Nativity 3

This cd is a reissue of the 1991 Gramophone Award winner for best baroque instrumental. The work consists of fifteen meditations on the mysteries of the rosary, plus a passacaglia for solo violin. Biber's reputation for technical innovation and virtuosity is fully in evidence here. The suites include programmatic elements, variously imitating such effects as the rustle of an angel's wings and the scourging of Christ. Only Sonata I and the passacaglia use a conventionally tuned violin; the remaining fourteen sonatas use scordatura tuning with extraordinarily resonant results.

Ozzy Osbourne, Bruce Dickinson, Sepultura, Megadeth, Type O Negative, Cathedral and more heavy bands playing tribute to Black Sabbath …

In a contemporary adaptation of Langston Hughes' celebrated play, the holiday musical drama BLACK NATIVITY follows Langston (Jacob Latimore), a street-wise teen from Baltimore raised by a single mother, as he journeys to New York City to spend the Christmas holiday with his estranged relatives Reverend Cornell and Aretha Cobbs (Forest Whitaker and Angela Bassett). Unwilling to live by the imposing Reverend Cobbs' rules, a frustrated Langston is determined to return home to his mother, Naima (Jennifer Hudson). Langston embarks on a surprising and inspirational journey and along with his new friends, and a little divine intervention, he discovers the true meaning of faith, healing, and family.

The Sixteen contrasts the dramatic intensity of music by some of today’s most admired composers with such traditional and modern carols as Boris Ord’s Adam lay ybounden and Henry Walford Davies’ version of O little town of Bethlehem. Much-loved modern classics including John Rutter’s There is a flower, Morten Lauridsen’s O magnum mysterium and James MacMillan’s O radiant dawn also appear on this beautiful album and there are many others which, in the course of time, will also become classics; every one of them by their unashamed simplicity, captures the joy and sincerity of this most wonderful of seasons. This album provides a perfect peaceful and uplifting antidote to the hectic pre-Christmas rush.