Celtic Winter [Import]

Celtic Winter [Import]

Track Listings

1. Intro

2. Fall Of The Black Forest

3. Hordes Of Empire

4. The Night Of Fullmoon

5. Prolog

6. The Gates To The Kingdom Of Darkness

7. The Return Of Funeral Winds

Editorial Reviews
Product Description
Psycho melodic black metal band from Poland, vaguely inspired by Dark Throne and Emperor. 7 tracks. Standard jewel case.

Tracks:

In Praise Of Christmas
The Seasons
The King
Banquet Hall
Snow
Balulalow
Let Us The Infant Greet
The Wexford Carol
The Stockford Carol
Let All That Are To Mirth Inclined

Customer Reviews:

Old Christmas Carols.......2007-01-12

Wonderful in style and execution; I thought that I had heard the best but I was wrong. Anything from Loreena McKennitt is truly an amazing experience!

A Haunting Experience.......2006-12-12

The best word I can come up with for Loreena McKennitt's voice is "haunting". I almost said ethereal and that would have been correct too but I chose haunting because it is one that keeps coming back to me. It makes me wonder if I really heard some of the things it said. In this context, that is a good thing.

This is a collection of "Christmas" songs but it is definitely not a collection of carols. They are songs of midwinter and the voice and instrumentation conveys that theme as well as the lyrics. They would not be out of place in a medieval hall.

This is not a somber collection but it might well be perceived as such by someone expecting ditties about reindeer with red noses or jolly old elves. It is a joyous collection with the joy is sedate, as is the whole album. That does not stop it from being a masterful work of art.

Try this one and let it haunt your memories through the winter and the rest of the year.

Let all that are to mirth inclined.......2006-11-15

Most Christmas albums sound tailor-made for mall muzak -- bland and recycled, with the same ol' songs about bells, Santa Claus, and snow. Loreena McKennitt breaks the mold with "To Drive the Cold Winter Away," an enchantingly wintry collection with muted instrumentation, and a classic feel.

It opens with the ethereal "In Praise of Christmas," a languid little harp ballad, and the rich "Seasons," which sounds like a solo performance at a medieval banquet. "Come all you lads and lasses, I'd have you give attention/To these few lines I'm about to write here,/'Tis of the four seasons of the year that I shall mention,/The beauty of all things doth appear," McKennitt sings in her rolling voice.

Those songs set the tone of the remaining songs -- pretty, airy wintry ballads accompanied mostly by harp. A few exceptions are sprinkled through it, such as the icily pretty instrumental "Banquet Hall," languid harp music in "Snow," and a few songs like "Let All That Are to Mirth Inclined" are done without instrumentation at all.

It's not hard to get sick of the endless repetitions of "Jingle Bells," "The Christmas Song" and "Let It Snow." It comes to the point where people get violent at mall loudspeakers. Loreena McKennitt's "To Drive the Cold Winter Away" is an antidote of sorts -- she dips into traditional Christmas and winter ballads from England, Scotland and Ireland, sometimes going back hundreds of years.

On the other hand, the sound quality is worse than McKennitt's other albums, particularly her a capella songs. While her singing cannot be faulted, she sang them in an old Irish abbey, which causes a weird echo effect in some songs. Her voice doesn't sound quite on top form in these.

However, the instrumentation often covers this effect -- it's much more minimal than in most of Mckennitt's work, often with her merely playing harps, and occasionally a tin whistle or accordian. The ethereal, minimal instrumentation gives the feeling of chilliness and beauty in a winter forest.

It's a bit hard to sing some old ballads, especially since many do not have specific tunes assigned to them. McKennitt does well at this; despite a few awkward moments, she sings richly and soulfully. "The King," her duet with Cedric Smith, is not so great, however since Smith's mediocre voice often blots out hers completely. Aside from that, her voice lilts lightly over the songs about Christ, snow, and firesides during the winter.

"To Drive the Cold Winter Away" is a truly beautiful collection of traditional Christmas songs. Despite the occasional echo problems, McKennitt's sweet voice and music bring out an older, richer side of Christmas.

A Winter Garden: Five Songs for the Season

Average customer rating:

ok, THIS is Loreena McKennitt's CHRISTMAS Album
Great Artist!
wonderful
a winter garden
beautiful!

A Winter Garden: Five Songs for the Season
Loreena McKennitt
Manufacturer: Quinlan Road
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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An Ancient Muse
To Drive the Cold Winter Away
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ASIN: B000002N3H
Release Date: 1995-11-07

Tracks:

Coventry Carol
God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen
Good King Wenceslas
Snow
Seeds Of Love

Amazon.com

Loreena McKennitt's "songs for the season" are haunting for their beauty and her fascinating voice. Blending traditional Irish music with worldbeat and New Age-like instrumentation, McKennitt's arrangements are at once elegant and eloquent, enchanting and familiar, whether she's singing "Coventry Carol," "God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen," or "Good King Wenceslas." "Snow," adapted from a 19th-century poem, and the traditional "Seeds of Love" are so lofty and deep they reach almost mystical places. --Martin Keller

Customer Reviews:

ok, THIS is Loreena McKennitt's CHRISTMAS Album.......2007-06-16

Everyone considers Loreena McKennitt's "To Drive the Cold Winter Away" her Christmas album. I ask people not to call it that, it is more than that, it is music for the whole season from leaf-fall to buds and sprouts in the spring.

