Best version of Carol of the Bells

From the "Best Xmas Tunes" thread, it seems lots of folks still tolerate the Carol of the Bells. I'm wondering what your favorite version is? I'm not sure I've found mine yet...

I'm also looking for a decent version of The Friendly Beasts if anyone has one they can recommend. :)

:shrug:

Which I already have. :)

.
.
.
Stick with it -- it kicks into gear about 40 seconds in.
.
.
.
And the video is pretty cool, too.
.
.
.
http://video.yahoo.com/watch/142870/1451710
.
.
.

Saw it for the first time last year. Thanks for posting it - I had forgotten about it.

Fun vids on YouTube 2 - thx

And new to me. Thx!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EEkIBp6QijQ


I think those recordings my mom had explain my love for medieval carols as well. :D

I love the TSO version but I have it and, to be honest, I'm a little over it. (I far prefer their "Mad Russian's Christmas".)

I love old-style (Medieval and Renaissance) choral music - especially boy's choirs - and your version here is both reminds me of that as well as the xmas music I loved as a kid. :) Thanks!

I'm more of a Ren/Medieval music person myself. To me, heaven was an Anonymous 4 concert we saw years ago, or Piffaro or Amahl (sp?)and the Night Visitors (saw a great version at the uni here a few years back), especially at Christmas.


Well, RSC is the first thing I thought of when you posted the OP, since that is the first version I ever heard.

:hi:

So many talented people here on DU. Thanks a bunch for making that a download file - it's been added to my iTunes xmas playlist.

Is that all you playing? That's amazing. Did you also write the arrangement?

My buds helped out with the drums, keys, xylophone, and EWI.

Glad you like it.

is there an album that goes along with it? Is that album available for purchase somewhere? I like to share files but I also like to give credit where it is due and support where it is warranted.

but this is a Southern Gospel men's quartet... notable only for the fact that the bass singer sings G1, three spaces below the bass staff, at the end of each chorus.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=swlk6OVSPxk

As for my favorite - I'll go with the classic Wilhousky arrangement - sung by a fantastic American College Choir: St. Olaf.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_LiccvcXdeI

Sorry, haven't gotten to the gospel choir yet, but listening to the St Olaf version. Love this stuff. Thanks a bunch! (I'll be checking iTunes for this version shortly.)

I did listen to the other version now - it's nice too. If you like bass, check out this version from Straight No Chaser. It's fun and the guys singing bass are fabulous. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aFUV4t8CllI

What a great group of guys...

I heard it at Disney Village of all places a couple of years ago. A high school choir from somewhere in the Midwest was about to perform a mini-concert when my family happened upon the little outdoor amphitheatre on our way to lunch so we grabbed seats. Even my three sons were enchanted. I don't think I've ever seen them sit so still, especially during the holiday season. It was a handbell and mixed voice choir and it was the last performance they were giving before their director retired. He did the arranging of the piece. What a loss to their school and the arts! I have never heard a version of Carol of the Bells done that spectacularly before or since, and I've sung it in a choir myself. It was just amazing. I think the entire audience was blown away.

As for recorded versions, I think it was the Straight No Chaser version I heard on the radio the other day. If so, that's the one I presently like the best. http://www.amazon.com/Holiday-Spirits-Straight-No-Chaser/dp/B001G0LBXS

I'm going to be searching for an "album" from a high school choir I remember myself shortly. A local high school made this album and it was just fantastic holiday music but, of course, I'll never find it now. (Should have bought it then, damn it.)

I link to the SNC version upthread. Love that version right now too. But I think I'm hoping to stumble upon a version like you describe that just knocks my socks off.

Thanks for sharing your story. :hi:

I think that's actually the standard.

Funny stuff.