What do Gregorian chant, German lullabies, English luck-visit songs, Russian motets, and contemporary Canadian carols have in common? They are all part of Chor Leoni’s Christmas CD, Yuletide Fires. Instead of simply recycling the same old hackneyed carols, Diane has sought out some of the lesser-known gems of the Advent and Christmas repertoire, such as the serene Sarum chant Letabundus or the haunting Appalachian carol As Joseph Was A-Walking. However, lest you think that everything will be unfamiliar, we should add that there are some old favourites on the disc, but in new guises: Robert Sund’s stunningly beautiful arrangement of Silent Night for soprano and TTBB chorus is almost worth the price of the disc on its own!

Yuletide Fires was voted the Outstanding Choral Recording of 2004 by the Association of Canadian Choral Conductors, and won a Western Canadian Music Award as the 2004 Outstanding Classical Recording. This disc would make an ideal holiday gift for a music lover – but be sure to treat yourself to a copy as well.

Track List

1. Hodie Christus Natus Est – Gregorian chant
2. God Rest You Merry Gentlemen – English carol, arr. Ralph Vaughan Williams
3. Huron Carol – Canadian carol, arr. Andy Hillhouse
4. Letabundus – Sarum chant
5. As Joseph Was A-Walking – Appalachian carol, arr. James Fankhauser
6. Es ist ein Ros’ entsprungen – traditional/Michael Praetorius
7. Le sommeil de l’enfant Jésus – Cantique traditionnel, arr. Amy Stephen
8. Veni, Veni Emanuel – Gregorian chant
9. Yuletide Fires – Diane Loomer
10. Novelle agréable! – Cantique traditionnel, arr. Ernest Gagnon
11. The Lord at First – English carol, arr. Ralph Vaughan Williams
12. Lux Aeterna – Gregorian chant
13. Quelle est cette odeur agréable – Cantique traditionnel, arr. Robert Sund
14. Veni Redemptor Gencium – Sarum chant
15. Dostoyno Yest – Nikolai Golovanov
16. Svete Tihiy – Aleksandr Nikolsky
17. Alma Redemptoris Mater – Gregorian chant
18. Stille Nacht – Franz Gruber, arr. Robert Sund
19. Drei Könige – Peter Cornelius
20. Rise Up Shepherd – American traditional, arr. Frank Almond
21. Christmas Angel – Corlynn Hanney
22. Still, still, still – Austrian carol, arr. Norman Luboff
23. Hodie Christus Natus Est – Gregorian chant