Philip Brunelle - Serenade For A Christmas Night
Review by Wendel Shuatz
Serenade For A Christmas Night by Philip Brunelle is an exceptional album that captures the essence of the holiday season. The album features a beautiful arrangement of classic Christmas carols and songs, performed by the VocalEssence Ensemble Singers and the Plymouth Music Series Orchestra.
The album's opening track, "O Come, All Ye Faithful," sets the tone for the rest of the album. The vocals are strong and powerful, and the orchestration is rich and full. The album also features a beautiful rendition of "Silent Night," which is sure to bring a sense of peace and calm to listeners.
One of the standout tracks on the album is "The First Noel." The arrangement is unique and captivating, with stunning harmonies and a beautiful orchestral accompaniment. The vocals are precise and emotive, making for a truly unforgettable listening experience.
Table of Contents
Download
Filename: philip-brunelle-serenade-for-a-christmas-night.zip- MP3 size: 154 mb
- FLAC size: 844 mb
Tracks
| Track | Duration | Preview |
|---|---|---|
| Elevation | 2:07 | |
| Little Farandole | 4:20 | |
| Von Himmel Hoch | 2:40 | |
| Carol - Prelude On 'Greensleeves' | 2:01 | |
| Wachet Auf! | 1:48 | |
| Serenade For A Christmas Night | 9:17 | |
| Noel | 2:27 | |
| Prelude To 'The Christmas Oratorio' | 4:12 | |
| Joy To the World (Antioch) | 2:14 | |
| The Holy Boy, A Carol Of The Nativity | 3:15 | |
| Impressions On A French Noel | 2:54 | |
| Infant Holy, Infant Lowly | 1:47 | |
| Du Friedefurst, Herr Jesus Christ | 2:40 | |
| Two Variations On 'Puer Nobis Nascitur' | 3:57 | |
| March Of The Three Kings | 6:15 | |
| Silent Night | 2:47 | |
| In Dulci Jubilo | 2:20 | |
| The First Noel | 3:30 | |
| On Christmas Night (Sussex Carol) | 3:35 | |
| Quelle Est Cette Odeur Agreable | 3:42 |
Video
JS BACH ~ IN DULCI JUBILO BWV 729 ~ PHILIP BRUNELLE ~ BEST VERSION EVER!!
Images
Catalog Numbers
VC 7 91088-4Labels
Virgin ClassicsListen online
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Formats
- Cassette
- Album
- Dolby B NR / HX Pro / Chrome
Companies
| Role | Company |
|---|---|
| Phonographic Copyright (p) | Virgin Classics |
| Copyright (c) | Virgin Classics Limited |
| Recorded At | Plymouth Congregational Church |
Credits
| Role | Credit |
|---|---|
| Liner Notes | Philip Brunelle |
| Organ | Philip Brunelle |
Notes
Played on the 89-Rank Holtkamp Organ in the Plymouth Congregational Church, Minneapolis, MN in August 1988.Barcodes
- Barcode (Text): 0 7567-91088-4 5
- Barcode (Scanned): 075679108845
- Label Code: 7973
About Philip Brunelle
Minnesota
conductor
Name Vars
- Brunelle
- Phil Brunelle
Summary by Wendel Shuatz
Comments
2023-04-12
I don't know what Bach was going through when he wrote this small collection of unique chorales, but the world wasn't ready then, and I worry that we lost a great opportunity to witness a true musical evolution.
2023-04-11
Can’t find it now, but there was a video on YouTube of Douglas Tang when organ scholar at King’s, his BVW729 being a serious candidate for ‘best version ever’.
2023-04-10
Great piece, one of my favourites. Brightly played here, though some of the subtlety of the fantasia seems missing from the registration and the phrasing. Thought I heard a couple of note values overlap when they shouldn’t too. I’m afraid calling it the ‘best yet’ only served to accentuate any such shortcomings. Not, I imagine, what was originally intended by ‘listen carefully’. It’s a pretty good performance, though a lightness of tone in those arpeggios is more apparent in other versions. A marcato feeling to the opening statement is better brought out by the restrained use of rubato rather than the suggestion of staccato used here. I won’t go on, but thanks for posting it and another chance to discuss Bach.
2023-04-10
That's faraway from the best Version Ever. Change the Title to "Worst Version Ever" and i will agree you. The Organist should be beatened with a big pipe of the Organ.
Only thing I would cry is about the damaged pipe.
Only thing I would cry is about the damaged pipe.
2023-04-09
Really, but this is the best version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tXglZem_lpI (organist: Ferenc Gergely)
2023-04-09
The phrasing is wrong and there is no sense of musicalness in there. For me, the sound is too reedy. Needs some diapasons. Best version ever? I think not! Also, manuals part (middle section) too fast. The whole thing was terrible, like the organist hated it. Got the last bit wrong.
2023-04-08
Excellent. Thanks.
2023-04-08
Not enough legato and the building has a short reverberation time. If this is the best, poor Mr.Bach.
