Muzikland

轉眼之間﹐耶誕又到了﹐早在數星期前﹐一些朋友的 Blog也紛紛換上了耶誕的背景﹐或是談論著耶誕禮物的事情﹐於是筆者也來談一談一些多年來購下的耶誕歌曲唱片。

筆者自小已是基督徒﹐雖然後來返教會時知道﹐聖誕節不是耶穌基督真實的降生日子﹐但是似乎無論有沒有信仰的人都會喜愛來歡渡這個普世歡騰的日子。

要談論耶誕歌曲實在很多﹐古典的或是現代的﹐都數之不盡。多年前筆者參加一個Choir便曾一起練唱這首 Oh Holy Night﹐筆者覺得那旋律實在太優美﹐不過那一年的報佳音獻唱﹐因指揮太偏坦某些愛將﹐不顧水準而選用他們作主音合唱﹐然而他們走音得厲害﹐致使站在後排合唱團的筆者為之汗顏﹐那一次之後筆者也就離開了Choir。

Oh Holy Night 原是法國音樂家Adolphe Charles Adam (1803-1856) 的作品。Adam生於法國巴黎﹐父親是鋼琴家﹑音樂教師及作曲家﹐故自小已深受音樂薰陶。他的Christmas Carol 名作"Cantique de Noël"﹐翻成英語就是我們熟悉的“O Holy Night”。


O Holy Night
(Adolphe Adam)

O Holy Night
The stars are brightly shining it is the night of our dear saviors birth

Long lay the world in sin and error pining
'til he appeared and the soul felt it's worth

The thrill of hope the weary world rejoices
for yonder breaks a new and glorious morn
oh fall on your knees
oh hear the angel voices!
oh night divine
oh night when Christ was born

oh holy night
oh night divine
oh holy night
oh night divine

Truly He taught us to love one another
His law is love, and his gospel is peace;
Chains shall he break for the slave is our brother,
and in His name all oppression shall cease.

Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
let all within us praise His Holy name;

Christ is the Lord,
Oh, praise His name forever!
His Pow'r and glory ever more proclaim!
His Pow'r and glory ever more proclaim!

筆者擁有此曲是收錄自一張1996年DGG發行的“The Classic Christmas Album ” 合輯﹐當中包括當年寶麗金旗下 Decca ﹑Philips ﹑DGG及Polydor各位名演奏家/演唱家多年來的錄音。Oh Holy Night就取自 Luciano Pavarotti於1976 Decca的錄音。

曲目﹕
01. Sinfonies de Fanfare: Rondeau
02. O Holy Night (Minuit chretien)
03. The Nutcracker: March
04. O Tannenbaum
05. Die Schlittenfahrt
06. White Christmas
07. Jesus bleibet meine Freude
08. Ave Maria
09. Meditation
10. El Nacimiento
11. Judas Maccabaeus: See, The Conquering Hero Comes
12. Chorale From Cantata BWV 147: Jesus bleibet meine Freude
13. Requiem: Pie Jesu
14. Concerto Fatto per la notte di Natale: Concerto Fatto per la notte di Natale - Adagio
15. The Three Kings: Die Konige
16. Silent Night
17. Ave Maria
18. Dance Of The Reedpipes
19. Magic Is The Moonlight
20. Geistiches Wiegenlied
21. Messiah: Hallelujah

另一張也是DGG的出品﹐1970年的發行﹐由Arthur Fiedler指揮 Boston Pops Orchestra演奏耶誕曲目達11首。

01. A Christmas Festival: Joy To The World; Deck The Halls; God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman; Good King Wenceslas; Hark! The Herald Angels Sing; The First Noel; Silent Night; Jingle Bells; O Come, All Ye Faithful
02. Cantata BWV 147 'Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben': Jesu, Joy Of Man's Desiring
03. Christmas Oratorio: Shepherds' Music
04. Messiah: 'Hallelujah' Chorus
05. Cantata BWV 208 'Hunting Cantata': Sheep May Safely Graze
06. Sleighride
07. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
08. Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer
09. The Nutcracker: Waltz Of The Flowers
10. Musical Sleighride
11. White Christmas





耶穌基督降生的事﹑記在下面。他母親馬利亞已經許配了約瑟﹑還沒有迎娶﹑馬利亞就從聖靈懷了孕。他丈夫約瑟是個義人﹑不願意明明的羞辱他﹑想要暗暗的把他休了。
-- 聖經