I’m not aware that these two delightful LPs, dating from 1961 and 1965, have been reissued on CD though I could certainly be wrong about the Elly Ameling Altdeutsche Weihnacht which should have been. And I’m not quite sure what price bracket DHM are pushing this slimline double because both LPs would fit quite comfortably on a single CD.[£11.99 -Len]

That said there are plenty of Renaissance and other delights awaiting the listener – rather more, it’s true, in Ameling’s selection than in the companion one in the selection of motets and Alpine works, attractive though this often is.

Ameling had a splendid viol consort as accompaniment, with flute, lute and the alto Bernhard Michaelis taking the leads, though there is also the supportive vocal tissue of tenor Hans-Ulrich Mielsch and baritone Barry McDaniel. The instrumental group imparts decisive warmth – we can note in passing the distinguished name of flautist Hans-Martin Linde – and one that blends most attractively with the solo and consort voices. There’s no real sense that this is a recording now well over forty years old and no stylistic peculiarities to distract the ear. Ameling’s purity of vocal production is enchanting in the Eccard, and no less so in Praetorius’s Es ist ein Ros entsprungen, which is one of the most mellifluously fluid and appealing of all these Christmas settings; its simplicity is warmly and joyously explored by the group. Reussner’s Uns ist ein Kindlein heut geborn allows one to appreciate Walter Gerwig’s lute, whilst Linde’s flute playing is eloquent in Gumpelzhaimer’s Vom Himmel hoch da komm ich her.

Ameling always sings within expressive limits, neither pushing the voice nor indulging rubato; the vocal balance is excellent in even such a well-known piece as Gesius’s In dulci jubilo, which is once more vested with real generosity. Indeed the whole recital is attractively coloured and affectionately nuanced.

The Tolzer Knabenchor disc lasts just over half an hour and is an altogether simpler and more bonhomonious selection – though, that said, they do relish those crunching harmonies in Lassus’s Angelus ad pastores ait and the almost as startling Resonet in laudibus. The choir has a good amplitude and they do well by the Alpine Carols with their rather rustic tone to the fore. The Salzburg carol Wir woollen dankbar sein is probably the pick of their selection, with its accompanying instrumental writing and harp adding a delightful patina to the sound world.

The Altdeutsche Weihnacht disc was certainly out on a Musical Heritage Society LP in the US but as I noted I’m not aware of it having been around since. A warm welcome back then in refurbished sound and rather limited notes.

Jonathan Woolf

 

 

 

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