The Bottom Line
As a Christmas CD, Snowcarols falls short of delivering warm and inviting music to a holiday so ingrained with tradition. All but a few pieces invoke the spirit of Christmas.
Pros
- William Ferris Chorale sounds fantastic
- Familiar texts sung to different tunes
Cons
- Horrible placement of title work within the CD
- Christmas? I don't think so.
Description
- Released November, 2007
- 1 CD, 14 tracks
- Total Play Time: 70:25
Guide Review - Snowcarols - Christmas Music by William Ferris
First to give credit where credit is due, the William Ferris Chorale is the redeeming factor of Snowcarols. With clear articulation, solid intonation, and well-balanced voicing, the chorus sings through somewhat awkward musical passages with ease and delightful execution.
The music is disappointingly lackluster - nothing memorable, nothing profound. All I'm left with is an empty feeling. However, as not to be too critical and harsh, there are a few tracks worth buying on iTunes: In the Bleak Mid-Winter and Mary of Graces. In the Bleak Mid-Winter's lush, jazz like harmonizations and a capella voicing, and Mary of Graces' beautiful melodies with choir and oboe, are a light in an otherwise dark tunnel.
