I love the art on that cover. It's from the first of my two boxed EP sets of 1945-46 recordings by the Robert Shaw Chorale. These very same recordings came out in a variety of editions, until some of them finally showed up on a terrible-sounding budget CD reissue (which appears to be out of print, and probably for the better). They're thrift store staples. And, like most ubiquitous pop records, holiday or otherwise, they're very tough to find in anything like playable shape. So, naturally, I was happy to find these two hardly-listened-to sets at Colleen's Collectables not too long ago.
The first six files are from these sets, and they sound pretty good for Fifties reissues of 1945-46 material. There are five medleys plus a terrific Deck the Halls, for a total of eleven titles. If I had to pick the most magnificent performances, I'd go for Carol of the Bells, I Sing of a Maiden, and William Billings' Shepherd's Carol, which is something of a Christmas standard, albeit one people tend not to know. (One of those.) When I first heard this stuff, I couldn't believe popular choral recordings this astonishing had ever existed. I'm not sure I do even now.
Occasionally, something comes along that alters my take on music forever. Like these Shaw sides.
The magnificence continues with the Trapp Family Singers from (circa) 1952. If the only Trapp Family Singers you know are the fake ones from The Sound of Music, are you in for a treat. If not a shock. The word "arty" was invented to describe these folks, I think.
Katherine K. Davis, best known for Carol of the Drum, a.k.a. The Little Drummer Boy (which she almost lost to two clever copyright filers), is represented in this set by two remarkable Yuletide pieces, As It Fell Upon a Night and Swedish Dance Carol, both sung by The Testor Chorus--Testor being The Testor Corporation, "manufacturers of household adhesives, craft and model-hobby products, toys" (quoted from the LP jacket).
Also on hand: the Jack Halloran Singers from 1957, with Christmas Is a-Comin' (from the 1957 LP of the same title), a couple titles by the John McCarthy Singers (the "Merry Christmas... from Line Material" folks), and the Cathedral Choir with Benjamin Britten's 1934 masterpiece, A New Year Carol.
Click on this link to reach Choral Christmas, Part 1.
SLEIGHLIST
CAROL OF THE BELLS; LO, HOW A ROSE E'ER BLOOMING; GO TELL IT ON THE MOUNTAIN--Robert Shaw Chorale, 1945-46.
I SING OF A MAIDEN; ECHO HYMN: WASSAIL SONG--(Same)
DECK THE HALLS WITH BOUGHS OF HOLLY--(Same)
SHEPHERD'S CAROL (William Billings); PATAPAN--(Same)
CHRIST WAS BORN ON CHRISTMAS DAY; HOW FAR IS IT TO BETHLEHEM?--(Same)
A VIRGIN UNSPOTTED (Billings); MASTERS IN THE HALL--(Same)
O SANCTISSIMA--John McCarthy Singers
WE WISH YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS--John McCarthy Singers
AS IT FELL UPON A NIGHT (Katherine K. Davis)--The Testor Chorus, 1957.
SWEDISH DANCE CAROL (Davis)--The Testor Chorus, 1957.
CHRISTMAS IS A-COMIN'--Jack Halloran Singers, 1957.
THE DARKNESS IS FALLING--Trapp Family Singers, 1952.
O COME, LITTLE CHILDREN--TFS, 1952.
SHEPHERDS COME A-RUNNING--TFS, 1952.
DECK THE HALLS--Trapp Family Singers, 1952.
A NEW YEAR CAROL (Britten)--Cathedral Singers, 1992.
Lee
13 comments:
What a welcome sound - the Shaw touch! My dear Cynthia sang professionally in choruses for a couple of decades, and says that, more than any other guest conductor, Shaw tried to get the chorus to move like a dance band. I think that's audible in these 'forties takes you've posted. She thinks this is why Shaw's recordings of the modern Burt carols are so persuasive.
That's interesting. Yes, there's so much feeling in his recordings--everything is refined yet soulful.
(Refined yet soulful--I need to remember that for possible future use.)
These sides have something that even his late-'50s a cappella remakes to some extent lack. So it's partly to do with the era.
Then again, my 1957 Testor Chorus sides have the extroverted, swingy quality of these Shaw numbers.
I sure do love this blog.
I'm also looking for 1 of my grandfather's favorites.
Little Christmas Stocking With A Hole In The Toe
I've never heard this song but, he'd mention it ever year until he died.
Sorry to poach bandwidth around you, Lee, but ryanrain asked about the stocking song, and when I entered the title in quotes into a couple of search engines I got a handful of hits, including a service offering to put a couple sides on a cd-r in exchange for ready money. I wish him good luck in his search!
Go over to FaLaLaLaLa.com and do a search for that 'Hole' song. It's been shared around.
I'm thinking about sharing out the whole Jack Halloran LP. I've got the orginal one and the retitled stereo one somewhere. I thought I had two different LPs until I looked closely... Thanks for reminding me, Lee. :)
Steven,
No problem! We're here to point the way, when we can.
Besides, it's Christmas.
Ernie,
That's a great idea. And, by the way, it's the retitled LP I have, which I'm assuming to be the same recordings....
Thank you for this share - this is some of the best choral music I have heard. I am waiting breathlessly to see if part 2 can outdo it -I doubt it!
I always wondered what the real Trapp Family Singers sounded like!
Lee, I found another Trapp Family Singers Shristmas LP last weekend. How many are there? I've got two on Decca, but this one was on RCA Camden. Any clue?
I'm not sure what a Shristmas LP is, I'm afraid...
Ernie, wasn't that the name of the Foster Brooks Christmas Lp?
First, let me say that I'm thrilled by the response to this post.
("I'm thrilled by the response to this post.")
Seriously--I couldn't be happier! And there will be a part 2, for sure. A Part 2 wasn't for certain, but it is now.
Re number of TFS LPs, all I know is that there were a lot. Prior to the musical (then movie) Sound of Muzak, they recorded for Deutsche Grammophon (released over here on Decca) and RCA Victor. In the wake of SOM, they made LPs for RCA, including selections from the musical. (I had that LP but didn't care for it.) Dunno what other labels they may have recorded for. That's just what I know....
Yes, the real TFS are a revelation. To put it mildly.
Steven, wasn't that called "White (Hiccup!) Shristmas"?
Lee
Lee, just re-posted a ton of vintage wax holiday music over at Paul's Ramblings which you might enjoy:
http://paulfucito.blogspot.com/2007/12/vintage-christmas-wax-revisited.html
Couldn't wait to hear the Line Material music you got me so hooked on last time around. A new Christmas tradition at my home thanks to you.
Happy Holidays Lee.
Paul F
Paul,
Happy Holidays?? I'm reporting you to Bill O'Reilly! (Simle face)
Just making lame humor--don't mind me. Happy Holidays to you, too--and lots of terrific titles on your list. I will definitely download those.
I'm getting some shellac Yuletide sounds ready, too. I think I'll reuse my "Merry Shellacmas" title. Glad you enjoyed the LM--any time now, I'll be putting up some "lost" LMs, courtesy of Ernie and Stubbysfears. They're a bit weird compared to the ones we know.
Lee
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