Our Review
Parlez-vous francais? Non? Oui? It matters not--regardless of how multilingual the listener, Noël éclectique is a charmer. Don Sheppard, an unabashed Francophile, presents a pleasing mix of 14 Christmas songs, mostly in French. Note, however, that many of the French tunes are well-known holiday standards that will be immediately recognizable to all. The ample liner notes provide the lyrics, including any necessary translations.
I must confess up front to a certain personal bias regarding this CD. Upon graduating from college, I spent a year teaching English in a university at Clermont-Ferrand, France, and it was one of the great adventures of my life. While there, I was a very minor chanteuse in the local choir; as a result, I am automatically favorably predisposed to embrace Sheppard's chansons with open arms. After hearing the album, I'm still giving Noël éclectique a hug.
Sheppard made a great choice by including the Tucson Arizona Boys Chorus on five tracks. The boys add an extra layer of musicality and a kids' sense of fun, both big benefits when crafting an upbeat album for Christmas. The CD opens to the sounds of children's laughter and bells--both of the sleigh and church variety--quite the appropriate beginning to a holiday album. Sheppard has a fine, light baritone voice that confidently possesses the lyrics, whether in French or English.
My favorite tracks include Noël Nouvelet with its addictive percussive beat, the Boys Chorus' excellent a cappella treatment of Carol of the Bells, and the synthesizer-driven Les Anges dans nos Campagnes (Angels We Have Heard on High), which combines strong vocals by Sheppard and the Boys Chorus.
Hankering for a trip to Paris for the holidays? Plopping Sheppard's Noël éclectique onto your audio system would be infinitely more cost effective! Au revoir!
--Carol Swanson
(Reviewed in 2004)
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From the liner notes:
Don Sheppard (Chanteur/Vocalist): Don began his study of French in high school. He fell in love with the language and, being perfectionistic, set out to master authentic pronunciation by listening to recommended classic French recordings by such icons as Charles Aznavour, Gilbert Becaud, Jacques Brel, Yves Montand, and his French teacher's favorites, Edith Piaf and Charles Trenet. Eventually, Don developed a passion for singing in French.
In "Noel eclectique" the emphasis is on songs and carols with French origins, yet includes the French language versions of "Jingle Bells" and "Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer," which are of English-American origin.
The Tucson Arizona Boys Chorus join Don Sheppard on 5 tracks.
Dr. Julian Ackerley, Director
Elizabeth Spencer, Accompanist
Chorus of 35 boys
All arrangements by Khris Dodge
All synthesizer instrumentation by Khris Dodge
Don Sheppard
Noël éclectique
Artist link
Label: Vive la Nostalgie
Length: 49 minutes
Genre: Choral
Release: 2003
Track List
| Song Title |
|---|
| Vive le Vent |
| Bring a Torch, Jeanette, Isabella |
| Il est né, le Divin Enfant |
| Petit Papa Noël |
| Noël Nouvelet |
| Carol of the Bells |
| Rudolph, le Renne au nez Rouge |
| Folksong medley, á la holiday |
| Entre le Boeuf et l'Âne Gris |
| Les Anges dans nos Campagnes |
| Mon Beau Sapin |
| Les Trois Cloches |
| Minuit Chretiens |
| A Song for Christmas |