especially in louder sections. Nevertheless, this wonderful Montréal-based boys’ choir, founded nearly 50 years ago and whose membership totals 180 singers, is a delight to hear. Its clear, bright sound, crisp enunciation, polished technique, and effervescent vocalism certainly convey the spirit of the season and the music, and Patenaude’s novel arrangements add even more value to a worthy collection. Unfortunately for listeners who don’t know French, texts are given only in the original language and in French translation. [10/23/2003]
