Advent/Christmas Reviews
Album Reviews (CD and Digital)
Anuna: Christmas With Anuna Susan Boyle: The GiftByzantine Choir of Greece: The Glory of Byzantium: Christmas Hymns
Nick Cardilino: The Birthday of LoveEileen Carr: A Mother, A Child
Glenn Mohr Chorale: A Star Still Shines
Interior Castle: The Lion of the Tribe of Judah
The Priests: NoelBook Reviews
Joy To The World--Advent Activities For Your Family by Kathleen M. BasiWho's Hiding--A Christmas Lift-the-Flap Book by Vicki Howie and Krisztina Kallai NagyJoyful Meditations for Every Day of Advent and the 12 Days of Christmas by Rev. Warren J Savage & Mary Ann McSweenyPrint Music Reviews
Richard Schletty: Sleep Baby Sleep and Child of Eternal LoveAnuna: Christmas With Anuna
November 25, 2010
Reviewed by Jim Logue, Jr.
Michael McGlynn started Anuna back in 1987, and today in 2010, Anuna is still going strong and sharing their music around the world. Their finely crafted vocal harmonies are truly breathtaking. Anuna is still one of the best choirs I've ever heard.
Anuna is back with a new Christmas album, "Christmas With Anuna". This project features 13 songs celebrating this joyous holiday season. The songs include some Christmas classics like "The First Noel", "Jingle Bells", "Ding Dong Merrily on High", as well as medieval classic songs like "O Tannenbaum" and "Angelus Ad Virginem".
The McGlynn family is involved throughout this project, with 6-year old Aisling McGlynn singing on "Away in a Manger", and Tom McGlynn providing the cover art for the CD. A wonderful album with the Anuna touch on some excellent songs.
Track Listing:
1. Away In a Manger
2. Angelus Ad Virginem
3. Ding Dong Merrily on High
4. The First Noel
5. Jingle Bells
6. Christmas Memories
7. Noel Nouvelet
8. Christmas Kisses
9. Codail a Linbh
10. Angels Are Singing
11. Ecce Quod Natura
12. O Tannenbaum
13. Sanctus
Susan Boyle: The Gift
November 19, 2010
Reviewed by Jim Logue, Jr.
One of the best things about Susan Boyle is that she is a devoted Catholic. She included some songs of faith on her first CD, and now with her new Christmas CD, "The Gift", we hear even more of the spiritual side of Susan.
While it is a Christmas CD, a few songs are not by nature "Christmas" songs, but the message they deliver are messages that are consistent with this holy season. Songs like "Perfect Day", penned by Lou Reed, "Don't Dream it's Over" from the band "Crowded House", and the classic song "Make Me a Channel of Your Peace", which Susan sang for Pope Benedict XVI during his trip to Scotland. Susan's beautiful voice transforms these songs into wonderful works of art.
There are Christmas favorites as well - The First Noel, O Holy Night, Away in a Manger, O Come All Ye Faithful, and a wonderful version of "Do You Hear What I Hear?" featuring a duet with Amber Stassi. Amber was the winner of the Susan Search contest that was conducted via YouTube, and flew from New York to London to record the song.
This CD is beautiful, and I recommend it highly.
Track Listing:
1. Perfect Day
2. Hallelujah
3. Do You Hear What I Hear (Duet with Amber Stassi)
4. Don't Dream It's Over
5. The First Noel
6. O Holy Night
7. Away in a Manger
8. Make Me a Channel of Your Peace
9. Auld Lang Syne
10. O Come All Ye Faithful
LINKS FOR THIS REVIEW:
Susan Boyle official website
The Priests: Noel
November 18, 2010
Reviewed by Jim Logue, Jr.
Fathers Martin O'Hagan, Eugene O’Hagan and David Delargy originally were called upon to record a CD of chant music for Sony's Epic label. They recorded the demo, and two weeks later Epic wanted to sign them to their own contract. And with that, "The Priests" became international superstars.
That was in 2008. This year, 2010, "The Priests", as they are known globally, are releasing their third album, a Christmas CD called "Noel"; a CD filled with many of the perennial favorites of the Christmas season. The Priests are pro's at the recording process now, and this album will find its place among the best of the season. It brings to mind those Firestone Christmas albums from many years ago - remember those? They were filled with some truly beautiful Christmas songs that bring Christmas alive. In fact, I think I have a few of those records. But "Noel" is definitely a 21st century album, available via CD and digitally.