This, then, is her Christmas album. Although short, at only five songs, it is a well thought-out album, and a definite "Must-Have" and a "Keeper". The songs here are wonderful, not your standard fare for Christmas, so it is a fresh experience, something always welcome with music for this time of the year, don't you think? Her accompanyment, here, is harp only, so everything is light and open, just right, and soothing after all the crash and bang regular Christmas music......I mean, how many times can one listen to Silver Bells, Jingle Bells, and Here Comes Santa Claus before you just wanna scream "STOP!", huh?

Pick this album up, take it home, and slip in between some other Christmas albums, and be prepared to go "WOW!....That's Nice!", and to also find a new favorite Christmas album. ~operabruin

Great Artist!.......2007-05-14

This is an awesome holiday / winter / Christmas CD. It is short (only 5 songs) but it is full of voice and enough to set the mood perfectly. Not traditional versions of the songs, but none the less beautiful.

wonderful.......2007-01-20

This is THE Christmas album to have.Loreena McKennitt's hauntingly beautiful voice and the wonderful arrangements of traditional Christmas songs has made this our most listened to Christmas album in the last few years.I like to play this album any time of the year as it is very peaceful and relaxing to hear.

a winter garden.......2007-01-11

I love Loreena McKennitts' music. this CD is very melodic in a Celtic way. the music on this CD is also very mellow listening. I love the rhythms of the instruments used.

beautiful!.......2006-12-31

The only reason I gave this item "4 stars" is because it only has the 5 songs on it - I wish it had more. However, it's still worth buying. The songs are hauntingly beautiful, in McKennitt's signature style. If you enjoy her music, this album won't disappoint. I recommend it! :-)

Wolcum Yule: Celtic and British Songs and Carols - Anonymous 4 with Andrew Lawrence-King

Average customer rating:

Wolcum Yule
lovely and unusual Yule album
Goose Flesh!

Wolcum Yule: Celtic and British Songs and Carols - Anonymous 4 with Andrew Lawrence-King
John Tavener , Richard Rodney Bennett , Peter Maxwell Davies , Geoffrey Burgon , Henry VIII , Benjamin Britten , Anonymous 4 , and Andrew Lawrence-King
Manufacturer: Harmonia Mundi Fr.
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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American Angels
On Yoolis Night: Medieval Carols & Motets - Anonymous 4
Gloryland
Legends of St. Nicholas: Medieval Chant & Polyphony
The Origin of Fire: Music and Visions of Hildegard von Bingen

ASIN: B0000AZKK4
Release Date: 2003-10-14

Tracks:

Awake, And Join The Cheerful Choir
Good People All
The Seven Rejoices Of Mary
The Lamb
A Scots Lilt
Balulalow
Balulalow
The Holly And The Ivy
The Reel Of Tullochgorum
I Saw Three Ships
A Calendar Of Kings
Air: La Fuar Geimhreadh
An Teicheadh Go Heigipt
A God, And Yet A Man?
Grene Growith The Holy
Wel, Dyma'r Borau Gorau
The Cherry Tree Carol
Can Wassel
A New Year Carol

Amazon.com

This offbeat disc of seasonal songs and carols by the Anonymous 4 will delight their fans and please everyone else. The 19 selections include traditional folk melodies and texts, some of which date back to the Middle Ages, interspersed with fitting selections by contemporary composers including John Taverner, Benjamin Britten, and Peter Maxwell Davies, whose ethereal a cappella A Calender of Kings gets its first recording. Andrew Lawrence-King, playing Irish harp, Baroque harp, and psaltery with his accustomed finesse, is a major reason for the disc's success, accompanying most of the vocals and contributing three lovely solos. The disc is crammed with highlight tracks, like the lilting Cornish Wassail song and the Irish Good people all, and haunting numbers like "Flight into Egypt," sung in Gaelic, and "Behold, here is the best morning," sung in Welsh. Excellent sonics and Harmonia Mundi's typically fine production values also help make this a Christmas disc that will give joy in July. --Dan Davis

Customer Reviews:

Wolcum Yule.......2006-01-17

The recording is fine . . . it just didn't appeal to me personally

lovely and unusual Yule album.......2004-01-06

Anonymous 4 has brought us a beautiful selection of 19 traditional songs from England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland. These include a lesser known work by Henry VIII as well as more contemporary songs by John Tavener, Richard Bennett, Geoffrey Burgon and Benjamin Britten, and a piece commissioned for the group from Peter Davies. Andrew Lawrence-King accompanies on Irish harp, Baroque harp and psaltery. There is a short essay on the traditions and legacy of the concept of Yule, a Cetic midwinter celebration, and this and the informative liner notes are given in English, French and German, accompanied by Celtic drawings.

