| Subcategories | Holst, Gustav Sacred & Religious |
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The Promise of Ages : A Christmas Collection | 
 enlarge | Creators: Benjamin Britten, Gregorian Chant, Sir Peter Maxwell Davies, Gustav Holst, Felix Mendelssohn, John Jacob Niles, Andrew Parrott, Tavenor Consort & Choir
Label: Sony
Category: Music
List Price: $9.98
Buy New: $5.68
You Save: $4.30 (43%)
New (11) Used (4) from $5.68
Rating:  6 reviews
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 5.6 x 5 x 0.5
UPC: 074646071328
EAN: 0074646071328
Release Date: October 20, 1998
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Tracks:
| • | C. B. version (Charles Burney?) | | • | Nos Galan (Deck the Halls) | | • | Lullay, Thou Tiny Little Child | | • | Ther Is No Rose of Swych Vertu - Taverner Consort, Traditional | | • | I Sing of a Maiden | | • | There Is No Rose from "A Ceremony of Carols" | | • | O Magnum Mysterium (Responsory at Matins for Christmas Day) | | • | Verses 1-3 | | • | The Fader of Heven (Ca. 1450 Mystery Play) | | • | Verses 4-6 | | • | O Magnum Mysterium (Responsory at Matins for Christmas Day) | | • | Lullay, Lullow: I Saw a Swete Semly Syght | | • | I Wonder as I Wander - Taverner Consort, Niles, John Jacob | | • | Staines Morris (Blessed Be That Maid Marie) | | • | Hayl, Mary, Ful of Grace | | • | The Seven Joys of Mary | | • | Illuminare, Jerusalem | | • | Good People All - Taverner Consort, Traditional | | • | Sing We the Virgin Mary | | • | In Bethlehem City | | • | Christmas Eve | | • | Hodie Christus Natus Est (Antiphon from Chester Processional) | | • | Jesu, Thou the Virgin-Born | | • | As Dew in Aprille | | • | Lo! He Comes with Clouds Descending |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com
No one has recorded more innovative Christmas anthologies than Andrew Parrott--and this disc is no exception. The Promise of Ages presents a collection of wonderful seasonal music arranged for women's voices (all arrangements were either made or sanctioned by the composers). The selection includes 15th-century English works such as "There is no rose of swych vertu"; traditional tunes both genuine ("Deck the Halls" in an 18th-century Welsh arrangement for harp) and fake (J. J. Niles's "I Wonder as I Wander" and "Lullay, thou little tiny child"); rollicking Irish dance tunes; and 20th-century works by such composers as Britten, Holst, and Judith Weir on traditional Christmas texts. One ingenious and effective suite combines Peter Maxwell Davies's "O magnum mysterium" and "The Fader of Heven" with the 14th-century "Song of the Nuns of Chester." All of the performances are exemplary, but Emily van Evera deserves special praise for her beautifully simple rendition of the Niles tunes. This collection can stand alongside Parrott's The Carol Album as the thinking person's Christmas albums. --Matthew Westphal
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| Customer Reviews: Read 1 more reviews...
 Wonderful music--but look at Parrott's other Christmas discs too November 30, 2008
lutefan (Seattle, USA)
"Sing We the Virgin Mary" by itself makes this disc a must-buy--what a simple, gorgeous tune, perfectly done. But there are a few too many dreary Peter Maxwell Davies pieces and other less enjoyable works on this disc to make it my favorite Christmas album. Check out Parrott's two Carol Albums and A Christmas Album (vol.1) for more Christmas music delights (as well as the Boston Camerata's Christmas discs).
 Superb Choral Christmas Music January 19, 2007
W. D. Jamieson (Halifax, NS, Canada)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
Andrew Parrott, and the Taverner Concert and Choir have done it again !
This is a superb collection of traditional music from the past, some of it familiar, some not so well known, all performed so very well.
Unique and special January 9, 2007
Claude
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
Loved this album the entire thing. An English flavour.
Especially loved the Lo He Comes With Clouds Descending..
heart stirring. A great way to get into the Christmas
spirit and lift your heart.
Beautiful Harmonies and Vocalizations December 12, 2000
Rowen (Raritan, NJ USA)
7 out of 7 found this review helpful
Like another reviewer, I am thrilled at Lo! He Comes, as well as with the unfamiliar setting for Hark the Herald Angels Sing and the beautiful Sing We the Virgin Mary.If you love beautiful vocalizations, especially rare soprano-alto harmonizations, this is the album for you.
A "top ten" Christmas album November 12, 2000
M. J. Smith (Seattle, WA USA)
5 out of 5 found this review helpful
If this album contained nothing but it's splendid rendition of Madan's Lo! He Comes, with Clouds Descending, the album would be worth owning. Fortunately, the entire album is a brillant mix of voices, instrumentals and performance styles; the resulting album can be played several times in successiion without becoming repetative - no small feat for a Christmas album.The album ranges from the 13th century Nuns of Chester to contemporary composers - Judith Weir - or nearly comtemporary - Britten, Holst ... with excellent sequencing so that no piece seems out of place. The instrumentation varies from the traditional organ with SATB choir to fiddle, flute, concertina and cello. This provides the variety that makes the album so listenable. For traditional Christmas music this album is a must.
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