The Cherry Tree: Songs, Carols & Ballads for Christmas

Featuring

Susan Hellauer
Jacqueline Horner-Kwiatek
Ruth Cunningham
Marsha Genensky
Anonymous 4
Anonymous

Anonymous (Christmas)
Johannes Ockeghem
William Billings

Did you know?

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Historical Context

The medieval English carol, though now associated with Christmas, was originally written for various feasts, saints' days, or to teach moral lessons in the 15th century.

Recording & Production

This album was recorded in February 2009 at Skywalker Sound, a Lucasfilm Ltd Company, in Marin County, California, and in November 2009 at Sauder Concert Hall, Goshen College, Indiana.

Compositional Technique

Fifteenth-century carols typically feature an opening and recurring refrain, called a 'burden,' sung by the chorus, alternating with stanzas sung by soloists.

Compositional Technique

Some carols on this album, like "Nowel syng we" and "Alma redemptoris mater," are simple and sonorous with rich triadic English harmonies, a style known as contenance angloise.

Album & Artwork

The album's title, "The Cherry Tree," refers to a miracle ballad where Jesus, from within Mary's womb, makes a cherry tree bend its branches to offer fruit to his mother.

Performer Biography

Anonymous 4, the vocal ensemble on this album, is known for their 'unearthly vocal blend' and 'virtuosic ensemble singing,' combining historical scholarship with contemporary performance intuition.

Historical Context

Anglo-American sacred and secular music, including "The Cherry Tree Carol," was brought to the New World by early American colonists through oral tradition.