Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #16374 in DVD
• Released on: 2008-12-01
• Rating: Exempt
• Format: PAL
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 46 minutes

Synopsis
From Bethlehem to Jerusalem, Rome to London, Aled Jones goes in search of the people, places and fascinating stories behind Britain’s best loved carols. Part-road trip in the footsteps of Titchmarsh and Dimbleby, part-musical history lesson in the style of Rock Family Trees, Aled's Christmas Carols is an entertaining and enlightening journey into our musical heritage and the spiritual heart of the country. Inter-cut through the film will be a concert performance by Aled where he sings the carols before exploring the stories behind the lyrics and melody of each. Aled will explore the history behind some of the most sung carols of all time, meeting istorians, musicians, priests and experts who will reveal the stories behind the tunes we all love to sing at Christmas. The carols features include: 'Once in Royal David’s City', 'Away in a Manger', 'O Little Town of Bethlehem', 'O Come All Ye Faithful', 'Silent Night' and more.

Customer Reviews

The Ultimate `must have' Christmas Carols DVD
Aled Jones travels to far distant places around the world, to source the origins of some of our favourite Christmas Carols. Interspersed at strategic points within the documentary are vocal performances by Aled himself, Libera and The Adventist Vocal Ensemble.

The venue (St Bartholomew the Great, City of London) provides a dramatic backdrop and sets an authentic stage for the carols. The lighting, production and filming was of an exceptional standard. The behind the Scenes extra revealed over 2,500 candles were lit; most of these guided an atmospheric walkway the length of the floor for the Libera boys to walk down towards the high altar as they were singing holding candles of their own.

A particular delight for me was the inclusion of the world-renowned boys choir Libera, who got to perform two carols (Gaudete and While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks by Night) on their own. Liam (Connery) performed a stunning solo opening to `Gaudete'; Josh (Madine) a sweet and angelic solo beginning too `Once in Royal David's City', and Ben (Philipp) was confident and faultless with his solo contribution during `While Shepherds Watched their Flocks by Night'.

Libera also assisted Aled on most of his carols, and the collaboration of Aled's strong tenor voice with the ethereal treble voices of the choir worked like a dream. The inclusion of the full choir added further weight to the soaring harmonies and spine tingling descants as most of the carols reached their climatic conclusion.

The Adventist Vocal Ensemble gave an uplifting and unique rendition of Mary's Boy Child. I will be sure to find more about them in the future.

All in all a thoroughly enjoyable and feel good factor festive music DVD, that would stand proud at the front of anyone's Christmas music collection.

Highly recommended
This is the perfect video for Christmas. Aled Jones accompanied by the wondefully talented and refreshing boys choir, Libera, sing their way through a selection of Christmas Carols while Aled also takes us around many of the locations behind the songs. It's Festive, it's informative, it's entertaining and it's fun. Put your feet up, slip this into the DVD player and enjoy a taste of the real Spirit of Christmas.

This DVD delivers what it promises, and more.

Beautiful bargain
This DVD is a bargain for any Libera fan. Not only do they get to enjoy the talents of Aled, and the beautiful scenes across the world but they see a lot of the work of Libera and the behind the scenes bit shows you the fidgety, natural reality of these talented boys.