“Hark!” Richard Stoltzman, clarinet; Eddie Gomez, bass;...

“Hark!” Richard Stoltzman, clarinet; Eddie Gomez, bass; Dave Samuels, percussion; Jeremy Wall, keyboards; Boys Choir of Harlem; others. RCA Victor 09026-61272-2. There is little new subject material in the 15 cuts here, but the arrangements are often inventive, and the performances pleasurably mellow and pointed. Stoltzman produces such prodigies of liquid, singing sound that voices seem almost superfluous, but the cool, controlled work of the Harlem Boys on four tracks still proves welcome. The varied, warmly recorded accompanying forces include the Guildhall String Ensemble and the Kalmen Opperman Clarinet Choir.

“Peace on Earth: A Bavarian Christmas.” James Galway, flute; Michala Petri, recorder; Francisco Araiza, tenor; Hubert Huber, organ; members of the Bamberg Symphony and Neubeuern Choral Society conducted by Enoch zu Guttenberg; others. RCA Victor 09026-61367-2. The 23 numbers on this generous, effectively programmed and very conservative collection include sprightly instrumental snippets for virtuoso tootlers Galway and Petri, and traditional German carols suavely sung by the Dresdener Kreuzchor. Much of the disc, however, features cantata and oratorio out-takes--mostly from Bach and Handel--in solid, unexceptional modern-instrument performances. The solo singing is uneven, but the massed efforts have a real measure of hushed radiance and cathedral majesty.

“Dances from Renaissance to Nutcracker.” L.A. Guitar Quartet. Delos DE 3132. The virtuosos of the ensemble have arranged a festive collection of miniatures, vividly recorded here. The “Nutcracker” Suite is the season-specific leader, but Peter Warlock’s “Capriol” Suite and Renaissance groups from Praetorius, Morley and Giovanni Gabrieli offer fresh cheer. The playing is eminently clear and clean, nicely balanced and suitably varied in touch and color, with little pretense to historical practices.

“An American Christmas.” Folk Like Us. North Star Records NS00043. The national modifier in the title clearly refers to the performing styles rather than the material, long on familiar European favorites. But the 16 tracks on this engaging instrumental disc also include some less common American folk- and country-based numbers and medleys, mostly set for fiddle and/or flutes, with plucked string--guitar, dulcimers, harpsichord, mandolin--accompaniment, in bright, genial parlor arrangements. A natural for the old “Prairie Home Companion” crowd.

“Encore!” Gidon Kremer and Friends. Philips 432 252-2. Much cheer here for chamber music fans. This disc gathers 11 miniatures from the Lockenhaus Festival overseen by Kremer, probably the world’s most adventuresome and eclectically interested violinist. Most are some form of musical joke, ranging from Leopold Mozart’s “Musikalische Schlittenfahrt” to Werner Thomas’ sly jazz twists on a Haydn string quartet. Some are sentimental, however, such as the velvety Kreisler “Liebesleid” from Kremer and Martha Argerich, and Sofia Gubaidulina’s affectionate reworking of Johann Strauss in “Walzerspass.” The performances--from a wideranging cast including the Borodin Quartet and pianist Alexei Ljubimov--are sleek and pointed.