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The American Bach Soloists ("ABS") are specialists in early music--and apparently in exquisite Christmas fare, too. Their What Sweeter Music: Carols for Christmas release might just be the sweetest gift that you could give that afficionado of classically-executed choral works from the likes of John Rutter, Benjamin Britten, and Vaughan Williams. Little here will be melodically recognizable by the holiday music masses, but all should be cheered for its professionalism and abundant heart. This album is lovely to the core.

This music is serious business, although the offering's underlying sentiment shimmers with bright holiday intensity. The singers are top-notch. Most pieces are delivered a cappella, which I personally prefer, and the results are consistently excellent. The voices interlock in harmonies both delicate and bold, and the wash of sound moves beautiful colors through the listener's psyche. For me, the offering's final 10 minutes were particularly satisfying; the always moving O Magnum Mysterium (Lauridsen) and the classic In the bleak mid-winter (Darke) provide a most fitting close. I should caution that, for reasons I cannot explain, the track list that popped up on my computer for this CD did not quite match the selections listed on the album's back cover (and the back cover is correct). Certainly no big deal, but I thought you might want to know.

Don't just think "ABS" when you want your car to brake properly. ABS also represents absolutely safety in great musical taste; What Sweeter Music is guaranteed to delight the choral music lover on your Christmas list!

--Carol Swanson
(Reviewed in 2007)

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From the liner notes:

Jeffrey Thomas, Music Director
John Karl Hirten, Organist
Sopranos: Michelle Clair, Christine Earl, Elisabeth Engan, Ruth Escher, Andrea Fullington, Susan Judy
Altos: Suzanne Elder Wallace, Elisabeth Eliassen, Paul Flight, Linda Liebschutz, Jason Snyder, Amelia Triest
Tenors: Edward Betts, Corey Head, Daniel Hutchings, Andrew Morgan, Mark Mueller, John Rouse
Basses: Hugh Davies, Jeff Fields, Thomas Hart, Tim Krol, Chad Runyon

Producers: Jeffrey Thomas and David Tayler
Assistant Producer: Steven Lehning



From the Website:

This disc is a wonderful blend of the unusual and the traditional - much of the repertoire is drawn from the 20th century - and provides the perfect gift for fans of choral music. Works by Britten, Darke, Gibbs, Kodály, Lauridsen, Ord, Pearsall, Rutter, Vaughan Williams, Walton, and Willcocks.

Named "the best American specialists in early music" by The Washington Post, the American Bach Soloists ("ABS") were founded in 1989 with the mission of introducing contemporary audiences to the cantatas of Johann Sebastian Bach through historically informed performances. Under the leadership of Co-founder and Music Director Jeffrey Thomas, the ensemble has achieved its vision of assembling the world's finest vocalists and period-instrument performers to bring this brilliant music to life.

American Bach Soloists

What Sweeter Music: Carols for Christmas

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Track List