Revels can't be easily pigeonholed. The group includes soloists, a mixed chorus, children's chorus, and four instrumental ensembles, and they are not only a musical group, but performers who stage full theatrical productions. Besides being an ensemble, Revels is a movement, which was founded in Cambridge, MA, and now has chapters in eight other American cities. The group's mission, broadly, is to "celebrate the seasons and cycles of human life through performance," fostering and preserving folk traditions of music, dance, and ritual from a variety of cultures, with particular emphasis on British and American cultures.
The performances by the Cambridge chapter recorded here are notable for their hearty high spirits -- the pleasure of the performers is infectious. The group represents amateur community music-making of the highest order. The program, which consists primarily of English and Scottish carols, ballads, and dances, is performed with musicality and verve. Each of the various choirs and ensembles performs on its own, and they combine forces in several pieces. The effect is not unlike that of a far-better-than-average performance at a madrigal dinner. The soloists have fine, pure voices; the choirs have the rough blend of a community chorus, but sing beautifully in tune; and the instrumental ensembles are of a professional quality. This would be a fun album for anyone looking for robust and spirited performances of Christmas music from the British Isles.
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