38 Songs - Total Time 71 Minutes
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Let the angelic strains of this remarkable recording fill your holidays with the refreshing inspiration of spirituals from the Shaker tradition. It is a rare occasion when so many new and compelling melodies for Christmas are introduced. Most of these songs have never been published before; they have been drawn directly from Shaker manuscripts. The singers include Randy Folger, who sings each summer for thousands of visitors to Shakertown at Pleasant Hill, Kentucky; Kathy Leigh Johnson and Colleen Liggett, whose clear voices are also featured on the Shaker album, Love is Little; and the bright sounds of Rochester's Eastman Bach Children's Chorus, in their recording debut. "A chest of unexpected treasures! The tunes and words, though seemingly simple, are full of cunningly subtle details. The talented poets and composers represented here include eleven women. The editorial essays in the printed anthology are models of their kind, providing clear and wise guidance to students and performers alike. The performances on the recording are lovingly skillful and delightfully varied and will repay repeated listenings." ~ Ralph P. Locke, Professor of Musicology, Eastman School of Music, University of RochesterJoy of Angels is the first, and at the moment, only, recording of Shaker Christmas music. It is a rare occasion, indeed, when so many new and compelling melodies for Christmas are introduced. Most of these songs have never been published before; we have drawn them directly from Shaker manuscripts. The 74-page, 8 1/2 by 11 inch, spiral-bound book includes historical information, an introductory essay on the Shakers' observance of Christmas, some important suggestions on how to perform these songs - and the music and text of each selection. The performers include Randy Folger, who sings each summer for thousands of visitors to Shakertown at Pleasant Hill, Kentucky; KathyLeigh Johnson and Colleen Liggett, whose clear voices are also featured on our first Shaker album, Love is Little; and the bright sounds of Rochester's Eastman Bach Children's Chorus, in its recording debut.
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