"O, du frohliche" is an undated collection of twelve traditional German Christmas carols. If you've listened to many German Christmas records, you'll find many of these familiar: "Kling, Glockchen, klingelingeling" and "Ihr, Kinderlein, kommet" will ring familiar, and of course "O Tannenbaum" and "Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht" are well known to us, regardless of language.
Each side begins and ends with the ringing of the Christmas celebration bells, and the music is very well done. A robust chorus is accompanied by minimal but essential instrumentation, especially the pipe organ leading in the vocalists on "O Tannenbaum". And I really dig the powerful organ on the title track.
An interesting thing about the record is that it came in a paper sleeve only, not the usual cardboardy album cover. The paper is slightly thicker than usual, but still different than the usual album covers.
So, here it is, for your listening pleasure, straight from the traditions of old Germany - "O, du frohliche".
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Thanks so much for this one, Herr Bingle. Although I don't speak German (and usually don't like the sound of it spoken or sung -- too guttural), I enjoy hearing old carols in that language. Just played this one, and it is really good.
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