Castleton Carol [Alf:00-48873]

A Renaissance-era carol brought up to date in a fresh contemporary setting. Veteran Broadway music director and conductor Ben Cohn brings a modern musical theatre sound to this traditional English song. A serenely sparse piano part (during two opening alto solos) gradually grows to a full and glorious accompaniment as more voices join. Listen closely for the juxtaposed stillness/motion and minor/major that symbolize the cold of winter versus the warmth of the season. The entire piece garners edge-of-your-seat wonder, but the greatest chills will come when brief strains from four additional carols trickle in. Simply stunning.