2023-04-07
What an incredibly poor choice of registration for a piece such as this.
Obviously you know very little about how to play Bach or about modesty for that matter, which might be a valuable skill to learn especially when your playing is as shit as this!
Obviously you know very little about how to play Bach or about modesty for that matter, which might be a valuable skill to learn especially when your playing is as shit as this!
2023-04-07
It's OK, but I am sure I have heard more inspired versions. Indeed, the version played today (Christmas Eve) at the conclusion of the annual Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols from King's College, Cambridge was, in my view rather warmer and with finer registration. Just my view; I am sure others may disagree. Happy Christmas all!
2023-04-07
AH, could we try to maintain civility in a public forum? If one puts "the very best version" on a video description, then inevitably others will disagree. If you don't wish to accept -- graciously -- such disagreement, don't write hyperbole.Even your "deal with it" is rude. Just take a step back. If you want people to admire something you've posted, be nice to them.For what it's worth, this organist is not impressed with either the quality of the organ nor the performance. But it's similar to the best that I can do!
2023-04-06
It's certainly an worthy example of musicianship but there is simply no contrast in the registration and hence the sound. It's therefore rather "thin" and unimaginative. A case of just "playing the dots" rather than "making the music live".
2023-04-05
Be careful of using terms like "Very best version ... yet recorded" because this certainly isn't.
2023-04-04
Well....some of these comments sound pretty hateful regardless of one's musical tastes.I agree that the organ sound here is not to everyone's taste: there's very little reverberation and the organ is voiced quite brightly. On the other hand, Mr. Brunelle's technical mastery is evident and many would admire the cleanness and vigor of his playing.
Thanks for posting.
Thanks for posting.
2023-04-03
Sorry. This is definitely NOT the best performance of this magnificent Fantasia. The version played by the Organ Scholar at King's College, Cambridge, on Christmas Eve 2012 (BBC Radio 4 and World Service) was far, far better. So is the version that I have on black vinyl, played by Peter Hurford (J S Bach, Complete Organ Works, Argo, ages ago) is a much fuller and acoustically superior performance. This work was intended to make the church vibrate! This version does little to impress.
2023-04-03
@bigmoney66b 'NOT the way it was meant to be played',, am i to presume then that Johann himself told u that? alrighty then u run along an go scrounge up u and ur esteemed no-name colleagues' 'approved & endorsed' version of bwv729 an upload it an lemme listen to it,, u've got me real intrigued now,, 'playin an listenin fer 30 years i know my music',, u sound like all them 'mechanics for 25 years' on yahoo answers,, sry friend, the accumulation of years only makes a man complacent,,
2023-04-03
@bigmoney66b 'why play an organ, play the trumpet',, eh hem, case in point: Sleepers Wake, Bach saw fit to use the ORGAN to serve as the TRUMPET,, not an ACTUAL trumpet, THE ORGAN,, and theres more, Chopin sometimes used the piano to mimick BAGPIPES, Scarlatti used a FREAKING HARPSICHORD to imitate Spanish folk instruments, hell every instrument devised of man was conceived in an effort to emulate THE HUMAN VOICE,, so why not just use choirs for all muzik then eh? i rest my case,,
2023-04-02
Maybe he is interpreting in his own way, but that's not how the piece was meant to be played and sound. Passion ? You must be deaf. What's an organ piece without proper accoustics, reverberation etc. then why play an organ, play the trumpet or play a cheap synthesizer.......
I showed this video to a few colleagues of mine who actually do this for a living, music ! and 2 are long time organists, and they surely agreed with me, it's pathetic !!!! I heard amateurs play this better,
I showed this video to a few colleagues of mine who actually do this for a living, music ! and 2 are long time organists, and they surely agreed with me, it's pathetic !!!! I heard amateurs play this better,
2023-04-01
Your comment is a SHAME !!! You truly aren't a classical fan. I've been listening and playing classic music for 30 years I know my music. I don't care what you believe he is interpreting or what he is doing, this is NOT the way the piece was meant to be played. I invite you to buy some CDs, or find some videos of some of the best churches / organs in the world and hear people play it you should hear a big difference unless you are tone deaf or completely deaf of course.
2023-03-31
@bigmoney66b um, do u actually even play organ? the sound is dry cuz he set the stops to imitate triumphant sounding brass, & its distorted cuz ur pissass computer speakers suck,, poorly played with bad tempo? am i to understand that u could play it better? u have condemned Mr. Brunelle cuz he had the audacity to INTERPRET the piece, to play with the tempo and infuse the notes with some PASSION, how dare he!! it is most certainly an insult- to stiff-necked hollow schmucks like you,,
2023-03-31
This is attrocious and the worst performance I have heard - the sound is too dry, it lacks reverb ! the sound is really distorted and terrible, this is an insult to people's integrity to say this is the best recording it SUCKS !!!! It is POORLY played, bad tempo too.
