2008 Press Archives

Seasonal CDs, Part I: 'A Princeton Christmas, vols. 1 and 2,'

Kennebec Journal Morning Sentinel

12/11/2008

For the next three weeks (counting this one), I'll be reviewing some seasonal offerings on CD and DVD from a wide variety of artists. This can best be observed by this week's column: Two benefit albums and one from a duo that goes by the name of Martha's Trouble.

First up, "A Princeton Christmas: For The Children of Africa" and "A Princeton Christmas: For The Children of Africa, vol. 2" which come from 2007 and 2008, respectively. These two long releases feature performances by The American Boys Choir, Princeton Day School Choir Madrigal Singers, The Princeton Girlchoir, The Princeton High School Choir, The Princeton University Chapel Choir, The Tartantones of Stuart Country Day School of the Sacred Heart, The Westminster Choir, The Princeton High School Choir and The Westminster Concert Bell Choir (on Vol. 1 only), just to mention a few.

Needless to say, the emphasis is on gorgeous choral music and the selection comes from all around the world. "Vol. 1" has 20 tracks highlighted by "The First Nowell," "Sussex Carol," "Nativity Carol," "Ding Dong! Merrily on High," and "In the Bleak Midwinter," but before you think that this is just traditional carols know that they also cover "Sleigh Ride" and "Let It Snow."

On "Vol. 2" there are 18 tracks that have three shared tracks with the first release but with different versions of those songs — which is really neat. They do one of my all-time favorites, "Es Ist Ein Ros' Entsprungen" ("Lo How A Rose Ere Blooming"), as well as "Children, Go Where I Send Thee," "What Child Is This?" and a beautiful rendition of "Silver Bells."

All told, for the traditionalists out there, these two discs are highly suggested and there's the additional bonus of helping out a good cause because all proceeds of the sales of these albums go to UN World Food Program's School Feeding program — the bulk of WFP's operations are focused in sub-Saharan Africa.

For more information, visit Friends of the World Food Program (http:/ www.friendsofwfp.org), a non-profit organization dedicated to building support for the WFP (http://www.wfp.org).

Contact:
Tom Meagher (A Princeton Christmas) / 908-907-3377
Maria Reppas / mreppas@friendsofwfp.org / 202- 530-1694 x 111