Amazon.com This follow-up to Anonymous 4's debut "hit," An English Ladymass, is even better. From the choice of repertoire to the proficiency of the singing to the recorded sound, this is a standard-setting production. The 23 works--plainchants, carols, songs, and motets--invoke various aspects of the Christmas story: the visitation of the angel Gabriel, tributes to the Virgin Mary, gifts of the Magi, and hymns of praise for the birth of Christ. The sound is stunning: resonant yet intimate, warm yet vibrant. And while you can hear the individual character of each voice, together these four women make a sound of uncommon purity and beauty. The technical facility is evident with each closing phrase, each perfect unison. Critics are advised to jealously reserve such words as outstanding, excellent, and superior. But this is one of those recordings that deserve all those descriptions. --David Vernier Product description On Yoolis Night (Medieval Carols & Motets) - Anonymous 4 / Harmonia Mundi Audio CD 2003 / HMU 907099 UPC 093046709921 /// Anonymous 4 was an American female a cappella quartet, founded in 1986 and based in New York City. Their main performance genre was medieval music, although later they also premiered works by recent composers such as John Tavener and Steve Reich. The name of the group is a pun on the name used to refer to an anonymous English music theorist of the late 13th century, Anonymous IV, who is the principal source on the two famous composers of the Notre Dame school, Léonin and Pérotin. Anonymous 4 performed in cities throughout North America, and were regulars at major international festivals. The 2003–2004 season was their last as a full-time recording and touring ensemble, but they continued to tour and make recordings while pursuing individual projects. The group collaborated with the Chilingirian Quartet on their 2003 album Darkness Into Light and The Mountain Goats on their 2012 album Transcendental Youth as well as with Christopher Tin in 2009 on his album Calling All Dawns, and in 2014 on The Drop That Contained the Sea. The CD 1865, which features songs from the Civil War with Bruce Molsky on guitar, fiddle, banjo, and vocals was their final recording. The ensemble disbanded at the end of the 2015–2016 season. /// Label: Harmonia Mundi – HMU 907099 Format: CD, Album Country: Germany Released: 2003 Genre: Classical Style: Medieval /// Tracklist: 1 Hodie Christus Natus Est 1:05 2 O Nobilis Nativitas/O Mira Dei/O Decus Virgineum/Apparuit 0:47 3 Lux De Luce 0:30 4 Alleluya: A Nywe Werke 5:43 5 Verbum Supernum Prodiens 2:18 6 Balaam De Quo Vaticinans 2:33 7 Ave Maria 2:39 8 Gabriel, Fram Heven-King 3:55 9 Lullay: I Saw A Swete Semly Syght 2:53 10 Prolis Eterne Genitor/Psallat Mater Gracie/[Pes] 2:28 11 Vox Clara, Ecce, Intonat 3:08 12 De Supernis Sedibus 2:14 13 Omnes De Saba 0:38 14 Puellare Gremium/Purissima Mater/[Pes] 1:33 15 Lullay, Lullay: Als I Lay On Yoolis Night 8:02 16 Tria Sunt Munera 3:27 17 Orto Sole Serene/Origo Viri/Virga Lesse/[Tenor] 2:02 18 Peperit Virgo 4:20 19 Ecce Quod Natura 4:14 20 A Solis Ortus Cardine 3:47 21 Ther Is No Rose Of Swych Vertu 3:38 22 Videntes Stellam 0:32 23 Nowel: Owt Of Your Slepe Aryse 4:50 Artwork By [Booklet Layout And Design] – Dennis Bade Edited By – Paul F. Witt Engineer – Brad Michel Executive Producer – Robina G. Young, ISBN13: B0000007DY ISBN10: B0000007DY Material Type: audioCDAmazon.com This follow-up to Anonymous 4's debut "hit," An English Ladymass, is even better. From the choice of repertoire to the proficiency of the singing to the recorded sound, this is a standard-setting production. The 23 works--plainchants, carols, songs, and motets--invoke various aspects of the Christmas story: the visitation of the angel Gabriel, tributes to the Virgin Mary, gifts of the Magi, and hymns of praise for the birth of Christ. The sound is stunning: resonant yet intimate, warm yet vibrant. And while you can hear the individual character of each voice, together these four women make a sound of uncommon purity and beauty. The technical facility is evident with each closing phrase, each perfect unison. Critics are advised to jealously reserve such words as outstanding, excellent, and superior. But this is one of those recordings that deserve all those descriptions. --David Vernier Product description On Yoolis Night (Medieval Carols & Motets) - Anonymous 4 / Harmonia Mundi Audio CD 2003 / HMU 907099 UPC 093046709921 /// Anonymous 4 was an American female a cappella quartet, founded in 1986 and based in New York City. Their main performance genre was medieval music, although later they also premiered works by recent composers such as John Tavener and Steve Reich. The name of the group is a pun on the name used to refer to an anonymous English music theorist of the late 13th century, Anonymous IV, who is the principal source on the two famous composers of the Notre Dame school, Léonin and Pérotin. Anonymous 4 performed in cities throughout North America, and were regulars at major international festivals. The 2003–2004 season was their last as a full-time recording and touring ensemble, but they continued to tour and make recordings while pursuing individual projects. The group collaborated with the Chilingirian Quartet on their 2003 album Darkness Into Light and The Mountain Goats on their 2012 album Transcendental Youth as well as with Christopher Tin in 2009 on his album Calling All Dawns, and in 2014 on The Drop That Contained the Sea. The CD 1865, which features songs from the Civil War with Bruce Molsky on guitar, fiddle, banjo, and vocals was their final recording. The ensemble disbanded at the end of the 2015–2016 season. /// Label: Harmonia Mundi – HMU 907099 Format: CD, Album Country: Germany Released: 2003 Genre: Classical Style: Medieval /// Tracklist: 1 Hodie Christus Natus Est 1:05 2 O Nobilis Nativitas/O Mira Dei/O Decus Virgineum/Apparuit 0:47 3 Lux De Luce 0:30 4 Alleluya: A Nywe Werke 5:43 5 Verbum Supernum Prodiens 2:18 6 Balaam De Quo Vaticinans 2:33 7 Ave Maria 2:39 8 Gabriel, Fram Heven-King 3:55 9 Lullay: I Saw A Swete Semly Syght 2:53 10 Prolis Eterne Genitor/Psallat Mater Gracie/[Pes] 2:28 11 Vox Clara, Ecce, Intonat 3:08 12 De Supernis Sedibus 2:14 13 Omnes De Saba 0:38 14 Puellare Gremium/Purissima Mater/[Pes] 1:33 15 Lullay, Lullay: Als I Lay On Yoolis Night 8:02 16 Tria Sunt Munera 3:27 17 Orto Sole Serene/Origo Viri/Virga Lesse/[Tenor] 2:02 18 Peperit Virgo 4:20 19 Ecce Quod Natura 4:14 20 A Solis Ortus Cardine 3:47 21 Ther Is No Rose Of Swych Vertu 3:38 22 Videntes Stellam 0:32 23 Nowel: Owt Of Your Slepe Aryse 4:50 Artwork By [Booklet Layout And Design] – Dennis Bade Edited By – Paul F. Witt Engineer – Brad Michel Executive Producer – Robina G. Young, ISBN13: B0000007DY ISBN10: B0000007DY Material Type: audioCD , ISBN13: B0000007DY ISBN10: B0000007DY Material Type: audioCD