Christmas Rarities with the Toronto Consort

Merry Christmas to all, and time to share some more rare, unusual and beautiful Christmas music with you!


For anyone who has ever attended a live concert  by the Toronto Consort, you need no introduction to the great verve, energy, and sense of fun which this ensemble brings to its work!  In the two recordings I am discussing today, these qualities are all present -- even if the sense of fun is only able to surface intermittently.


The first one, which I acquired a few years back, is a reconstruction of a Christmas Vespers service such as might have taken place in Germany in the 1600s, featuring the music of Michael Praetorius.  Most people, if they have heard of Praetorius at all, know his as the composer of a traditional Christmas carol known usually in English as "Lo, how a rose e'er blooming".  But there's a lot more to his music than just that one tune, although ingratiating melody is often one of his resources.  The program includes sacred canticles, antiphons, chanting, hymns and carols and lasts for an hour.  It's done on a generous scale, with 60 singers and players, and recorded in the ample and resonant acoustic of St. Anne's Church in Toronto.  The music is predominantly joyful with peaceful interludes, as befits the season.


For me, the richest treasures here are the beautiful old German carols, so little known (sadly) in North America.  Also impressive are the hymns, and here the magnificent organ of the church is called into use to grand effect.  All in all, a wonderful and impressive recording of a traditional Christmas service, albeit one from a tradition not familiar to many people in the Americas.


The second recording couldn't be more different!  It's a more recent recording (2012) entitled Navidad, and it features the Toronto Consort in a collection of songs and dances from Spain and Latin America in the 1500s and 1600s.  As I've mentioned before, I seem to have a natural affinity for the music of the Spanish world, and this recording put a smile on my face within the first minute of listening!  There's plenty of rhythm here, in the voices and instrumental parts, and a real sense of zip and go to the proceedings.


The very first song, Convidando esta la noche starts off as a slow unaccompanied choral introduction, but quickly swings into a lively dance.  The repeated refrains of Ay, ay, ay are sung in a different manner by a different voice on nearly every verse.  The same kind of innovative and imaginative interpretation is at work throughout the program.  The pieces are nicely arranged so that lively and contemplative numbers alternate. 


This recording received many plaudits when it came out, and no wonder.  Words like "lively", "toe-tapping", "infectious enthusiasm" and the like recur in many reviews.  I totally agree. 


Both of these are "don't miss" records, and I listen to both of them in season and out.  They're on the Marquis Music label and CDs can be ordered from that company's website.  The recordings can also be previewed or downloaded from iTunes.  Merry Christmas listening to all!