Customer Rating: 
Summary: Excellent compilation of traditional carols
Comment: Noel---Christmas at King's has become the de facto standard of carols at our house. It really is an excellent collection of Christmas carols. In fact, the only real blemish on this album is that there is discernible noise in some tracks: I had to examine the CD when I first heard them, and realized the recordings on these discs are more than forty years old: they were recorded from 1959 to 1965.
But venerable recording technology and associated sound artifacts aside, this album is a collection of superb renditions of classic Christmas carols.
One strength is the size of the collection: 36 carols on two discs. And as others have pointed out, these carols are an English selection: there are several on these discs I hadn't previously heard in America. Some we have over here too: "Hark! the herald angels sing" or "Ding, dong! merrily on high"; but the vast majority are songs I've only heard on English recordings, like "See amid the winter's snow" and "Joseph was an old man".
And of course, this is King's College Choir: the strength of the actual performance goes without saying. The choir of King's College is renowned for their carols, and with good reason. There are other excellent performers and recordings in this genre, but King's College Choir has maintained their status as the standard for many years.
The two discs contain a wide variety of classical carols, including an amazing rendition of "Hark! the herald angels sing" (with stunning descant in the last verse); "See amid the winter's snow" with precise and beautiful harmonies; a rousing recording of "Rejoice and be merry"; "Unto us is born a son"; a solid performance of "In the bleak midwinter"; and a stirring "Personent hodie".
Noel is a Christmas album: it's compiled from several Anglican services. Like much (by no means all) holiday music I have, it's overtly Christan. If you're looking for something more neutral, there are several excellent holiday music collections; but this one is overtly devout. And frankly, even if you're not looking of the devout persuasion, this album is worth a listen just for the excellent choral music.
Noel---Christmas at King's is one of my "top shelf" Christmas albums. I find myself listening to it throughout the year, enraptured anew by the beauty of the voices on it.
Customer Rating: 
Summary: Heavenly Christmas......
Comment: Ever wonder what it's like to be in church on Christmas day?
This recording is Possibly the best Choral recording of it's kind. The sound is exquisite with the extraordinary acoustics of their chapel. I especially enjoy both the organ and the choir together. If you have a quality subwoofer you will especially enjoy this recording due to the lows the organ hits.
The Choir owes its existence to King Henry VI, who envisaged the daily singing of services in his magnificent chapel. 14 choral scholars and two organ scholars, who study a variety of subjects in the College.I have heard several Choral recordings but this one stands out as one of the best. If you are looking for a very traditional choral arrangements for Christmas look no further.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Christmas Carols at there best
Comment: It does not get any better. This 2 cd set is outstanding.
As one reviewer notes the second disk has many carols not heard by most people in the USA. I heard them growing up, but most are hard to find on an album.
Christmas is not Christmas without King's College Choir singing carols.
A great collection... :)
Customer Rating:
Summary: Nice Christmas CD
Comment: In my haste for looking for some traditional and exuberant Christmas music, and in my blinding affinity for all things "King's", I purchased this cd. It is a nice compelation, although I, and I daresay many Americans, am not very familiar at all with most of the hymns/carols on the 2nd cd. Morever, I found most of the music lacking in pomp and circumstance. Of course, now, I understand that is not what this cd set is for. If you want big sound and more familiar tunes, try something else.
Customer Rating:
Summary: The Best Christmas CD Ever
Comment: If you are seeking a CD of traditional Christmas music to help you 1) focus on the true meaning of the holiday and 2)draw near to God, this is it. The choral arrangements are alternately beautiful and powerful, delicate and majestic. There is a rich heritage of European carols which 99% of Americans know nothing of. Broaden your horizons with this disc. You won't regret it.
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