The songs are pure, simple and very beautiful -- a welcome addition to your holiday listening.

Goose Flesh!.......2003-12-09

This is a remarkable quartet, singing with purity and style, from the haunting to the merry, medieval chant to modern settings of Celtic religious texts. Where there are arrangements, they are lovely and the instrumental pieces are simple and beautiful. This is the first time I have heard this group of women, and I am enchanted. It's a cappella at its very best: look to your laurels, King's Singers and Chanticleer, here come the ladies!

Average customer rating:

Beautiful
Different, but still superb
another excellent cd by anuna

Behind the Closed Eye
Anuna
Manufacturer: Danu
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Christmas Songs

ASIN: B00008RGZU
Release Date: 2003-04-01

Tracks:

August - AnMichael McGlynn, Ulster Orchestra
Aisling - AnUlster Orchestra
Great Wood - AnMonica Donlon, Ulster Orchestra
From Nowwhere to Nowhere - AnUlster Orchestra
Annaghdown - AnRn Dempsey, , Ulster Orchestra
Ceann Dubh Ds - AnMichael McGlynn, Mark O'Sullivan, Garrath Patterson, Ulster Orchestra
Ave Marie - AnMiriam Blennerhassett, Ulster Orchestra
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Where All Roses Go - AnMichael McGlynn, Ulster Orchestra
1901 - AnDeirdre Gilsenan, Ulster Orchestra

Customer Reviews:

Beautiful.......2005-06-04

Another triumph for Anuna- this album incorporates more instruments than other albums, but it is done so tastefully and it really adds a whole new dimension to the crisp voices of Anuna.

Definitely worth a place in any music library!

Different, but still superb.......2003-12-29

Unlike most of the albums Anuna has put out so far, most tracks on this album are for choir AND orchestra. The harmonies are definitely 20th century, but they are pleasing to the ear almost always add to the already excellent sound of the choir. Of particular note are the tracks "The Great Wood" (available for download on Anuna's site if you're curious to hear before buying) and the final track, "1901".

Although the sound may be different than what you have come to expect from previous albums, I would still recommend this one wholeheartedly.

another excellent cd by anuna.......2003-06-11

I bought this album when it was still only available in Ireland, and it was well worth the extra money then. Like Cynara and Deep Dead Blue, this CD has more modern music, including some songs composed by Anuna members, as well as the more traditional music they're known for. Perfect for studying or working to.

Average customer rating:

Beautiful and Soothing Music
Sam "Sam" stands alone this time...
No More Vocals Please !!!!!!!!!!!
Love, peace and music
I wish all the WS CDs were like this...

A Winter's Solstice III
Various Artists
Manufacturer: Windham Hill Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000000NI1
Release Date: 1990-08-15

Tracks:

Little Drummer Boy - Schonherz & Scott
Hopeful - Michael Manring
The Christmas Song - Steve Erquiaga
Veni Emmanuel - Turtle Island String Quartet
Christmas Bells - John Gorka
Lullay, Lully - Barbara Higbie
Trepak - Modern Mandolin Quartet
Of The Father's Love Begotten - Tim Story
Coventry Carol - Paul McCandless
Sleepers Awake - Andy Narell
Snow Is Lightly Falling - Nightnoise
Pavane - Liz Story
In The Bleak Midwinter - Pierce Pettis
In Dulci Jubilo (Good Christian Men Rejoice) - Michael Hedges
Earth Abides - Philip Aaberg

Customer Reviews:

Beautiful and Soothing Music.......2007-02-24

I have to agree on Barbara Higbie's "Lullay, Lully" as being one of the most beautiful songs I've ever heard. I loved the rest of the CD as well, and most of the songs fall outside the traditional Christmas music, so I don't feel odd listening to them the rest of the year!

Sam "Sam" stands alone this time..........2004-12-10

I've enjoyed all the Winter Solstice collections except the "Winter Solstice on Ice" - now, that's atrocious! No. III is one of my favorites because of the vocals. The version of "In the Bleak Midwinter" is one of the most purely spiritual carols I've ever heard. In fact I'm buying my second copy of this CD today because my first has disappeared.

No More Vocals Please !!!!!!!!!!!.......2004-11-24

I Purchased the Winter Solstice Vol #3 thinking that it would be as good as the rest,was I disappointed. Tracks 5,6,7,10,11.13 are atrocious,the rest of the tracks are good.I cant get to my CD player fast enough to skip over them when they start playing.I now sample every song on the CDs and dont take for granted that all Winter Solstices are created equal.People,please start giving honest reviews and stop the false advertisement.