"Noel" is a classical album, with full orchestral arrangments of all 15 songs. One of the highlights is "Little Drummer Boy/Peace on Earth" which The Priests are joined by Shane MacGowan of the group The Pogues, reminiscent of the original 1977 duet of Bing Crosby and David Bowie. All of the songs are done professionally and are truly incredible.
Track Listing:
1 Ding Dong Merrily On High
2 The First Nowell
3 Sussex Carol
4 Little Drummer Boy / Peace on Earth
5 The Holly And The Ivy
6 Away In A Manger
7 God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
8 In The Bleak Midwinter
9 In Dulci Jubilo
10 Joy To The World
11 Silent Night
12 O Come All Ye Faithful
13 What Child Is This?
14 Hark the Herald Angels Sing
15 Coventry Carol (Bonus Track)
LINKS FOR THIS REVIEW:
The Priests website
Nick Cardilino: The Birthday of Love
November 18, 2010
Reviewed by Jim Logue, Jr.
Nick Cardilino took a hint from his Dad and has recorded his first Christmas CD, "The Birthday of Love".
The album is produced by David C. Smith of Icon Music Studios, and David helps with some songwriting as well as background vocals. David's wife, Teresa Smith, also lends her voice to the project, with background vocals, as well as a duet with Nick on the song "According to Your Word", a song written by Nick.
Nick has a few Christmas classics: Angels We Have Heard on High, O Holy Night, and Ave Maria. Nick wrote or cowrote eight of the tracks: Glory, Hear the Bells, Nothing in the Eyes of the World (cowritten with David E Blowers), Get Ready, According to Your Word, Magnificat (cowritten with Gerald Chinchar SM and Harry Hagan OSB), Leap for Joy (cowritten with David C Smith), The Christmas Machine, and The Birthday of Love (cowritten with Vaughn Welches).
The songs vary in tempo - uptempo (like Get Ready, Angels We Have Heard on High, Leap for Joy), midtempo (Hear the Bells, Magnificat), and slower ballads (The Birthday of Love, Ave Maria, According to Your Word).
I enjoy good Christmas music - I think it's a shame to only play this music one month of the year. This CD definitely has some songs worth listening to any time. My best test of a CD is to play it in my car, and this one had me singing along. My favorites songs are According to Your Word, Angels We Have Heard on High, and The Birthday of Love. But all of the songs are good songs. This is one you must add to your Christmas music collection.
Track Listing:
01. Glory
02. Hear the Bells
03. Nothing in the Eyes of the World
04. Get Ready
05. O Holy Night
06. According to Your Word
07. Magnificat
08. Angels We Have Heard on High
09. Ave Maria
10. Leap for Joy
11. The Christmas Machine
12. The Birthday of Love
LINKS FOR THIS REVIEW:
Nick Cardilino's website
The Byzantine Choir of Greece: The Glory of Byzantium: Christmas Hymns
November 30, 2009
Reviewed by Jim Logue, Jr.
There is nothing quite as beautiful as the sound of chant, whether it be Gregorian, Russian, or in this case, Byzantine chant. The Byzantine Choir of Greece sings the various selections acappella, as chant should be. The music is from the 17th and 18th centuries, composed by Petros Bereketis, Hourmouzios Hartofylax, Petros Lampadarios, and Petros Peloponnisios and others.
If you are a lover of chant, or you know someone who is, you might consider Liturgica.com's gift idea. They offer a gift basket of foods made by monks of the Northwest that also include a CD of chant. Find out more at
Liturgica.com.
For additional information about Jade Music and to see a list of our albums and artists, please
visit: MilanRecords.com.
Track Listing:
1/ Kontakion, Mode 3rd
2/ Three Hirmoi in the first Mode
3/ Doxastikon 4th Plagal Mode - Glory Be To The Father
4/ Kathisma, Sessional Hymn 4th Mode
5/ Canticles (Hirmoi) Of The 1st Canon
6/ Stichiron Idiomelon In 2nd Plagal Mode
7/ Stichiron Idiomelon In 2nd Mode And Verses Of The Great Doxology
8/ Communion Chant In 1st Mode
9/ Troparia In 2nd Plagal Mode
10/ Exapostilarion, 3rd Mode
11/ Doxastikon, 1st Plagal Mode
12/ Stichiron Idiomelon, 2nd Plagal Mode
13/ Apolytikion, 4th Mode
14/ Dismisall Hymn, 4th Mode Chromatic
15/ Hirmos Calophonique, 1st Mode
Glenn Mohr Chorale: A Star Still Shines
November 8, 2009
Reviewed by Jim Logue, Jr.
