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Storybook Advent Carols
Collection
Volume Two:
British Christmas
Classics
Also See Volume I: American
Favorites
Storybook Advent Carols Collections are performed as piano solos
by veteran British musician, composer and songwriter
Michael
Brech.
Purchase through iTunes |
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Available in CD or Digital
Download
Text
StoryBookAdvent
to
69937
(MYXER) to access the singles and ringtones via your mobile
phone.
Storybook Advent
Carols Collection includes two albums with 20 classic carols
each and a third album, the
Ultimate Carols Collection, which is a compilation of
thirty
of the forty songs featured.
The first volume covers North America's favorite carols
played in the classic American tradition. The second
features European favorites played in the European tradition.
Included with the purchase of either album is the complete
downloadable and printable Storybook Advent Carols Collection
Songbook with all the lyrics, (including foreign language lyrics
to selected carols) to the carols on both albums.
Plus, the
history of each carol and a pictorial journey of the Christian
locations and lifestyles in the Holy Land (Volume One) and
Southern England (Volume Two) is included.
About the Carols Collection
from musician, composer and artist
Michael Brech
"There is something about Christmas
Carols that evokes a completely different feeling and
emotion to other music. They stir up waves of nostalgia
and happiness, and instil a sense of peace and goodwill
that comes with the season. In studies, it has been
found that the Mozart Effect makes children more
intelligent, perhaps we should play Christmas Carols
every day to make the world a better place.
When I came to arranging the carols, I
wanted to play them in such a way that they could be
used in a variety of settings: to be able to sing to
them, to be able to sit down and listen to them or to
have them as soft background music. So, they couldn’t be
too busy, couldn’t be too simple and couldn’t be too
intrusive. |
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FEATURING
As with Gladness
Men of Old
Away in a Manger (Murray)
Boars Head Carol
Bring a Torch, Jeanette Isabella
Coventry Carol
Gaudete
Good Christian Men, Rejoice
In Dulci Jubilo
Infant Holy, Infant Lowly
In the Bleak Midwinter
It Came Upon the Midnight Clear
Joy to the World
O Little Town of Bethlehem
Once in Royal David’s City
Patapan
Snowy Flakes are Falling Softly
Sussex Carol
The Brightest and the Best of the Sons of the
Morning
The Holly and the
Ivy
We Wish You a Merry Christmas
While Shepherds Their Flocks by Night Watch
Zither Carol |
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There was also the imagery to bring across, as
many carols paint pictures in the mind. My experience in writing
for film and stage paid off in this sense.
I needed to capture the essence of the carols,
the message and meaning in each one, as well as consider
variations on the tunes. Some have many verses, and to play a
verse the same over and over may make for good singing but not
necessarily good listening. This all involves the moving of the
tune though the octaves and crossing of hands and other little
tricks of playing. I was asked if I had double-tracked the
recordings, but no, they were all played straight.
Then there was the challenge of making them sound
contemporary but keep a feel of their origin, and with the ages
of the carols spanning over many centuries, I needed to keep
within the boundary of their style, be it Gregorian,
Elizabethan, Victorian, but combine soft jazz with them, or a
certain style of playing, to bring them ‘up-to-date’.
It was an exciting challenge to record forty
carols. Even trying to name forty carols is a feat in itself, so
I had to research to make up the quantity. For Volume 1, my
partner in creating Storybook Advent Laura D. Lewis played a
large part in putting together the list since I wasn’t that
aware of the carols that are popular in America, and it is
surprising how different they are from English traditional
carols.
Michael Brech, the artist on the
Storybook Advent Carols Collections. |
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For Volume 2, I concentrated
on English and European carols. Discovering
carols from France, such as Patapan and Bring a
Torch, Jeannette, Isabella, was a delight, as
well as finding a very overlooked English carol,
Brightest and Best of the Sons of the Morning.
In my opinion, this carol is every bit as
beautiful as Oh Holy Night on Volume 1. Again, a
carol that is very popular in America, but
hardly known in England.