Love, peace and music.......2004-11-13

The most beautiful and subtle feelings about Christmas lie in this album. A great combination of artist with a lot of coherence between each one's inspirations create this saga which is a masterpiece in itself. Every Christmas time I hear my tape with this and the 2nd part... it's completely magical and gets you into the real feeling and the innocence and magic of Christmas. I'll briefly comment each song:

1. Little Drummer Boy - beautiful version
2. Hopeful - Michael Manring - big hearted piano
3. Christmas Song - Steve Erquiaga - nice and peaceful guitar
4. Veni Emmanuel - Turtle Island String Quartet - wonderful chamber music
5. Christmas Bells - John Gorka - a folkie song
6. Lullay, Lully - Barbara Higbie - stunning ballad; magic
7. Trepak - The Modern Mandolin Quartet - funny song
8. Of the Father's Love Begotten - Tim Story - very religious
9. Coventry Carol - Paul McCandless - ooh... perfect harmony
10. Sleepers, Awake - Andy Narell - nice steel drums
11. Snow Is Lightly Falling - Nightnoise - absolute magic
12. Pavane - Liz Story - just nice
13. In the Bleak Midwiner - Pierce Pettis -- beautiful voice

The last two songs I don't have in my tape. This is one of the most beautiful and heartful albums I've ever heard. I never will forget it.

I wish all the WS CDs were like this..........2003-12-12

What I like about this CD, as opposed to the others in this series, is the inclusion of nontraditional vocals, rather than just instrumental versions of songs and carols. "Lullay Lully" is perhaps the most beautiful lullaby carol I've ever heard, and Barbara Higbie is WONDERFUL on it - so haunting! "In the Bleak Midwinter" and "Christmas Bells" are simply gorgeous - very simple.

Tracks:

Slieve Gallion Braes/Steal Away
Farewell To County Antrim
Thousands Are Sailing
Cailin Na Gruaige Baine
Winter's Crossing
The Gartan Mother's Lullabye
Grand Banks Newfoundland
The Shores Of Amerikay
Christams Eve, Ellis Island
The Belfast Polka/Pennsylvania Railroad
Home Away From Home
Hymn For The Heartland
Steal Away
Appalachian Round-Up

Customer Reviews:

Another Wonderful Coulter/Galway Collaboration.......2005-12-10

WINTER'S CROSSING is the second collaboration between two of Ireland's best known musicians: Phil Coulter and James Galway. The two create a musical tribute to the men and women who left Ireland in the nineteenth century to escape famine and poverty and find a home in North America. The music commemorates Irish history and the treacherous crossing of the cold Atlantic waters. In the music, the artists create a combination of at times opposites. The music can at times have a hard and harsh feel to it, yet it's also hopeful. There is a twinge of sadness but there's also great optimism in some pieces. We get a glimpse of Irish history in some pieces, and while we sense the hardship, we also know it's a new beginning.

Upon listening, I fell in love with certain pieces. "Farewell to County Antrim" is infectious. "Grand Banks Newfoundland" has a nautical appeal to it. "The Belfast Polka/Pennsylvania Railroad" is a medley the two artists seem to just enjoy and listeners do too. "Christmas Eve Ellis Island" and "Home Away from Home" are both beautiful and haunting, of people trying to make the best of a place they'd rather not be.

The disc was released not long after I returned from a trip to Ireland, so I was a bit more aware of my Irish heritage and a bit nostalgic as well, longing for good, authentic Irish music. Perhaps that's why I love this disc so much. People who enjoyed LEGENDS will love this set. The arrangements are similar to the first set, and like LEGENDS, Coulter and Galway work well together, always performing in a way that compliments the other. For me, it's perfect winter listening that helps me recall my heritage while listening to great music at the same time.

Truly Special.......2002-12-01

Once in a while, you find a CD that really is "moving" and special. I knew that "Winter Crossing" was one of these CDs the moment I put it in my CD player and pressed "play."

"Winter Crossing" is the "musical" story of Irish immigration. The fact that this CD is a "story" is one of its many unique aspects. Often, we listen to CDs that are simply a series of "pretty" or "cool" music, but these CDs aren't trying to tell us or show us something. Yet in "Winter's Crossing," it is apparent that by choosing certain songs in a chronological order, the makers of this CD were seeking to capture the many emotions-anticipation, anxiety, nostalgia, fear-of an Irish immigrant.

Galway, Coulter, and their orchestra not only tried to capture these emotions and "make" us feel them as well, they succeeded in their attempt. "Winter's Crossing" opens with a haunting ballad, "Steal Away." Complete with "throaty" Irish pipes and soulful Irish voice, this song captures the feelings that many Irish must have had when they decided to leave their native country. Other moving "farewell" songs include the bagpipe/Irish pipe duet "Farewell to County Atrim," and the poignant narrative-set-to-music, "Thousands are Sailing." The next "phase" of "Winter's Crossing" shows the Irish experience on the actual journey (via ship) to America. Perhaps my favorite of these "journey" songs is "Gartan Mother's Lullabye," which uses the tones of Galway's calming, angelic flute to capture the sounds of a mother singing her baby to sleep amidst the squalor of the ship. The final "phase" of this CD deals shows us how the Irish adjusted to their new life in America. This final section opens with nostalgia (in the form of ballad "On the Shores of Amerikay") and ends with joy and triumph ("Appalachian Roundup")

Galway, Coulter, and the orchestra involved in making this CD certainly deserve thanks for creating such a moving "work of art." When a piece of history is so wonderfully told, who needs the textbook?

