Canteloube Settings of Christmas Songs

Let's start off this year's Christmas shares with this gorgeous LP of European Christmas music in settings by Joseph Canteloube.

Canteloube

You may know the composer from his versions of the "Songs from the Auvergne," which have been quite popular since their publication in 1930. If so, you will want to here this record, which has much of the same atmosphere and flavor.

Performing are Le Groupe des Chanteurs Traditionnels de Paris and the Champs-Élysées orchestra (which I believe at that time was a recording name for the French National Radio Orchestra). Conducting is Marc Honegger, a cousin of composer Arthur Honegger. Alto Hélène Brunet, tenor Marcel Giteau and soprano Madeleine Gérault are the soloists.

Honegger

The songs themselves are from France, Bohemia, Spain, Belgium, Poland, Germany, Switzerland, Romania, Austria, Italy and England.

Ducretet-Thomson recorded this LP in about 1954, and issued it in France on a 10-inch LP. It then came out in the US on Westminster on a 12-inch pressing. The download includes cover scans from both editions. Westminster's cover is below - it appears to depict an early American fireplace, which could not be less appropriate. My transfer is from the French pressing, and the sound is good.

A happy holiday season to all!