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JOY: carols and songs
Original songs and inspired new arrangements of traditional and ancient carols for the season for guitar solo.
Frank Wallace, composer/guitarist
Released October 2007
Classical guitar by Ignacio Fleta, 1964
COMPANION BOOK
All compositions* and arrangements by Frank Wallace [ASCAP]. The complete companion book is available here, with link to download free sample PDF of six songs. Download MP3 of O Holy Night.
Click here for STOCKING STUFFER SPECIALS Buy 5 JOYs for $55; all 3 Wallace guitar CDs for $36; and more!
Frank Wallace's new solo guitar CD of Christmas music is receiving rave reviews. Fanfare magazine says, "…a beautiful collection of Christmas music from across the centuries, played, composed, and arranged by Frank Wallace…a true master of his instrument…His dynamic range is impressive, and his gradations of tone, constantly singing line, and sensitive musicianship confirm his “elegant virtuosity” (www.classicstoday.com)…a CD that should be heard by “serious” listeners who will give it the time and appreciation it deserves. [Robert Schulslaper, Fanfare, Nov/Dec 2008] ChristmasReviews.com writes, “Frank Wallace and his JOY deserve a standing ovation. The classical guitar's gently expressive voice has never been more alive than in Wallace's capable hands. Bravo!”
--Carol Swanson, Christmasreviews.com [read the entire review]
(Reviewed in 2007)
To hear more samples or purchase digital downloads go to
"Man, this is drop-dead brilliant stuff! Heartiest congrats on a gorgeous job! You have recorded what is now my very favorite holiday CD."
many thanks,
Tom Ball, www.tomball.us
Sound Samples & Track Listing
01  Joy to the World 2:07
02 The First Noel 1:35
03 Silent Night 2:28
04 Sing We to this Merry Company 1:42
05 There is no Rose 2:04
06 O Come Emmanuel 3:15
07 Les Pasteurs de la Judea 1:02
08 Beata Progenies 2:37
09 God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen 1:47
10 Star in the East 2:37
11 A Shining* 1:41
12 Cuando el Rey Nimrod 2:46
13 A los Maytines . Aro que Nostre 2:34
14 March* 1:56
15 Greensleeves 2:58
16 Coventry Carol 3:44
17 Medley: Noel Nouvelet, Master in This Hall, Amb un Viudo, Stella Splendens 4:54
18 Medley [cont.] On This Day, Carillon*, Dawn of the Doves*
4:33
19 Away in a Manger 2:05
20 O Holy Night 2:38
21 J'ai Ouy la Voix, Santa María Strella do Dia 4:07
22 Venite a Laudare, Per Nadal Farem Gran Festa 3:53
Total time 59:03
NOTES
One of my fondest memories of childhood in California is the Christmas Eve service at our stucco church. We arrived at 11:00pm to miraculous blazing sentinels that stood guard all around the top of the flat-topped building and lined the stairs and benches of the patio. Each of these warm luminarias was nothing but a paper lunch bag with sand and a candle. We would sing carols outside carryied more candles as we exited the service at midnight.
Those lights had been all but extinguished by time until some mysterious match rekindled their memory in a new form last November. My annual search for better arrangements of carols became a creative marathon. I spent two months exploring many old carols and writing new ones. Each piece came to me practically in the order you hear here and created a progression of keys, moods and textures that speak of the joy and solitude of winter and the hope of re-birth that the season brings to us.
I have chosen music from my childhood, my favorite songs sung on those nights of light, as well as medieval songs to Mary, renaissance part songs, French, Sephardic, English and Catalan folk songs. The story unfolded with little effort on my part. Simple Joys…and may peace reign at last, at long last.
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