A wonderful choice!!!!.......2001-05-31

We purchased Winter's Crossings about a year ago and have listened to it just about non-stop since then. It's a wonderfully varied CD, with quiet, peppy, and thoughtful music-it's hard to pick out a single track that we don't like. It was our first introduction to James Galway and Phil Coulter and we're back looking for our next purchase(s). We highly recommend this CD to anyone.

Stunning music.......2000-11-15

Winter's Crossing is one of the most beautiful musical "experiences" in which I've engaged. The listener is taken on a journey with the emigrant, from the quayside in County Antrim, through the difficulties of the crossing itself, to the Shores of Amerikay. When the Irish newcomers arrive in this land they experience the sadness, the longing for home, that all such immigrants must have known. The music of Coulter and Galway perfectly and stunningly guides the listener through every emotion of the journey and the process of becoming assimilated but never losing the Irish spirit or the lilt of their music."

WOW!.......2000-06-09

This is the best CD I own. I love it! I play both flute and piano and hail my celtic ancestry. James Galway and Phil Coulter are masters! This recording is absolutely glorious, and deserves praise for its creativity, power, originality, beauty, and everything else about it. Incredible!

Average customer rating:

Lullay, lullay

A Winter Garden: Five Songs For The Season
Loreena McKennitt
Manufacturer: Verve
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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An Ancient Muse
Elemental
To Drive the Cold Winter Away
The Visit
The Mask and Mirror

ASIN: B000J233UI
Release Date: 2006-11-14

Tracks:

Conventry Carol
God Rest ye Merry, Gentlemen
Good King Wenceslas
Snow
Seeds Of Love

Customer Reviews:

Lullay, lullay.......2006-11-15

Finally -- a Christmas album that doesn't include "Jingle Bells," "Joy to the World" or "Let It Snow." I'm so bloody sick of those songs. Instead, Loreena McKennitt looks back on an almost-forgotten time when Christmas was a sacred day full of beauty and magic, in the all-too-brief but very lovely EP "A Winter Garden."

It opens with the soothing, lullaby-like "Coventry Carol," before heading to the majestic catchiness of "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" and utterly enchanting "Good King Wenceslas," where a saintly king and his servant travel on foot to bring food and firewood to a poor woodsman's family. It's a beautiful little song, and the sprightly tune makes it even more so.

A smoother, softer tone comes in with "Snow," the musical adaptation of a poem by nineteenth-century Canadian poet Archibald Lampman. It's a frosty, beautiful portrait of a winter evening, without any direct reference to Christmas, but its formal tone fits in. The EP rounds off with the traditional "Seeds of Love," a sweet little love song.

Christmas is one of those holidays swamped by commercial profit and not by the traditions and beliefs behind it. So it's refreshing to hear songs that don't bring to mind mall muzak -- instead, McKennitt's EP make you think of wassail, medieval castles, cathedrals draped in holly, and blankets of snow over dark forests.

"A Winter Garden" was recorded over a few days in the summer of 1995, in Wiltshire's recording studios. It sounds pretty laid-back, and the relaxed tone of the results shows it. Her selection of songs is excellent -- four are traditional ballads, rich and underused by most singers. I'm not quite sure why she included "Seeds of Love," which while a lovely song, has no reference to Christmas or wintertime.

McKennitt not only provides her rich vocals, but also plays the harp and adds some keyboard flourishes. Backing her is Rich Lazar's medieval-sounding percussion, Hugh Marsh's violin and Caroline Lavelle's cello -- among others. There are also acoustic guitars, bass, viola, and pipes, which all are woven into a sort of medieval-pop.

While a full-length Christmas album can be found in "To Drive the Cold Winter Away," the "Winter Garden" EP is an enchanting, atmospheric listen that gives a whole new look at Christmas carols.

