This Christmastide (Jessye's Carol), featuring Jamie Barton | Atlanta Master Chorale

Atlanta Master Chorale performed "This Christmastide (Jessye's Carol)" by Donald Fraser at our "Christmas with Atlanta Master Chorale" concert on December 14, 2013 at the Schwartz Center for Performing Arts on the campus of Emory University in Atlanta, GA.
The performance features guest artist, Jamie Barton (www.jamiebartonmezzo.com).
Conductor: Dr. Eric Nelson | Accompanist: Deborah Thoreson Slover
Publication Credit: This Christmastide | Donald Fraser | 1988 Hinshaw Music, Inc.
www.AtlantaMasterChorale.org
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[@allenjones3130]

Originally written for and first performed by the late opera star Jessye Norman. One of the most beautiful sacred Christmas carols ever written.

[@baritonebynight]

I think Ms. Norman would approve.

[@janemcculloch1164]

I wrote the words of this carol for Jessye. I hadn't heard this version. Lovely.

[@chismtrail]

Thank you, thank you, thank you. I love this carol. Beautiful words! Merry Christmas, Ms. Mcculloch.

[@AJLD1]

This is one of my Favorite Christmas Carols. Thank you Jane for blessing us with such an amazing gift!

[@kimlevesque6103]

Now my favorite Christmas Carol after hearing it this year at Midnight Mass❤

[@musicfcboston674]

One of the few "voices" today. Musicianship, beauty of sound and solid technique. Thank you, Jamie Barton and the always wonderful Atlanta Master Chorale, under the always solid and beautiful direction of Eric Nelson.

[@zacharylavender1568]

Ms. Barton has a lovely rich tone!

[@vocalfan2397]

Stunning! Written for the great Jessye Norman- she is sadly missed. Jaimie is amazing here!!! Thank you for posting!

[@BiglyFakeNews562]

I had never heard anyone but Jessye Norman sing this! So glad this wonderful song won’t be forgotten. What a treat - thank you 🙏

[@65NART]

Glad I found this on here. Sheer and utter joy.

[@lmc7570]

Absolutely Fantastic !!

[@jillwaters2912]

I watched Jessye Norman sing this and, quite unexpectedly, there were major tears rolling down my face.

[@Human_folly]

This woman sings so wonderfully!!

[@mikemmikem2758]

Magnificent. Solo was mesmerizing. Listened to it 8 times.

[@Jeremy-eu9em]

Glad to see this still posted. Absolutely brilliant!

[@ulfleuker]

Jessye Norman looks with love on Jamie Barton

[@theartstraveler]

That was lovely. I would love to hear Ms. Barton tackle Dido in Les Troyens.

[@nathanswanson1040]

Lovely performance. It is good to see that Jessye’s Carol is still being performed; even if in a different arrangement. If you haven’t heard the original version with Jessye Norman and treble chorus please take the time to give it a listen. It’s stunning and quite a lot more elaborate than the simplified version of the solo part presented here by Jamie Barton (who is wonderful!) This arrangement never went as high or had the rapid ornamental runs that are present in Ms. Norman’s original version of the song. Wisely I think the arranger here chose to highlight the beautiful lower part of the original solo line and cut out many of high vocal fireworks to suit what vocally possible by a living singer. I don’t believe any other singer other than Norman could sing the original version which has both the rich beautiful low and slow melody of the opening suitable for a mezzo or contralto and then high tessitura roulades befitting a Verdi soprano. Those high vocal runs are completely missing in this arrangement. So if you haven’t heard it, give it a listen.

[@craigjohnson4809]

Absolutely beautiful song and performance. ❤

[@MarthalieThurstonSachemPiper]

Beautiful composition and arrangement. Thank you for your music 🎶

[@melloyellow5598]

💜