Some mistakes in the track listings here, but an enjoyable collection Back in 1963 Readers Digest issued a Christmas album that blasted every other Christmas record out of the water. And I mean blasted. With spectacular arrangements by Charles Gerhardt, the 4 record set covered traditional carols, popular Christmas songs arranged into a sparkling orchestral suite, a selection of ten German carols as well as ten French carols, a suite of carols arranged for Brass, organ and carillon, and collection of highlights from Handel’s MESSIAH. Four (4) Lp records for $7.99 ($1 more if you wanted stereo.) The album was titled JOYOUS MUSIC FOR CHRISTMAS TIME, and indeed it was a joyous album from start to finish.This album eventually sold over a million copies and can still be found for sale in used record stores and on E-bay – usually the copies are well worn from having been played so often.Sadly RD has not seen fit to transfer the entire program to CD.Instead collectors must track down the material scattered over several CD’s released by RD and some released by Sony Music Special Products.This CD presents a number of tracks from the album. Also heard here are seveal selection by The Amborosiian SIngers from a “bonus” record available in some U.S. editions of JMFCT.The performers are mis-identified on the disc. The correct listings are:”Joy to the World” and “Angels We Have Heard on High” are done by the Beecham Choral Society, The Choir of the Caremlite Priory, The Ealing Grammar School Boys’ Choir with the Tower Brass band and organ and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Peter Knight.It Came Upon a Midnight Clear; O Little Town of Bethlehem; and Away in a MAnger feature the Royal Philharmonic orchestra with the Beecham Choral Society and The Choir of the Carmelite Priory.The Orchestra only is heard on “Deck the Halls”, “We Three Kings” and “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen.” (There is no chorus on any of these.)The tracks “Good Christian Men Rejoice”; “What Child Is This?”; “Silent Night”; “The Birthday of a King”; and “Once in Royal David’s City” are all performed by the Ambrosian Singers with John McCarthy conducting.Those in search of the rest of JMFCT here is how you can assemble most of it:(Record One, Side One): Carols for Chorus (with the Royal Philharmonic conducted by Peter Knight)”Joy to the World”; “O Little Town of Bethlehem”; “Deck The Halls”; “Away in a Manager”; “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” & “Angels We Have Heard on High” are all on this CD. (Record Two, Side One):Richard Benson’s CHRISTMAS SUITE FOR ORCHESTRA from the RD 3-CD set JOY TO THE WORLD (released in 1994) (Record Four Side One):German Carols – not available on CD. (Record Three; Side One and Two)Highlight’s from Handel’s MESSIAH on the Sony Special Products CD titled REJOICE! MESSIAH HIGHLIGHTS (Record Four Side Two):French Carols – not available on CD. (Record Two; Side Two): Carols for Organ and Bells featuring Leslie Pearson, organ; The Westminster Brass; The London Bell ringers; and John Paice, carillon.The First Noel – available on O COME ALL YE FAITHFUL from Sony Special ProductsGood King Wenceslas – available in the RD 3-CD set THE JOY OF CHRISTMASAve Maria, O Come O Come Emmanuel & Christmas is Coming can be found on YULETIDE CLASSICS from Sony Special ProductsCarol of the Bells is on the RD 3-CD set JOY TO THE WORLD mentioned above. It can also be found on the RC CD called REFLECTIONS: O HOLY NIGHT. (Record One; Side Two): Carols For Chorus (with the Royal Philharmonic conducted by Peter Knight)”O Come All Ye Faithful” – from O COME ALL YE FAITHFUL on Sony Special Products.”We Three Kings” & “The 12 Days of Christmas ” from the RD 3-CD collection CHRISTMAS THROUGH THE YEARS”O Holy Night” on REFLECTIONS: O HOLY NIGHT (mentioned above)”It Came Upon a Midnight Clear” & “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” from this the O COME ALL YE FAITHFUL Cd mentioned above.