Average customer rating:

Review of "A Winter Solstice Reunion"
A very typical "Winter Solstice" selection
SUPERB, and ALMOST the best of the series
Deceptive Title
So good

A Winter Solstice Reunion
Various Artists
Manufacturer: Windham Hill Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:

A Winter's Solstice, Vol. 6
A Winter's Solstice: Silver Anniversary Edition
A Winter's Solstice, Vol. 5
A Winter's Solstice II
A Winter's Solstice III

ASIN: B000007O8F
Release Date: 1998-08-11

Tracks:

Keiki's Dream (Child's Dream) - Keola Beamer
I Saw Three Ships - Darol Anger
Babe Is Born/Enter The Stable Gently - Liz Story
Snowfall Lullaby - Barbara Higbie
It Came Upon A Midnight Clear - Alex DeGrassi
Impending Death Of The Virgin Spirit - William Ackerman
La Nit De Nadal (Christmas Night)/Al Noi De La Mare (Son Of Mary) - Mike Marshall
Dreamtime - Nightnoise
Year's End - Michael Manring
Song Before Spring - Benjamin Verdery
What Are The Signs - George Winston
Rain Into Snow - William Coulter
20 Degrees Below - Paul McCandless
Christmas Wish - Tuck And Patti

Amazon.com

You know this winter "reunion" is going to be a good one when Hawaiian slack-key guitar great Keola Beamer opens it with a stunning original, "Keiki's Dream." Reassembling the artists who defined the Windham Hill sound, Reunion features pianist Liz Story arranging the Spanish traditional "Babe Is Born" for solo piano, Windham vet Alex DeGrassi bringing his graceful acoustic guitar work to bear on "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear," and capo William Ackermann rolling out his trademark steel-string arpeggios on a pensive, minor-key original, "Impending Death of the Virgin Spirit." The man who put Windham Hill on the map, pianist George Winston, contributes a lovely reading of Alfred Burt's "What Are the Signs," and fretless bass wonder Michael Manring tickles the ivories as well as bass on a circumspect "Year's End." More about the symbolism of the winter season than the joy of Christmas, Reunion is classic Windham Hill, meditative and a bit melancholy. Also features Mike Marshall, Ben Verdery, Paul McCandless, and others. --James Rotondi

Customer Reviews:

Review of "A Winter Solstice Reunion".......2007-02-06

Having not heard the "Soltice"s' in years, my husband loved this CD.

A very typical "Winter Solstice" selection.......2006-12-31

This is very much in the genre of the "Winter Solstice" series. It is still very enjoyable, however, if you long for a more meditative offering. Perfect Holiday music choice.

SUPERB, and ALMOST the best of the series.......2006-02-21

Probably 4.5 stars; A SUPERB release, and an attempt to get back to as many of the original groundbreaking artists which made the Winter's Solstice series so endearing. Highlights: As ALWAYS, I look forward most to Ackerman and especially, Barbara Higbee's contributions to any of the Winter's Solstice CDs. Higbee in particular, always has the most surprising arrangments or original compositions, and this release is a perfect example. "Snowfall Lullaby" is one of the most touching lullaby melodies. (though it is by no means sleepy; simply comforting in a sort of "neo-celtic" way). There are Harps, violin & piano; you simply must hear it to know how fine it is, and to experience what I'm trying to describe in words. Ackermann normally tries to write something original, or which is not a traditionally well-known Christmas song, which was the overall attempt in the groundbreaking first two Winter's Solstice releases. Here he does a pensive remake of one of his classics "Impending Death Of The Virgin Spirit". Perhaps one might see it as a deep-reflection on Mary's depth of charcter and her impending suffering which will one day lead to the loss of her child. Darol Anger's "I saw Three Ships" is an quite original, if more familiar melody. It's an arrangement that is peaceful & lilting & not the usual "jig" we hear so often. There are so many others: "What are the Signs" by Winston is a perfect "10", "Year's End" by Manring, Paul McCandless's "20 Degrees Below" and Liz Story's "Babe Is Born/Enter The Stable Gently". While there are a couple uneven spots, by some less familiar artists, this is one of the essential releases of the series. My final recommendation is to buy the SECOND Winter's Solstice release first, which to me, has always been the pinnacle of originality & creative spirit, even exceeding the fine first release, and then also buy this release to see how original these collections can be, before venturing into some of the later ones, most of which are good, but which often feature traditional Christmas melodies rather than the more obscure carols & original compositions featured here. Overall, nearly a perfect release!

Deceptive Title.......2004-12-29

I have been a fan of the Windham Hill label for many years...almost since its beginning. I prefer some collections to others, but,the Winter's Solstice series continues as a favorite. For sentimental reasons, I've always been fond of the original realase in the set and when I saw this one I thought that perhaps through some miracle or some heavy lifting on the label's part, it would be comprised of new pieces from the artists on AWS. But after a quick look I have to ask, In what way is this a "reunion?" OK, Liz Story and label founder Will Ackerman are present, but where's the rest of the class? Granted, one would be hard pressed to hear new material from Shadowfax, whose offering for AWS came from their work while on another label(pre-WH), but certainly others beside Story and Ackerman survive to this day. Not to worry, the material that is here is enjoyable as always, but, if you were nostalgic for the artists of the first release, a reunion this is not.

