On the third volume in harmonia mundi USA’s series Carols from the Old and New Worlds, Paul Hillier and Chamber Choir Ireland celebrate the festive season with a wide-ranging mixture of new and traditional carols. Framed by the seven ‘O’ antiphons for Advent, this collection features carols from Ireland, the USA, Britain, and Alpine regions, many in arrangements by Hillier himself. This is one of the most original and musically satisfying Christmas programs on disc. And it features some of the most characterful and proficient ensemble singing you'll find anywhere. It's not that the music is obscure--in fact, most of the texts and/or tunes are familiar. From early American settings of "While shepherds watched" and "The Apple Tree" to traditional Austrian and English carols such as "Still, still, still," and "Greensleeves" (sung to different-than-usual words), we're treated to outstanding arrangements (by Paul Hillier) and often surprising variations of tunes we thought we knew. In several cases--"While shepherds watched" and "Hark! The herald angels sing," for example--the familiar texts are sung to completely different melodies. Highlights include original carols by Charles Ives and Jean Sibelius, and a starkly beautiful setting of "There is no rose" by Hillier. --David Vernier plainchant—Antiphon I: O Sapientia('50) arr. Paul Hillier—O come all ye faithful(3'29) arr. Paul Hillier —Remember, O thou man(4'56) plainchant—Antiphon II: O Adonai ('52) Paul Hillier —Adam lay ibounden(2'21) arr. Paul Hillier —Gaudete, Christus est natus (1'50) Henry Cowell —Sweet was the song the Virgin sung(2'08) plainchant —Antiphon III: O Radix Jesse ('50) Gerald Barry —Carol(1'50) trad., arr. Paul Hillier —Heißa, Buama(2'27) plainchant—Antiphon IV: O Clavis David ('59) Johann Christoph Bach —Merk auf, mein Herz(10'57) plainchant—. Antiphon V: O Oriens('42) Joseph Stevenson, arr. Paul Hillier —If angels sung a Savior’s birth(2'36) Daniel Read, arr. Paul Hillier —Winter(3'16) plainchant—Antiphon VI: O Rex Gentium('53) traditional, arr. Paul Hillier —Gesù bambin l’è nato(1'59) traditional, arr. Paul Hillier —Away in a manger (2'06) Eamonn Ó Gallchobhair — An Teitheadh go hÉigipt (2'12) trad., arr. Fiontán Ó Cearbhaill —Suantrái ár Slánaitheora(3'57) plainchant—Antiphon VII: O Emmanuel ('49) trad., arr. Paul Hillier —Behold a silly tender babe (4'49) Arbeau/Woodward, arr. Paul Hillier —Ding Dong Merrily on High(3'25)