Track Listing

1. Joy to the World - George Frideric Handel
2. O Come, All Ye Faithful - John Reading
3. Wexford Carol - Irish
4. The First Noel - French
5. What Child is This? - English
6. Concerto No. 8, Op. 6 Christmas Concerto - Antonio Corelli
7. God Rest You Merry Gentlemen - English
8. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing - Felix Mendelssohn
9. Silent Night - Franz Gruber
10. Prayer from Hansel and Gretel - Englebert Humperdink
11. Coventry Carol - English
12. Angels We have Heard on High - French
13. Donna Nobis Pacem - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
14. Winter from The Four Seasons - Antonio Vivaldi
15. Arioso - Johann Sebastian Bach
16. Sleeper's Awake - Johann Sebastian Bach
17. Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring - Johann Sebastian Bach
18. Sheep May Safely Graze - Johann Sebastian Bach
19. Ode to Joy from Symphony No. 9 - Ludwig van Beethoven

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #25522 in Music
• Released on: 2006-10-20
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .20 pounds

Album Description
Whether you’re sitting by a warm fire, reading your favorite book, making dinner for guests or entertaining friends and family, this is the perfect Christmas CD for the holidays. This disc contains all of your favorite classical Christmas pieces, including Joy to the World, What Child is This, God Rest You Merry Gentlemen, Hark! The Herald Angels Sing, Silent Night, Angels We have Heard on High and Jesu Joy of Man’s Desiring. Beautifully played by the Lumiere String Quartet with special guests Eileen Bedlington (Trumpet), Sato Moughalian (Flute) and Kristina Musser (Violin), this ultra-warm-sounding recording is sure to be a hit during the Holiday Season.

Review
Based in the Big Apple, the Lumiere String Quartet presents a full hour of the most excellent first-class holiday fare on Classical Christmas. This is tuxedo and top hat music, grandly executed with warmth and precision. The quartet features two violins (Victoria Paterson, Christian Hebel), one viola (Junah Chung), and a cello (Robert Burkhart). The majority of tracks, however, include one other player - an additional violinist (Kristina Musser), a trumpeter (Eileen Bedlington), or a flutist (Sato Moughalian). The result retains the intimacy of a small ensemble, while providing the color and variety of additional instrumental voices. As I listened to Classical Christmas, I could literally feel myself unwind. Having spent the day herding enthusiastic party-goers at my daughter's 16th birthday party, I found myself in dire need of some "down time" with equal parts relaxation and inspiration. That is what the Lumiere String Quartet delivers here. This music is intensely lovely and always formal, though never stuffy. It is the sort of music I would expect to hear in a five-star restaurant when the December winds blow, or perhaps as you contemplate a blazing fire with a brandy snifter in hand. The execution is clean and measured, and the musicianship is uplifting. The song selection focuses on ancient carols and well-known classical pieces by Bach, Vivaldi, and Beethoven. Surprisingly, the repertoire also includes Engelbert Humperdinck's Prayer from "Hansel and Gretel", a thoughtful song that, while new to me, fit perfectly in its slot. My favorite moments included the violins' emotive passages on Wexford Carol, the cello's warm call on Dona Nobis Pacem, and the beautiful grandeur of Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring. Want to impress your significant other with tasteful seasonal music? Invite him or her to dine with you by candlelight this evening, and slip the Lumiere String Quartet's Classical Christmas onto your sound system. Then hold hands and stare into each other's eyes; you can forget about the tux! - Carol Swanson --ChristmasReviews.com

About the Artist
Founded in 2005, the New York City-based Lumiere String Quartet is in great demand and is often seen playing together at various museums, restaurants, hotels, clubs, parks, churches, universities, and private parties. Some latest highlights have been performances at Jazz at Lincoln Center, The Clarion for former Taiwanese President Lee Teng-Hui, The Loft on West Street, The Central Park Boat House and The New Leaf Cafe in Fort Tryon Park, to name a few. In addition to playing and recording with the quartet, each member frequently performs on Broadway and at Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, Radio City Music Hall, Madison Square Garden, The Metropolitan Museum, and many more venues in and around greater New York.

Customer Reviews

An Honest Review
I loved this CD!!! I used all but 5 songs from it for the prelude music for my December 23rd wedding!

The quality of musicians and recording is incredible!

I would without hesitation encourage all who are looking for an instrumental Christmas CD - to purchase THIS ONE - you will not be disappointed!

Warm Cheer for Christmas!
I loved this CD. It has my favorite songs from Christmas. I found myself lingering on sweet memories and associations that these songs bring, such as attending Christmas eve services followed by a bounteous meal. The music is clear, and although the selections are well-known, they come across feeling fresh. During a time when so much is overwrought about Christmas, it is a real pleasure to take in the simple beauty of these songs. I particularly liked What Child is This and Winter From the Four Seasons. This is definitely worth getting.

Highest Recommendation
This CD has a great assortment of familiar Christmas tunes as well as a couple of surprises; the elegant and stately Winter from The Four Seasons, and the Christmas Concerto from Corelli, for example, are welcome inclusions for someone like me, who likes meatier pieces in between. Also, the less known, hauntingly beautiful Coventry Carol, captures a mood of winter that is both chilling and crystalline. The Lumiere String Quartet has done a fantastic job with this CD, and is one that I recommend for discerning listeners who appreciate the quality of their musicianship.
Simply one of the best Christmas CDs in terms of sound quality and performance.