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The three-disc set A Boston Camerata Christmas combines complete reissues of the ensemble's An American Christmas and Noël, Noël! French Christmas Music, 1200-1600, with a compilation from another of its recordings to form A Spanish Christmas. While the enclosed booklet does contain shortened versions of director (emeritus by late 2008) Joel Cohen's original introductions from the two earlier albums and a piece about the Spanish music, notes on the origins of the individual carols and songs are missing (they can be found on the Boston Camerata's website). But it's the music and performance that matter most. An American Christmas has become a classic recording since its original 1993 release, and 15 years later is still something of a rarity among period-performance recordings. The "early" American music may have roots in other countries and cultures, but there is something in its straightforwardness and relatively unadorned nature that makes it stand out from early European music (aside from its age). It also is 180 degrees from the typical holiday fare heard in every retail outlet in America each December, making it seem all the more wholesome and full of genuine conviction. The early music of A French Christmas is similarly plain and pure sounding -- even in its complex polyphony -- with much stronger ties to religious rites of the season. The Camerata's voices blend effortlessly, with perfect intonation, and although the recording was made in a church, it doesn't have the cold, monastic sound of other discs of French polyphony or chant. Most of it is reverently vocal, and even the instrumental pieces here and there and the dances in the last section of the disc seem to treat the joy of the season with due respect. The music on A Spanish Christmas is grouped by time period or geography, unlike the first two discs, which are arranged into sections relating to different aspects of the holiday. It starts with Medieval music, then moves to music of the Renaissance, and finally music of the Spanish New World. It is no less skillfully performed than the French disc, but it feels freer, more personable, and more celebratory, especially when the musicians' clapping provides the rhythmic impetus or the more rustic-sounding instruments -- like the oud, shawm, or sackbut -- are used. Each of the discs provide a unique view of the season that contrasts not only with other seasonal collections, but also with other early music collections. Anyone looking for something different in the way of Christmas music will be well satisfied with this set. Patsy Morita, All Music Guide

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