So good.......2002-03-22

This is the best of the Winter solstice albums. I'm not one for a real new age sound. I like classic, celtic, instruments. This CD shines... contemporary with olde sounds. The second track is by far the best track to me.. it has a holiday flavor, but I don't just listen to this during the holidays. In fact, all of the Solstice albums are like this really. Its not Christmassy.. its beautiful, serene, music. My other favorites are I, II, and VI.

Average customer rating:

A reminder that ritual and celebration have their place in life
The Music of What Happens
A mellow, reflective Celtic reverie
A mellow, reflective Celtic reverie
Celtic snooze

Celtic Solstice
Paul Winter
Manufacturer: Living Music
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:

Solstice Live!
Prayer for the Wild Things
Paul Winter: Greatest Hits (Special Edition) [Enhanced CD]
Spanish Angel
Wintersong

ASIN: B00000HZTL
Release Date: 1999-02-09

Tracks:

Triumph
Golden Apples Of The Sun
Hollow Hills
O'Farrell's Welcome To Limerick
Dawnwalker
My Fair And Faithful Love/Blarney Pilgrim
Sweet Comeraghs
After The Fleadh/Running Through The Weeds With Keetu
The Minstrel's Adieu
Fare Well To Govan
Golden Apples Of The Sun (Reprise)
Dawnwalker (Reprise)

Amazon.com

Paul Winter is a global eclectic who picks from the world's traditions, maintains their integrity, and at the same time retains his own distinctive voice. Few musicians could, in the span of two years, venture from the solo saxophone improvisations of Canyon Lullaby to the bossa nova of Brazilian Days and now Celtic music with Celtic Solstice and not sound like a dilettante. Winter sounds as committed as ever. He has been infatuated with Celtic music for years, and since 1996, some of the greats of Celtic music have participated in his annual Winter Solstice Celebration at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City. Most of those musicians appear on Celtic Solstice, and many of the tracks were recorded in the cathedral. From the opening notes of Winter's soprano echoing in that reverberant space on "Triumph," it's clear this isn't your typical contemporary Celtic album. Winter is joined by organist Paul Halley and Irish uilleann piper Davy Spillane, and it's an impassioned, intuitive improvisation that swirls in echoing harmonies that lift to the cathedral's ceiling. And that's just the first track. Winter has put together a series of solos, trios, and larger ensemble pieces that work a similar magic. He's joined by singer Karen Casey from the group Solas on the serene "Golden Apples of the Moon." Tin whistle player and flutist Joanie Madden from Cherish the Ladies offers one of her loveliest compositions, "Running Through the Woods with Keetu," named for Winter's toddler daughter. But Celtic Solstice isn't all serene evocations of the Celtic spirit. Riverdance fiddler Eileen Ivers, harpist Carol Thompson, and uilleann piper Jerry O'Sullivan join a full ensemble of Irish, African, and South American percussion on "My Fair and Faithful Love/Blarney Pilgrim," which slow-builds to a full Irish stomp. Paul Winter has tapped into the communal nature of Irish music. It's the same spirit he takes from his jazz background. When he joins the pipes and whistles in dizzying improvisations or contemplative ruminations, there's a sense of shared exploration that takes you with him. --John Diliberto

Customer Reviews:

A reminder that ritual and celebration have their place in life.......2006-12-22

"Celtic Solstice" by Paul Winter and Friends, remains of those indulgences I dig out of my collection and play in the winter. Recorded in New York's Cathedral of St. John the Divine, the music serves both as documentary of this event and a reminder that ritual and celebration have their place in life. His ensemble of friends here is eclectic and talented, and his longtime cohort Paul Halley deserves being singled out for the deep, earthbound sounds he evokes from the pipe organ.

This set of mostly traditional songs and some originals is warm and cheerful without being artificially sanguine, the sort of music that goes well with fires, fog, and firs. Of course, there is an irony here in that "Celtic Solstice" celebrates the summer, not the winter, solstice. Perhaps that's why I prefer its warmth during the dark times.

The Music of What Happens.......2005-04-26

Imagine waiting in the world's largest gothic cathedral in the predawn hours of the Summer solstice. Now imagine that huge space with it's vaulting ceilings, mighty piers and somber shadows being filled with music and light. The soaring of a pipe organ, a jazzy and passionate alto saxophone, the soul-stirring Uillean pipes and ethereal voices weaving through the space to create something beautifully meditate and powerfully soul-inspiring. Can you see it? Then you have some idea of this CD and the background in which this music was created.

The Celtic Solstice CD showcases Paul Winter's musical feast on the Summer Solstice performed at St. John the Divine in New York City. With a melding of Irish and North American artists, he crafts an awe-inspiring experience that dips and soars through the soul with slow grace and timeless elegance. The fusion of jazz and traditional Celtic-of international sounds and modern instruments create something new and wonderful-something that truly is "the music of what happens". So, what does happen when you bring together renowned Uillean pipe player Davy Spillane, Riverdance fiddler Eileen Ivers, ethereal vocalist Karan Casey and whistle-player Joanie Madden with a host of other musicians in a space both sacred and joyful? Pure magic.

