RECORDINGS

LABEL: GUILD
CATALOG NUMBER: GMDD 7112/3
UPC NUMBER: 795754711325
NUMBER OF DISCS: 2
RUNNING TIME: 2:20:40
YEAR RECORDED: 1986
CD RELEASE DATE: OCTOBER 17, 1995
CONDUCTOR: TIMOTHY DEAN
ORCHESTRA: PRO CHRISTIE
CHOIR: PRO CHRISTIE
SOPRANO: JENNIFER SMITH, HELEN KUCHAREK
MEZZO-SOPRANO: LINDA FINNIE
TENOR: NEIL MACKIE
BASS-BARITONE: RODNEY MACANN
AUDIO SAMPLES HIGHLIGHTS OTHER RELEASES

DISC ONE

1. Sinfony     2:55
2. Recitative (Tenor) Comfort Ye My People    3:07
3. Air (Tenor) Ev'ry Valley Shall Be Exalted    3:17
4. (Chorus) And The Glory Of The Lord    2:48
5. Recitative (Bass) Thus Saith The Lord Of Hosts    1:12
6. Air (Counter-Tenor) But Who May Abide The Day    4:32
7. (Chorus) And He Shall Purify    2:32
8. Recititive (Alto) Behold A Virgin Shall Conceive    0:21
9. Air (Alto) O Thou That Tellest Good Tidings    5:29
10. Recitative (Bass) For Behold, Darkness Shall Cover The Earth    2:02
11. Air (Bass) The People That Walked The Darkness    3:42
12. (Chorus) For Unto Us A Child Is Born    3:55
13. Pastoral Symphony    3:24
14. Recitative (Soprano) There Were Shepherds    0:45
15. Recitative (Soprano) And The Angel Said Unto Them    0:36
16. Recitative (Soprano) And Suddenly There Was With The Angel    0:16
17. (Chorus) Glory To God In The Highest    1:47
18. Air (Soprano) Rejoice Greatly, O Daughter Of Zion    4:44
19. Recitative (Alto) Then Shall The Eyes Of The Blind    0:26
20. Air (Alto) He Shall Feed His Flock Like A Shepherd    5:43
21. (Chorus) His Yoke Is Easy    2:24
22. Part Two (Chorus) Behold The Lamb Of God    2:33
23. Air (Alto) He Was Despised And Rejected Of Men    12:13
 DISC TWO

1. (Chorus) Surely, He Hath Borne Our Griefs    1:46
2. (Chorus) And With His Stripes We Are Healed    1:58
3. (Chorus) All We Like Sheep    3:54
4. Recitative (Tenor) All They That See Him Laugh    0:38
5. (Chorus) He Trusted In God That    2:02
6. Recitative (Tenor) Thy Rebuke Hath Broken    1:47
7. Air (Tenor) Behold, And See If There Be Any Sorrow    1:44
8. Recitative (Tenor) He Was Cut Off Out Of The Land Of Living    0:25
9. Air (Tenor) But Thou Didst Not Leave His Soul In Hell    2:15
10. (Chorus) Lift Up Your Heads, O Ye Gates    2:58
11. Recitative (Tenor) Unto Which Of The Angles Said He At Any Time    0:16
12. (Chorus) Let All The Angles Of God Worship Him    1:23
13. Air (Soprano) Thou Art Gone Up On High    3:08
14. (Chorus) The Lord Gave The Word    1:07
15. Air (Soprano) How Beautiful Are The Feel Of Them    2:16
16. (Chorus) Their Sound Is Gone Out Into The Lands    1:18
17. Air (Bass) Why Do The Nations So Furiously    2:40
18. (Chorus) Let Us Break Their Bonds    1:48
19. Recitative (Tenor) He That Dwelleth In Heaven Shall Laugh    0:11
20. Air (Tenor) Thou Shalt Break Them With A Rod Of Iron    1:59
21. (Chorus) Hallelujah, For The Lord God    3:57
22. Part Three Air (Soprano) I Know That My Redeemer Liveth    6:38
23. (Chorus) Since By Man Came Death    2:03
24. Recitative (Bass) Behold, I Tell You A Mystery    0:26
25. Air (Bass) The Trumpet Shall Sound    8:11
26. Air (Soprano) Then Shall Be Brought To Pass    0:14
27. Duet (Soprano & Tenor) O Death, Where Is Thy Sting    0:58
28. (Chorus) But Thanks Be To God    2:05
29. Air (Soprano) If God Be For Us Who Can Be Against Us    4:51
30. (Chorus) Worthy Is The Lamb    7:10
SITE RATING:  3/10
SITE REVIEW:  An amateurish performance, with soloists who are some steps below the "A"-list, this 1986 recording by Timothy Dean and the forces of Pro Christie offer up a competent performance that would be the pride of most small communities, but doesn't aspire any higher than that.  Playing without any special dispensations, the Orchestra of Pro Christie offers a straightforward reading, playing mechanically, with none of the fire or virtuousity offered by world-class orchestras, while the soloists are very much non-entities who struggle with the demands of the piece throughout.  Most disappointing is Rodney Macann, whose clumsy bass arias are somewhat painful to listen to.  But none of the soloists are truly adept; the sopranos Jennifer Smith and Helen Kucharek are shrill and unpleasant, Neil Mackie sings with a light, slightly nasal tone, and without authority, and mezzo-soprano Linda Finnie's wobbling arias are similarly unispiring.  Coming off best in the whole affair is the Choir of Pro Christie, who, like their sister orchestra, perform in a singluarly undemanding manner.  Dean's direction is unremarkable and lacks the spark of inspiration.  Pass this one by.
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