And finally, a bit of actual Christmas music from the Greek Orthodox Church.
Choral
[Music] Between Sound and Space: ECM Records and Beyond
It comes as a very pleasant surprise to see that ECM Records has its very own blog now. Simple, beautifully designed, and a great repository for promoting their new releases and reissues, as well as highlighting the reviews given to said releases. Bravo!
[Music] Ezequiel Viñao – Beowulf: Scyld’s Burial – Paul Hillier
Ezequiel Viñao is an avant-garde composer originally hails from Argentina, but is now an American citizen based out of New York City.
This particular piece is performed by the National Chamber Choir of Ireland, with Paul Hillier serving as conductor.
[Music] Collection Petites Planètes – Kangë e Defa – Female Rhapsody in Kosova
A very pleasant surprise from our friend and colleague, Vincent Moon, who churns out stream of startlingly beautiful compilations from places off the beaten path (Ossetia, Chechnya, etc). His label, Collection Petites Planètes, presents a compilation done with the assistance of Fatime Kosumi, a Kosovar singer of Albanian heritage, covering folk tunes for female choir.
There is an accompanying video which was posted by the duo at Vimeo, which you can access here.
[Music] Costas Zorbas Byzantine Choir – Christ is Risen
We celebrate the victory over death by Jesus Christ. Christ is Risen! Truly, He is Risen!
[Music] Les Grandes Voix Bulgares – Chœr d’Hommes – Gospodi Pomilui
Les Grandes Voix Bulgares perform what is, to my ears, the perfect version of the refrain, “Lord Have Mercy” (Kyrie Eleison in Greek, Gospodi Pomilui in the Slavic tongues).
[Music] Demi Broxa – Agnes Hvizdalek (voice) & Jakob Schneidewind (bass, electronics)
Agnes Hvizdalek & Jakob Schneidewind, who go by the group name Demi Broxa, are two experimental music artists working out of Vienna, Austria. This piece doesn’t seem to have a title to it, but it showcases how well both musicians blend in with each other.
[Music] Cristóbal de Morales – Mass for the feast of St. Isidore of Seville
Cristóbal de Morales is among my favorite Spanish composers of the Renaissance era. Saint Isodore of Seville, the patron saint of the Internet, happens to be one of my favorite saints. I’m surprised I missed this composition.
[Music] Guillaume de Machaut – La Messe de Nostre Dame: Kyrie
Day after day, week after week, I get to scroll through my feed and finding some of the ugliest, most obnoxiously mean-spirited posts from people who wouldn’t know civility if it swatted them in the rump. A good aural cleansing is in order, courtesy of 14th Century poet and composer Guillaume de Machaut.
[Music] Moscow Sretensky Monastery Choir – Конь (Horse)
Moscow’s Sretensky Monastery Choir is considered to be arguably Russia’s best choir. One can hear why on this folk song presented here.
A Miscellany Of Tasteful Music 