Organ Music for Christmas

"Soon it will be the time for shops to be setting out their Christmas items, for while Christmas comes but once a year, in fact people are working toward it all year long. The same is true for composers and musical performers. I found it amusing to learn that this particular CD of Christmas-related organ music was performed in August of 1995; of course, to be prepared in time for the holiday season, it had to be done ahead of time. Not quite Christmas in July, but close! This music was performed over the two days in August by Kevin Bower, at the organ in Chichester Cathedral in the United Kingdom. This is straight organ performing - no back choir or orchestral accompaniment. Bower is a nimble and spirited player, with a good sense of holiday mood for the pieces. Some of the pieces are very classic Christmas pieces - Handel's 'Hallelujah Chorus', set for organ solo, is a very familiar piece, as are J.S. Bach's sinfonia from the Christmas Oratorio and 'In dulci jubilo' (the later piece also has a setting by Johann Michael Bach). There are some more modern pieces, too, such as John Rutter's Prelude on 'God rest you merry, gentlemen' and W.S. Lloyd-Webber's Interlude on the Coventry Carol. This is wonderful music, perfect for relaxing, listening to while preparing for holiday get-togethers, as background music during such get-togethers, or to reacquaint oneself with the music of the holiday season."- Kurt Messick

"Good for organ lovers. This is my second time to purchase the album. I misplaced the first one after playing it numerous times. I especially like the arrangement of "Hark the Herald Angels sing and In Dulce Jubilo."Joanna Jones

"I bought this for one for two reasons: I wanted a classical instrumental album of Christmas music and I wanted it to be Organ. This album fulfills these desires completely. In fact, this album is much better than I had hoped. Sure, I knew the works on the album were classical arrangements of traditional Christmas carols, with some original compositions, but the quality, excellence, and diversity of literature present is wonderful and refreshing. Honestly, even if you are a Pop or Rock or Country kind of person, you would enjoy this album for it's original and crisp flavors. There are recognizable tunes set in chorale like forms, other things original compositions that will grace the ear with magnificence. This CD (or MP3 Download) is worth your time, especially if you want a touch of classical for the holiday season with the "king of instruments."- J. Nichols