Christmas With Harp and Voice
Roger Wilhelm, music director
Barbara Dechario, harp
Richard Volpe, piano
In this third recording, Christmas with Harp and Voice,
Madrigalia explores the wonderful sonorities of voices and harp using tunes arranged by
composers from many countries around the world. Often associated with Christmas, the sound
of voices and harp conjures images of angels in heaven joining carolers on earth in
celebration of the birth of Christ.
Most of the carol tunes in this recording will be
familiar. The exceptions may be The Three Drovers, an Australian carol;
The Christmas Rose, which uses a tune from Corner’s Gesangbuch (1625);
Christmas Night, which employs a melody from Arbeau’s Orchésographie; and
O Maria Diana Stella, an Italian laude of the 15th century. In the bleak
midwinter is performed here using settings by four different British composers -
Gustav Holst (v. 1 & 5), Harold Drake (v, 2), Malcolm Archer (v. 3) and Robert Walker (v.
4).
Madrigalia hopes that this recording will help you celebrate
the holiday which has inspired some of the world’s most beautiful music.