The Herald Angels Sing

Christmas belongs, together with Passion, to the most important and highest of Christian feasts: the celebration of the birth of the Redeemer Jesus Christ, the Feast of the Holy Family. Already, since the Middle Ages in many places singing and music making were a welcome part of Christmas: in the church, under the Christmas tree, at the doors of houses, in squares and streets – and this throughout western culture. It is interesting to follow how each country has contributed its own forms and genres, both in the field of art music, as well as that of traditional folk music.

The present CD offers an impression of the variety of Christmas singing through selected choral settings and melodies ranging, for example, from Germany, Italy and England. Many song settings have been newly arranged, beginning with straightforward, in part, romantic settings, via majestic choruses with varying scorings, through settings which use modern jazz elements.

Thus the Junge Vokalensemble Hannover, under the direction of Klaus-Jürgen Etzold, presents listeners not only the widest geographic variety, but also attractive music for Christmas.