Noël

• Artist: Joan Baez
• Rating:
• Release Date: 1966
• Type: Christmas
• Genre: Folk

Review

When Joan Baez began recording and performing during the late '50s and early '60s, she carved out a niche for herself as a remarkable singer of traditional music. In 1966 she released Noël, an album of seasonal songs notable for its variety and the fact that she sung two selections in German. One would expect to see "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel" and "Deck the Halls," but Baez adds lesser-known gems like "Ave Maria" and "Coventry Carol," along with instrumental versions of "Bring a Torch, Jeannette, Isabella" and "Adeste Fideles." The arrangements, while not unusual for a holiday album, were something new for a Baez album. Lutes, violas, harpsichord, strings, and wind instruments provide a classical setting for Baez's lovely soprano. In this setting, her voice becomes more formal and mannered. The 2001 reissue of Noël also includes several bonus tracks, including a French version of "Away in a Manger." Baez's fans will probably be split on the quality of the album. Fans of her early traditional albums will find these arrangements and stylized vocals miles away from folk music; fans of Baez's pure soprano who never concerned themselves with genre purity will find Noël a must-have album for the holidays. ~ Ronnie D. Lankford, Jr., All Music Guide

Tracks

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel	John M. Neale, Traditional	Joan Baez	(3:05)
Coventry Carol	Traditional	Joan Baez	(2:00)
Good King Wenceslas	John M. Neale	Joan Baez	(:27)
The Little Drummer Boy	Harry Simeone, Katherine Davis, Henry Onorati	Joan Baez	(3:08)
I Wonder as I Wander	John Jacob Niles	Joan Baez	(3:55)
Bring a Torch, Jeannette, Isabella	Traditional	Joan Baez	(:38)
Down in Yon Forest	Traditional	Joan Baez	(1:42)
The Carol of the Birds	Traditional	Joan Baez	(3:31)
Angels We Have Heard on High	Traditional	Joan Baez	(1:23)
Ave Maria (Sung in German)	Franz Schubert	Joan Baez	(4:09)
Mary's Wandering	Traditional	Joan Baez	(3:18)
Deck the Halls	Traditional	Joan Baez	(:23)
Away in a Manger (Lyrics)	Traditional	Joan Baez	(1:59)
Adeste Fidelis	Traditional	Joan Baez	(:51)
Cantique de Noël (Oh Holy Night, Sung in German)	Adolphe Adam	Joan Baez	(3:50)
What Child Is This?	Traditional, William Chatterton Dix	Joan Baez	(2:29)
Silent Night (Lyrics)	Franz Xaver Gruber, Joseph Mohr	Joan Baez	(2:30)

Credits

Joan Baez (Guitar), Joan Baez (Vocals), Georgette Cartwright (?), Marshall Fallwell (Photography), Norman Moore (Design), Peter Schickele (Arranger), Joan Baez (Liner Notes), Captain Jeff Zaraya (Engineer), Peter Schickele (Liner Notes), Norman Moore (Art Direction), Peter Schickele (Conductor), Peter Schickele (Orchestration), Joan Baez (Original Liner Notes), Jules Halfant (Art Direction)

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