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For the one American carol on
Volume 2, Away in a Manger, there was the
thought of swapping with the version on Volume
1, the Murray composition being more popular in
America, but it is becoming widespread in
England and I felt that it introduced something
just a little different to the ‘English’ version
of the Storybook Advent Carols. Not only that,
but also the Kirkpatrick version fits so
perfectly on Volume 1 and delivers a touching,
emotional moment. |
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I am certain you will enjoy these carols as much
as I have enjoyed arranging and performing them, and that they
will bring a gentle warmth to your Christmas."
Michael Brech |
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“MY
GRAND DAUGHTER LOVED THE STORIES AND
I CAN’T STOP LISTENING TO THE CAROLS”
“I just love the concept and the execution. My
grand daughter loved the stories and I can’t
stop listening to the carols. You deserve every
success.”
Cliff Lague, Spain
About
Volume TWO
View Playlist
Brech's arrangement and performance captures the essence
of each carol - whether it be joy or sadness, contemplation or
open hallelujah. The arrangements are inventive and witty, from
the trotting horse in Jingle Bells, the fife and drum of
Patapan, the tears of the Coventry Carol to the mayhem of gifts
in the Twelve Days of Christmas. His warm,
inimitable style is a blend of classical,
baroque and soft jazz, not easy to imagine but,
once heard, never forgotten.
Volume Two includes carols
played in the British or European tradition.
Most people are surprised to discover that many
of their favorite carols are played differently
just over the pond. This is one of the unique
features of Storybook Advent Carols Collection.
Through both CDs, you'll be able to dramatically
increase your Christmas music collection and
discover new versions of some of your favorite
songs.
"I
saved the music, lyrics and CD covers to my desktop. I
think you did a really great job with this. They are
awesome! I also read the Memo: from God. Wow – nicely
done and very uplifting."
--John Day,
Los Angeles, California USA
Both collections
are available as physical CDs or MP3 downloads
you can play on an iPod, iPhone, Smartphone, Mp3
player and most CD players. A classic
black and white printable
PDF version of the
Caroling book is free with your purchase of
either album. However you can purchase it as
well as a full color or black and white
paperback, or in color versions for iPad, Nook,
Kindle, Sony Reader and most other popular
e-readers as well.
"Simplicity at its
best"
"Just gone through carols and they are great,--simplicity at its
best. All that is needed for a sing along to bring out the
spirit of Christmas cheer. Well done to all involved."
Jeremy Allard,
Lyricist, London, England
As a thank you gift for purchasing your albums
directly through us, we're adding in the
exclusive Memo From God. This amazing
essay will will provide you and your family the
comfort, strength and hope that only scripture
when applied to real life can deliver. The
Memo from God is our free gift to you
whether you purchase just a single of one of the
songs or the entire Storybook Advent Package.
We're so sure you'll be
delighted with your Storybook Advent Calendar and
the Carols
Collection, both come with a 60-day money back
guarantee!
To review each of the
packages available,
Click here |
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Each album purchase includes a
FREE Songbook and our
exclusive Memo from God!
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American Christmas Classics
Preview
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Storybook Advent Carols
Collection Volume Two gives you 20 more
Classic Christmas Carols played in the
European Tradition.
More Info
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Free
Songbook
with purchase of either Storybook Advent Carols
Collection
Preview
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Each Storybook Advent
Carols Collection purchase includes the
exclusive Storybook Advent Carols
Collection Songbook as a black & white
Digital Download that can be printed on
your home printer or....More
Info
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Preview
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You can purchase the
Caroling Songbook as a paperback in
Classic Black & White or Full color.
More Info
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Each of the songs
featured in both collections is also
available as a single for 99cents each.
Check them out!
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FREE GIFT
with Purchase
Preview
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This amazing
fourteen page inspirational memo is your
free gift with any Storybook Advent
purchase. |
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NON-PROFITS & CORPORATE CLIENTS: For companies and
non-profits looking for fundraising or Christmas gifts
for clients, we also create custom CDs and Caroling
Books from the songs for your organization. Simply
contact us and we'll give you the details. Typical
turn-around is 2-4weeks.
Click links below to listen to each sample.
You'll need QuickTime, MS Media Player or an iPod
and speakers to hear.
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Singles are available
through
Amazon,
iTunes,
Myxer and other retailers.
Christmas Carol Ringtones for each of these carols
are also available through Myxer,
(non-Apple players).
Text
StoryBookAdvent
to
69937
(MYXER)
to access the singles and ringtones via your mobile
phone.
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