The UCLA Madrigal Singers”Hark, How the Bells...

The UCLA Madrigal Singers

“Hark, How the Bells . . .” (1993)

Cambria

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A little gem of unconventionality in a sea of fairly generic Christmas releases, this collection of holiday works by the UCLA Madrigal Singers ought to appeal to anyone who has just heard “Here Comes Santa Claus” for the 500th time.

Directed by its conductor of 25 years, the now-retired Donn Weiss, this ensemble of 22 male and female singers offers 22 selections on this CD, many of which are likely unfamiliar to most Christmas music fans. Only eight of the songs bear immediately recognizable names (“Angels We Have Heard on High” and “Joy to the World,” for instance). The rest are a blend of the modern, the stylistic and the traditional.

Of particular note is Vaclav Nelhybel’s “Estampie Natalis,” a chant-like piece with insistent and tricky rhythms. The work’s Middle Eastern overtones show off the singers’ principal assets: a fine rhythmic point and crisp diction. Hungarian composer Zoltan Kodaly’s “A Christmas Carol” and “De Tierra Lejana Venimos,” the latter a Puerto Rican folk song arranged by conductor Weiss, also allow the choir to stretch both stylistically and linguistically.

Listeners hoping for great sonority may be a bit disappointed, however. These are finely drilled voices belonging to competent musicians--and Weiss makes the most of them--but they are also college-age singers. Expect an occasional edginess or dominance in the women’s voices and nasality in the men’s. And don’t look for rumbling bassos or burnished tenors. A bit more mileage on those vocal cords will do the trick.

Still, there are lovely moments, as in the tender and heartfelt “Bring a Torch, Jeannette, Isabella,” arranged lushly by Dan Wells. Here, the singers show a rich sound and sensitivity beyond their years.

This CD is a fine addition to the home Christmas repertoire, with the variety of a well-programmed choral concert.