Reviewed by Steven Whitehead

As a reviewer I listen to new releases in different ways. Firstly I try to enjoy the music for what it is but I am also a worshipper, an occasional worship leader and a member of a choir. As a listener I was most favourably impressed with this, the third volume in Harmonia Mundi USA's series of 'Carols From The Old And New Worlds'. The singing, mostly a cappella, is superlative and the material is an interesting selection of old and new, often in thrilling arrangements by the choir's director, Paul Hillier. However the newness of the material means that I am unlikely to use any of it in worship as, like many congregations, we want to sing the old favourites at Christmas. Having said this, as a member of a choir this is a disc that I will be wrapping up and giving to our musical director with the plea that we invest in the sheet music and learn some of these lovely songs. We won't sing as well as Chamber Choir Ireland but I would love to try. This celebration of the festive season offers a wide-ranging mixture of new and traditional carols, framed by the Plainchant of the seven "O" antiphons for Advent. Other old favourites include Hillier's arrangements of the traditional "Adam Lay Ibounden" and "Guadete! Christus Est Natus" as well as "O Come, All Ye Faithful" and a beautiful "Away In A Manger". We visit Germany for Johann Christoph Bach's "Merk Auf, Mein Herz", swing through to Italy for the traditional "Gesu Bambin L'e Nato" and then cross to Ireland for two new Gaelic carols that I will not attempt to spell but which I greatly enjoyed hearing. And our finale is a rousing new arrangement of "Ding Dong Merrily On High" which would bring a smile to the face of Ebenezer Scrooge himself.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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