“Spend a traditional holiday with Joyous Christmas, which contains lush yet tasteful orchestral renditions of seasonal favorites including ‘Joy to the World,’ ‘It Came Upon a Midnight Clear,’ ‘O Little Town of Bethlehem’ and ‘Away in a Manger.’ ~ Marvin Jolly, All Music Guide”
Some mistakes in the track listings here, but an enjoyable collection Back in 1963 Readers Digest issued a Christmas album that blasted every other Christmas record out of the water. And I mean blasted. With spectacular arrangements by Charles Gerhardt, the 4 record set covered traditional carols, popular Christmas songs arranged into a sparkling orchestral suite, a selection of ten German carols as well as ten French carols, a suite of carols arranged for Brass, organ and carillon, and collection of highlights from Handel’s MESSIAH. Four (4) Lp records for $7.99 ($1 more if you wanted stereo.) The album was titled JOYOUS MUSIC FOR CHRISTMAS TIME, and indeed it was a joyous album from start to finish.This album eventually sold over a million copies and can still be found for sale in used record stores and on E-bay – usually the copies are well worn from having been played so often.Sadly RD has not seen fit to transfer the entire program to CD.Instead collectors must track down the material scattered over several CD’s released by RD and some released by Sony Music Special Products.This CD presents a number of tracks from the album. Also heard here are seveal selection by The Amborosiian SIngers from a “bonus” record available in some U.S. editions of JMFCT.The performers are mis-identified on the disc. The correct listings are:”Joy to the World” and “Angels We Have Heard on High” are done by the Beecham Choral Society, The Choir of the Caremlite Priory, The Ealing Grammar School Boys’ Choir with the Tower Brass band and organ and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Peter Knight.It Came Upon a Midnight Clear; O Little Town of Bethlehem; and Away in a MAnger feature the Royal Philharmonic orchestra with the Beecham Choral Society and The Choir of the Carmelite Priory.The Orchestra only is heard on “Deck the Halls”, “We Three Kings” and “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen.” (There is no chorus on any of these.)The tracks “Good Christian Men Rejoice”; “What Child Is This?”; “Silent Night”; “The Birthday of a King”; and “Once in Royal David’s City” are all performed by the Ambrosian Singers with John McCarthy conducting.Those in search of the rest of JMFCT here is how you can assemble most of it:(Record One, Side One): Carols for Chorus (with the Royal Philharmonic conducted by Peter Knight)”Joy to the World”; “O Little Town of Bethlehem”; “Deck The Halls”; “Away in a Manager”; “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” & “Angels We Have Heard on High” are all on this CD. (Record Two, Side One):Richard Benson’s CHRISTMAS SUITE FOR ORCHESTRA from the RD 3-CD set JOY TO THE WORLD (released in 1994) (Record Four Side One):German Carols – not available on CD. (Record Three; Side One and Two)Highlight’s from Handel’s MESSIAH on the Sony Special Products CD titled REJOICE! MESSIAH HIGHLIGHTS (Record Four Side Two):French Carols – not available on CD. (Record Two; Side Two): Carols for Organ and Bells featuring Leslie Pearson, organ; The Westminster Brass; The London Bell ringers; and John Paice, carillon.The First Noel – available on O COME ALL YE FAITHFUL from Sony Special ProductsGood King Wenceslas – available in the RD 3-CD set THE JOY OF CHRISTMASAve Maria, O Come O Come Emmanuel & Christmas is Coming can be found on YULETIDE CLASSICS from Sony Special ProductsCarol of the Bells is on the RD 3-CD set JOY TO THE WORLD mentioned above. It can also be found on the RC CD called REFLECTIONS: O HOLY NIGHT. (Record One; Side Two): Carols For Chorus (with the Royal Philharmonic conducted by Peter Knight)”O Come All Ye Faithful” – from O COME ALL YE FAITHFUL on Sony Special Products.”We Three Kings” & “The 12 Days of Christmas ” from the RD 3-CD collection CHRISTMAS THROUGH THE YEARS”O Holy Night” on REFLECTIONS: O HOLY NIGHT (mentioned above)”It Came Upon a Midnight Clear” & “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” from this the O COME ALL YE FAITHFUL Cd mentioned above.
“Spend a traditional holiday with Joyous Christmas, which contains lush yet tasteful orchestral renditions of seasonal favorites including ‘Joy to the World,’ ‘It Came Upon a Midnight Clear,’ ‘O Little Town of Bethlehem’ and ‘Away in a Manger.’ ~ Marvin Jolly, All Music Guide”