Reviewed by Tony Cummings

It's easy to engage in a kind of cultural snobbery when viewing the decades' long work of the All Souls Orchestra. This ensemble of symphonians allied to London's world-famous Anglican church in London's West End clearly aren't and have never claimed to be of the same standard as those professional orchestras from London, Philadelphia, Berlin or wherever. Consequently, this instrumental set of carols and Christmas songs won't impress classical music devotees whose CD collections abound with the great orchestras. But All Souls Orchestra's leader Noel Tredinnick has gathered around him musicians who play with an airy confidence and the arrangements of such well-worn carols as "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen", "Ding Dong Merrily On High", "Joy To The World", etc in the "Festival Of Carols" medley are particularly appealing (though personally I could have done without "I Wish You A Merry Christmas" which was squeezed in). Also, their rendition of Engelbert Humperdinck's "Overture To Hansel & Gretel" and Stuart Townend's "From The Squalor Of A Borrowed Stable" show the ASO can handle more difficult and less predictable Christmas fare. All in all, this is a pleasant enough album, if you're a regular attendee of Prom Praise or simply want your Christmas songs played on violins, violas and cellos rather than electric guitars, drums and synths.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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