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Album Review: Tidings of Joy
Julie Rivers
Cover image of the album Tidings of Joy by Julie Rivers
Tidings of Joy
Julie Rivers
1995 / Aureus Recordings
41 minutes
Review by Kathy Parsons
Tidings of Joy is an outstanding collection of seasonal pieces arranged by Eugenie Rocherolle and played by Julie Rivers on piano with original orchestrations and midi enhancements by Randy Wills. The pieces have a decidedly classical feel, but are by no means stiff or overly formal. Most of the selections are grouped into medleys, allowing thirty songs to be included. Julie Rivers has become one of my favorite pianists, with her warm and inviting playing style and brilliant technique. Very few of the carols are duplicated on this album and Julie’s “Christmastide” (1999), which features her own arrangements of holiday favorites from around the world. Both are exceptional collections. I especially like the medley of “O Little Town of Bethlehem/What Child Is This?/We Three Kings.” All three are minor-key pieces that flow together well and have a haunting quality. “God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen” is orchestrated with the piano in the forefront, and has a similar haunting mood - very beautiful! Another favorite medley is “The Sleep of the Infant Jesus/O Come, O Come, Emmanuel/It Came Upon a Midnight Clear” - very melancholy and utterly beautiful. “Jolly Old St. Nicholas/Jingle Bells” are probably played the way Mozart would have played them - joyful and full of fun! This is a great collection, and can be purchased from earthstarrecordings.com.
December 1, 1995
This review has been tagged as:
Holiday Albums
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