This excellent multi-cultural 2-part "instant program" features six singable selections from Poland, Spain, Hungary, England and America. The music is connected with clever yet informative verses highlighting customs of each country. Some of Alfred's top arrangers and composers are featured in this program, including Carl Strommen, Anna Laura Page, Patsy Ford Simms, Jackie O'Neill and Winnagene Hatch.

Songlist: Welcome: A Seasonal Greeting, Christmas A-Comin', Angel Carol, El Desembre Congelat, Sleigh Song, Go, Tell It on the Mountain

This renamed and repackaged version of Chor Leoni's first Christmas recording (Magnificat) presents three substantial and endearing seasonal works. The sunny Carols and Lullabies: Christmas in the Southwest by Conrad Susa derives from the folk music of Hispanic America, and sets the Holy birth in the context of a Southwestern pinata party. Italian composer Ottorino Respighi was an early twentieth-century composer who looked to the past for inspiration and musical materials, e.g., in his well-known Ancient Airs and Dances. This tendency can also be heard in the Laud to the Nativity of Our Lord, Respighi's self-described "personal Christmas card to the world." The disc also includes the premiere recording of a Chor Leoni commission, Magnificat by Vancouver composer Rupert Lang. Using the unusual combination of mezzo-soprano soloist and male chorus, Lang seeks to express Mary's personal, human response to the formal biblical text, with wonderful results. Special guests for this recording include mezzo-soprano Mariateresa Magisano (winner of the 1998 Metropolitan Opera Auditions), soprano Lambroula Maria Pappas (winner of the 1999 Metropolitan Opera Auditions), and Elektra Women's Choir (four-time consecutive First Place winners in the CBC Competition).

Songlist: Oh, mi Belen!, El Desembre Congelat, Alegria, A la Nanita Nana, Las Posadas, Campana Sobre Campana, En Belen Tocan a Fuego, El Noi de la Mare, Chiquirriquitin, El Rorro, Lauda per la Nativita del Signore, Magnificat, Recitative, Mary's Song, Magnificat, Quia Fecit, Fecit Potentiam, Suscepit Israel, Gloria

"Alegria y Placer" is the second finely-crafted album of San Francisco's own 15-voice women's vocal ensemble, Musae. It showcases local composer Conrad Susa's "Carols and Lullabies: Christmas in the Southwest" for women's ensemble, harp, marimba, vibraphone and guitar. "Carols and Lullabies" is all in Spanish, and it features 10 songs of the 20 on the album. Each of the ten (accompanied) songs seems lovelier than the next, songs like "Alegria," "Los Posadas," the magical "Campana Sobre Campana," and the joyous "El Noi De La Mare." The others include standards such as "Silent Night," "Away in a Manger," "All Night, All Day," "I'll Be Home for Christmas" and "Deck the Hall." Other favorites are "This Endris Night," from a 15th Century English text, and a pair of lovely, wise folk songs, the lively "Vus Vet Zayn" and the gentle "Nada Te Turbe." There is quite a lot of accompaniment in the album, but the focus is on the beautiful voices. Musae is a delicious vocal smorgasbord from beginning to end, and all we have to do is treat ourselves. "Alegria y Placer" is one of the most enjoyable Christmas albums of the year!

Songlist: ÁO, Mi Belen!, El Desembre Congelat, Alegria, A la Nanita Nana, Las Posadas, Campana sobre Campana, En Belen Tocan a Fuego, El Noi de la Mare, Chiquirriquitin, El Rorro, Silent Night, Away in a Manger, This Endris Night, O Magnum Mysterium, Gabriels Message, All Night, All Day, I'll Be Home for Christmas, Deck the Hall, Vus Vet Zayn, Nada Te Turbe

The 190 singers of the renowned, Seattle-base Northwest Girlchoir, ages 4-18 and divided into groups named "Fresca," "Amabile," "Vivace," "Amore" and "Ensemble," bring us a strong collection of favorites from their concert performances, from 2006 to 2008. Among these 22 mostly piano-accompanied tunes are some wonderful gems, including Stephen Paulus' title tune," Benjamin Britten's "A New Year Carol" and the very funny "My True Love Gave to Me" by Fresca; Janet Gardner's "Morning" and "Jazzy St. Nick" by Amabile; Amy F. Bernon's "On Wind, On Wing" and the Bulgarian folk song "Nikolo le, Kikolcho le" by Vivace; the Hungarian-Canadian folk song "Morning Star" and Irving Berlin's "I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm" by Ensemble, Dede Duson's "Dawn" and R. Murray Schafer's "Snowforms" by Amore; and Z. Randall Stroope's "Omnia Sol" and Stephen Hatfield's "Living in a Holy City." A very special collection from the sweet, clear voices of NWGC!

