Carols for Brass, Volume 2 - Galliard Brass Ensemble

Carols for Brass, Vol. 2 was submit­ted as part of a survey of audiophile Christmas recordings. Most of the recordings from other sources were unexceptional, but Carols for Brass, Volume 2 caught my ear immediate­ly. One side trumpets out your every­day stand-outside-the-window-with-­Bing-Crosby carols (Joy to the World, Deck the Halls, and so forth), but the other side is a surprisingly fascinating collection of lesser-known carols (in­cluding two by William Billings). Brass buzzes on this disc just like it does in small concert halls. There is a joyous, raspy blattering here that anyone who loves brass bands will recognize im­mediately. --Fanfare Magazine