Recently I had the priveledge of speaking with Glenn Mohr and learning about this very talented man and the chorale started as a result of Pope John Paul II. Glenn told me how, as an organist and choir director, he had been working with a choir from a church in Long Island where he worked. After several years, the choir had decided they wanted to go on one of those trips that gives choirs the opportunity to peform at different location in Rome. But before the choir could go, Glenn felt that, due to some difficulties with that job, he had to leave and take a new job at another church. The choir came to him and begged him to help them in their goal to travel to Rome. He did, and among the various concerts was one for Pope John Paul II.
Glenn told me he had attended a private Mass in the Papal Apartments with the Holy Father and about 25 other people. The Pope greeted him afterwards, and Glenn told him that his chorale would be performing for him that afternoon at the Papal Audience. Later, after the audience, as Glenn and the choir were standing by the barricades, the Pope came over to Glenn and shook his hand and praised him for the choir and the beautiful music they had sung. That encounter sealed their fate--they had to keep going beyong Rome with this choir. That was on June 1, 1999.
Glenn and their choir have released several CD's of their performances, and have performed again this year in Rome, and have sung at Lincoln Center in New York City. Their concerts are not just the choir singing -- they are musical plays. They have a number of programs they perform at various locations. For example, the Lincoln Center peformance on November 7th was called "The Hidden Heart", and is based on the life of newly-canonized St. Jeanne Jugan.
The Chorale has released their first Christmas CD, entitled "A Star Still Shines", which comes from the lyrics of one of the songs, "A Wiseman's Carol". There are some familiar Christmas favorites here, plus some original compositions by Glenn. Some of the favorites include a "Christmas Hymn Medley", which features "O Come All Ye Faithful", "Away in a Manger", and "Angels We Have Heard on High", as well as "Silent Night" and "The First Noel". Original selections include "A Wiseman's Carol", "Christmas in Heaven", "Everybody has a Guardian Angel", and more. There are 13 songs altogether.
This is a wonderful project from a very talented group of singers. I recommend that you listen to them, and try to get to one of their live performances.
Visit GlennMohrChorale.com to learn more.
Eileen Carr: A Mother, A Child
November 8, 2009
Reviewed by Jim Logue, Jr.
Eileen Carr's newest CD is her third album since 1980. That album was called Gentle Friends. Then in 1999 she released Pax. Now she brings out this spectacular CD for Christmas entitled A Mother, A Child.
Now, this CD includes some of the Latin hymns from Pax, like Panis Angelicus, Ave Verum Corpus, and Dona Nobis Pacem, as well as Christmas favorites What Child is This, Silent Night, Angels We Have Heard on High, O Holy Night,, as well as the title track, A Mother, A Child. There are 11 tracks altogether.
I was very impressed with the quality of the recording and with Eileen's voice. She gives the songs a quiet beauty and strength that shows the faith that guides her to record this music. One of the difficulties in receiving music in radio is that I often get cd's that promise beauty but fall short. No such problem with this CD. The songs sound great--I would be happy to put this CD in my car and crank the volume up!
Visit EileenCarrMusic.com to learn more about Eileen and her music.
The Interior Castle: The Lion of the Tribe of Judah
November 8, 2009
Reviewed by Jim Logue, Jr.
One thing I have learned. . .when a new CD by The Interior Castle shows up, drop everything and listen!
The Interior Castle is made of five members of the Mazzei family from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: Francine, Theresa, Loretta, and Michael (all brother and sisters), and their Mom, Edith.
With such exquisite five-part harmonies, they take on classical standards like And the Glory of the Lord by George Frederick Handel; Latin hymns such as Adeste Fidelis and O Sanctissima, Italian songs like Dormi Non Piangere, and original composition like Holy Child and the title track, The Lion of the Tribe of Judah.
