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12/05/2023
“Christmas with Seraphic Fire: The Apple Tree”
Edwin Fissinger: I saw Three Ships
John Ireland: Adam Lay Ybounden
Gottfried Wolters: Maria durch ein Dornwald ging
’Twas in the Moon of Wintertime (Huron Carol)
The Angel Gabriel from Heaven Came (Basque Carol)
James Kallenbach: All Beautiful the March of Days
Michael Praetorius: In dulci jubilo
Jesus, Jesus, Rest your Head (Appalachian Carol)
John Jacob Niles: I wonder as I wander
William J. Kirkpatrick: Jesús in Pesebre
Elizabeth Poston: Jesus Christ the Apple Tree
Ola Gjielo: Away in a Manger
William L. Dawson: Mary Had a Baby – Ain’-a that Good News!
Elisse Albian, Chelsea Helm, Jane Long, Addy Sterrett (Sopranos), Alexandra Colaizzi, William Duffy, Tivoli Treloar (Altos), Blake Beckemeyer, Brad Diamond, Nickolas Karageorgiou (Tenors), John Buffett, Matthew Goinz, Luc Kleiner (Basses), Seraphic Fire Ensemble, James K. Bass (Conductor)
Recording: Bower Chapel, Naples, FL (December 5‑6, 2022) – 52’44
SFMCD17 – Booklet in English
 
This is Seraphic Fire’s seventeenth recording, here under the refined musical guidance of Conductor James K. Bass. Based in South Florida, this ensemble has garnered international acclaim for their cutting-edge programming that encompasses both secular and sacred music. The Seraphic Fire Media label received two Grammy nominations, one for J. Brahms’ Ein Deutsches Requiem and “A Seraphic Fire Christmas.” And “seraphic” they are. No, “Rudolph the reindeer” in this release, let alone “a partridge in a pear tree...” The rendition is filled with religious fervor and should be listened to like Gregorian chants. A few titles are known by large audiences (Away in a Manger, I Saw Three Ships, I wonder as I wander, In dulci jubilo), other lesser known works beautifully stand out, namely Elizabeth Poston’s Jesus Christ the Apple Tree with its stylish treble-voice verse and lush ending canon, or Gottfried Wolters’ gripping Maria durch ein Dornwald ging.
Christian Dalzon
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