I know this may be a bit late, but I thought since good choral music is sometimes hard to find, it may be beneficial to list some of my favorites.  So, if you are looking for some good choral music for Christmas–next year, here’s a great place to begin:

1. Love Divine, Illumine Our Darkness: Christmas at St. Olaf – very good!  I like “Keep Your Lamps” St. Olaf Records
2. Christmas – Los Angeles Master Chorale and Sinfonia Orchestra, Paul Salamunovich, conductor – Unbelievable choral sound – gotta hear Magnum Mysterium –  growing all-time favorite – RCM – see it here
3. A Carnegie Hall Christmas Concert: Kathleen Battle, Frederica von Stade, Wynton Marsalis, and Andre Previn – Wonderful singing and good variety – Sony – see it here
4. Christmas Star: Carols for The Christmas Season – The Cambridge Singers – Just good! – Collegium – see it here
5. A Christmas Festival: John Rutter and The Cambridge Singers – Collegium – see it here
6. Carols From The Old and New Worlds: Paul Hillier – director – many traditional English, Bavarian, Austrian, and American Carols – delightful – HMU – see it here
7. A Festival of Carols: Robert Shaw Chorale and Orchestra – of course, anything by RS is solid.  RCA – see it here
8. Christmas with the Academy: Sir Neville Marriner – all of the good ones on one CD – RCA – see it here
9. Songs of Angels: Christmas Hymns & Carols – Robert Shaw Chamber Singers – Very refreshing – Telarc – see it here
10. King of Glory – A Men’s Choral Christmas Celebration – I add this in because of a couple of pieces: The King of Glory, and In the Bleak Midwinter – SMS –

Here are a couple just for fun:

1. Mel Torme Christmas Songs – really, much better than Sinatra or Buble – Telarc – see it here
2. When My Heart Finds Christmas – Harry Connick, Jr. – Columbia – see it here
3. James Galaway’s Christmas Carol – wonderful pieces with flute (duh) choir and orchestra – RCA – see it here
4. Carpenter Christmas Portrait – really, that has to be in your stash somewhere. – A&M – see it here

 

Hope you all had a very Merry Christmas.  I trust that you will find this New Year to be one that is blessed by God’s great grace that flows fresh everyday!

Grace to you!