Favorite Christmas Music

Yesterday, Darwin Catholic had a post listing some of Darwin's favorite Christmas recordings.

My tastes in Christmas music are very similar to Darwin's. I favor medieval and renaissance Christmas music (both ecclesiastical and folk), with a preference for the musical traditions of the British Isles. Here are several of my favorite Christmas recordings, which I strongly recommend:

"The Christmas Revels" collection *

"The Earliest Songbook in England" by Gothic Voices

"Tydings Trew" by Lionheart ***

"Now Make We Merthe" by The Purcell Consort of Voices

"Thys Yool - A Mediaeval Christmas" by the Martin Best Ensemble

"Wolcum Yule" by Anonymous 4

"On Yoolis Night: Medieval Carols & Motets" by Anonymous 4 ***

"Bright Day Star: Music for the Yuletide Seasons" by The Baltimore Consort ***

"A Waverly Consort Christmas - Christmas from East Anglia to Appalachia" by The Waverly Consort *

"Sing We Noel" by The Boston Camerata

"A Medieval Christmas" by The Boston Camerata

"A Renaissance Christmas" by The Boston Camerata

"A Baroque Christmas" by The Boston Camerata

"An American Christmas" by The Boston Camerata *

"Christmas Day in the Morning" by The Cambridge Singers

"The Bells of Dublin" by The Chieftains *

"A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols" by the Choir of King's College, Cambridge

"Christmas With the Tallis Scholars" by the Tallis Scholars ***

Vivaldi's "Gloria" by Robert Shaw & the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra & Chorus

And, for sentimental reasons, because I grew up listening to these:

"A Charlie Brown Christmas" by Vince Guaraldi

"The Christmas Song" by Nat King Cole

"Christmas With Conniff" by The Ray Conniff Singers

* Highly Recommended (you really should get these)
*** Very Highly Recommended (must buy)