Songlist: Daybreak, The Lake Isle of Innisfree, A New Year Carol (from Friday Afternoons), My True Love Gave to Me, Morning, El Desembre Congelat, Jazzy Old Saint Nick, Noel, Noel, On Wind, On Wing, Nikolo le, Nikolcho le, Morning Star, You are the New Day, I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm, Dawn, Snowforms, Noel des enfants qui n'ont plus maisons, Choose Something Like a Star, African Celebration, Ain't No Mountain High Enough, Yo Le Canto Todo el Dia, Omnia Sol, Living in a Holy City

The 61-strong Peninsula Women's Chorus was established in 1966, and has been under the direction of Dr. Patricia Hennings since 1975, and the Christmas CD "Carols" is their fourth CD. The first 10 songs are a marvelous group called "Carols and Lullabies, Christmas in the Southwest" by Conrad Susa. A friend of Susa's showed him a collection of traditional Spanish carols he had sung as a boy in Arizona, and Susa put them together to form a narrative. combining homey, artful simplicity with Renaissance music, Songs like "Alegria" and the Andalusian song "Chiquirriquitin," with their lilting, dancing marimbas, and the lovely "A La Nanita Nana," are the gems of the CD. The second half of the CD takes us more in the direction of the sacred (Karai's "Hodie Christus natus est" and Missa Brevis' "Kyrie," "Sanctus" and "Agnus Dei"). Throw in "The Carol of the Rose," "Alleluia" and others, and you have a surprising, delightful Christmas CD!

Songlist: Oh, mi Belen!, El Desembre Congelat, Alegria, A la Nanita Nan, Las Posadas, Campana sobre Campana, En Belen Tocan a Fuefgo, El Noi de la Mare, Chiquirriquitin, El Rorro, Hodie Christus natus est, Missa Brevis, -Kyrie, -Sanctus, -Agnus Dei, Two selections from The Place of the Blest, -The Carol of the Rose, -Alleliuia, O Regem coeli, Christmas Intrada

Roberta Q. Jackson directs the over 100 strong PSG, accompanied by the Portland Youth Philharmonic. This is a Christmas CD, and there are 21 songs in celebration of Christmas, from sacred (Galuppi's "Dixit Dominus (Psalm 110) Movements, I, II, II") to pop (Elliot's "Jingle Bell Swing"). There are actually 2 choirs here, the Premier Choir of over 100 voices, and the Debut Choir of about 90, and when they sing together on something like "Silver Bells," it's pretty impressive. An excellent Christmas CD, for yourself to enjoy every Christmas, or to give to a loved one.

Songlist: Shepherd's Pipe Carol, Cantique de Jean Racine, Dixit Dominus, Children Blessed of the Lord, This Little Babe, Chose Something Like a Star, Ding Dong Merrily on High, el Desembre Congelat, Il Est Ne, Angels We Have Heard on High, Hope for Resolution, Donkey Carol, Hine Ma Tov, Sleigh Ride, Jingle Bell Swing, I'll Be HOme For Christmas, Heavenly Aeroplane, Winter Wonderland, The Christmas Song, Silver Bells, O Holy Night

The Choral Excellence Series has joined legendary choral conductor and arranger Robert De Cormier to produce a A Counterpoint Christmas -- a fanciful journey around the world during the holiday season. Selections include familiar and less-familiar melodies and carols from around the world ending with the splendid suite of Argentinean Carols, Navidad Nuestra, by Ariel Ramirez. This beautifully-produced DVD will put you in the spirit of the season while presenting a unique collection of exciting Christmas music. If you are looking for something new this holiday season, a Counterpoint Christmas will be a great selection. If you are a teacher needing an activity for a substitute to use, this is a worthwhile way for your singers to spend a class period!

Songlist: One Horse Open Sleigh, Ritsch, Ratsch, Filbom, Christmas In The Southwest, Oh, Mi Belen!, El Desembre Congelat, Alegria, A La Nanita Nana, Las Posadas, Campana sobre Campana, El Belen Tocan a Fuego, El Noi de la Mare, Chiquirrquitin, El Rorro, Away In A Manger, The Wealden Trio, The Souling Song, Navidad Nuestra, Betelehemu