There's a real delight in witnessing extremely skilled musicians joining together to spin music. The opening performance on this CD, "Triumph" provides listeners a taste of what they are in for with the amazingly soaring and yet somber trio of Paul Winter on alto sax, Paul Halley on pipe organ and Davy Spillane on pipes. Vocalist Karan Casey, a member of the Irish group Solstice, contributes her ethereal vocal talents to two of the tracks on this CD. The first is "Golden Apples of the Sun", inspired by W.B. Yeats' poem "Song of the Wandering Aengus", the second is one of my favorite recordings on the CD, "Sweet Comeraghs". There aren't many vocals on this album, so the few that appear truly capture the listener. "After The Fleadh/ Running through the Woods with Keetu" is my favorite instrumental set of the performance, featuring eight different musicians, and an energetic backbeat of non-traditional percussion. Being a huge fan of Davy Spillane, the stunningly beautiful "Dawnwalker" has not lost its intrinsic power and poignancy no matter how many times I've heard it.

This is a slow moving performance-and may not be appreciated by listeners who are looking for a more traditionally fast-paced Celtic selection. Most of the CD is instrumental, so if you prefer vocals, this will probably not be what you want. Also, Paul Winter's style of music is not necessarily accessible to every listener on the first try. It took me witnessing a performance at St. John the Divine cathedral to start my fascination with this artist, and it has taken several rounds of listening to CDs before I can really start to hear the amazing qualities of Paul Winter's compositions and the joy of such a rare musical combination.

I encourage the curious to try out Winter's CDs, as the process of discovery has been a wonderful one for me. A remarkable reviewer named Bob Zeidler made me aware of Paul Winter. Bob encouraged me into reviewing Paul Winter's MISSA GAEIA CD and I finally posted the review last year, around his birthday, much to his delight. I'm dedicating this review to the memory of Bob, his love of music, and his reviewing. He will be sorely missed, and he will be well remembered.

May you find your own delight in the music of what happens.

Shanshad.

A mellow, reflective Celtic reverie.......2003-12-31

This is not the earthy, foot-pounding fire of "Riverdance" or Gaelic Storm, but instead a reverent, soulful, easy-going take on Celtic music--the Celtic and neo-Celtic equivalent, perhaps, of smooth jazz. Despite the large number of participants in the project-as-a-whole, many of the numbers are quiet trios. Joannie Madden and Davy Spillane steal the show with their wistful, achingly mournful playing of whistle and pipes. There is also a fair amount of Paul Halley's pipe organ artistry, which is wonderful to hear in this music. The organ is so often a solo instrument when in concert, unmatchable in volume or range, and is elsewise relegated to the accompaniment of choirs in conventional religious works. It's nice to hear it do its own thing here--its own improv--and yet also be an integral part of so many of the compositions. All in all, "Celtic Solstice" is an innovative, dreamy and gently-rollicking escape from a world that is often all too hectic. Try Paul Winter's other cool "Solstice" albums as well, and for more gentle Celtic music, check out the work of Maggie Sansone.

A mellow, reflective Celtic reverie.......2003-12-31

Celtic snooze.......2003-02-25

This album brings together a sterling group of musicians and some terrific material, but I felt that the results added up to less than the sum of the parts. The traditional tracks, in general, are performed with zest as well as sensitivity, and some of the new traditional-style tunes (e.g., the "After the Fleadh" set) are fun to listen to. And the quality of the musicians' performances is excellent throughout. On the other hand, I felt that the improvised tracks were comparatively weak: Winter's improvisations seem to have fallen into a rut (the melodies all tend to follow the same slowly rising pattern), and when the same arrangements reappear in the non-improvised pieces (e.g., "Golden Apples of the Sun"), the album becomes repetitious -- my reaction to the two reprise tracks at the end was "Oh gawd, not again!!" The album is pleasant and makes good background music, but as a listening experience I found it more sleep-inducing than stimulating.

Average customer rating:

ok, THIS is Loreena McKennitt's CHRISTMAS Album
Great Artist!
wonderful
a winter garden
beautiful!

A Winter Garden: Five Songs For The Season
Loreena McKennitt
Manufacturer: Quinlan Road
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:

An Ancient Muse
To Drive the Cold Winter Away
The Visit
Parallel Dreams
The Mask and Mirror

ASIN: B0000C6661
Release Date: 2004-09-27

Tracks:

Coventry Carol [Live]
God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen
Good King Wenceslas
Snow
Seeds of Love

Amazon.com

Customer Reviews:

ok, THIS is Loreena McKennitt's CHRISTMAS Album.......2007-06-16

Great Artist!.......2007-05-14

wonderful.......2007-01-20

a winter garden.......2007-01-11

I love Loreena McKennitts' music. this CD is very melodic in a Celtic way. the music on this CD is also very mellow listening. I love the rhythms of the instruments used.

beautiful!.......2006-12-31

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