Where We Start From: Hope from the Narthex of the Apocalypse

All three of these albums, listened to in a darkened room with nothing but the Christmas tree lit up, bring back rich memories for me of the beautiful family Christmases my parents created for us each year as we grew up. They are artistic masterpieces that are still enjoyed by discriminating fans decades after their first releases. All are now available on CD. This LP, released in 1957 by Fred Waring and the Pennsylvanians, is a lush, warm chorale miracle. Excerpts from the title track appear in the middle and at the end of the album, which adds the feel of a live performance with everyone dressed in winter wear, walking on a stage with artificial snow falling around them. Mixing a capella and orchestral pieces, and a harmonious blend of sacred and secular songs, which come together as a superb whole, this album is flawless. Walter Schumann's Christmas offering, released in 1955, offers some peppier tunes than Waring's album, and is just as magnificent in its ha