This is yet another CD that I enjoy in my car nice and loud. The instrumentation on the Interior Castle's CD's is superb, and the harmonies are perfect. Not a note out of place. As a musician, I know what it sounds like if one voice is off even just slightly. It's like petting a dog the wrong way. That does not happen on this or any of the Castle's albums. The harmonies are absolutely perfect, according to my ears.
Visit TheInteriorCastle.com to learn more about The Interior Castle and their music and their music studio in Pittsburgh, Pa.
Kathleen M. Basi: Joy To The World--Advent Activities For Your Family
November 13, 2010
Reviewed by Jim Logue, Jr.
Here's a great book that can help you and your family to make Advent and Christmas fun again.
We can get overwhelmed with so many things to do--shopping, baking, decorating...how can all of that be fun? Kathleen Basi helps you with a variety of activities your family can to do help keep your sanity and to remember why we celebrate Advent and Christmas. There are ideas for a Jesse Tree, the "Good Deeds Manger", morning and evening prayer "rituals", readings, and an idea for an active Advent Calendar, plus so much more.
This book is a great way to get your family involved and to help make Advent and Christmas more than just a holiday of presents.
Kathleen M. Basi has a Master of Music Degree from the University of Northern Iowa and has had a variety of articles on faith, family, and liturgy published in several Catholic periodicals.
From Liguori Publications, paperback, 80 pages, $5.99
Purchase your copy online from Liguori.
Vicki Howie and Krisztina Kallai Nagy: Who's Hiding--A Christmas Lift-the-Flap Book
November 13, 2010
Reviewed by Jim Logue, Jr.
This is a fun book for children who love an interactive story.
Vicki Howie wrote the story, and Krisztina Kallai Nagy created the colorful illustrations that fill this book. Each page features part of the story with a flap to open. Children will love it, and you can share the wonderful story of Jesus' birth with your children as they take part in the story by opening the flaps on each page.
From Liguori Publications, boardbook, 20 pages, $10.99
Purchase your copy online from Liguori.
Rev. Warren J Savage & Mary Ann McSweeny: Joyful Meditations for Every Day of Advent and the 12 Days of Christmas
November 13, 2010
Reviewed by Jim Logue, Jr.
How do you pray during Advent and during Christmas? If you are looking for some practical help in prayer, this new book is a wonderful way to help you in sorting through the usual clutter and bringing yourself closer to God.
"Joyful Meditations" can be used year after year, as it offers meditations for every day of Advent for Liturgical Years A, B, and C, as well as for the 12 days of the Christmas up to and including the celebration of the Holy Family. Each meditation includes Scripture, a reflection, a thought to Ponder, a Prayer, and Practice--an idea on how to put what you've prayed about into action.
From the Introduction: "Christian joy is the constant awareness of the loving presence of Jesus, the Son of God, in our hearts. Advent is a time when we open our minds and hearts to search for the light of love, compassion, and peace in the Word of God. It is a time set aside for more intentional reading of the Word of God-reading that leads to personal reflection, prayer, contemplation, and humble service to others. Advent challenges us to remove the barriers of arrogance, sadness, selfishness, and greed that hinder us from welcoming Christ with joy and living in communion with him and our brothers and sisters."
From Liguori Publications, paperback, 128 pages, $6.99
Purchase your copy online from Liguori.
Richard Schletty: Sleep, Baby, Sleep and Child of Eternal Love
December 9, 2009
Reviewed by Jim Logue, Jr.
"Sleep, Baby, Sleep" is an original composition by St. Paul native Richard Schletty and his brother, Christopher Schletty, with arrangement help by Andre van Haren.
This is a beautiful lullaby that would sound wonderful with a choir backup at Midnight Mass. Richard has several variation of this lullaby available, including piano & voice, and Spanish version, "Duerme, Nino, Duerme".
"Child of Eternal Love" - text and music by Richard Schletty, arrangement b Andre van Haren. Includes music for piano, guitar, flute, and five string parts.
Richard Schletty is a cantor and musician at St. Mary's Catholic Church in St. Paul, and also served for many years at St. Matthew's Catholic Church, also in St. Paul. Richard also sings in local coffee shops and other programs, and composes music. He is a member of the Minnesota Association of Songwriters and the Catholic Association of Musicians.
For information on these songs and other works by Richard, email him at rschletty@schletty.com.
Visit Richard Schletty's website at RichardSchletty.com.
