Blue Wolf Reviews

Tag: Carols

  • Winter Frost – relaxing holiday instrumentals

    Winter Frost – relaxing holiday instrumentals

    Christmas is a time of giving and when you are a musician one of the most beautiful gifts to give is the joy and happiness of music.

    Winter Frost, a compilation of traditional and modern Seasonal music created by many of the artists whom have over the years recorded with Heartdance Records. The songs range from the heartbreaking In The Bleak Midwinter written as a poem by Christina Rossetti in 1872, titled ‘A Christmas Carol’ and put to music in 1907 by Gustav Holst, to the somewhat jaunty Sleigh Bells Sonata.

    A delicate and charming solo guitar rendition of the well-loved ‘Have Yourself a Very Merry Christmas’ charms, while Mendelssohn’s beloved Hark The Herald Angels Sing has been artfully presented with a little wash of synth, the clear precise notes of the guitar sounding out the melody.

    O Little Town of Bethlehem is given a traditional polish with a rich piano interpretation, before flowing into the much loved Auld Lang Syne, once again a poem from Scottish bard Robbie Byrnes written in 1788 and put to a traditional and much older Scottish folk melody in 1789.

    Slow and sensuous I’ll Be Home For Christmas is a delightful interpretation of this well-known and often sung song, first recorded by Bing Crosby in 1943, originally written to honour soldiers serving overseas during World War II.

    There are seventeen tracks on Winter Frost, each one a very personal gift from the musicians who have selected each piece with care, interpreting the time old classics and the more modern up-tempo pieces as they choose, creating a heart-warming collection of traditional and modern Christmas music filled with the magic.

  • We Follow the Star

    We Follow the Star

    ‘Tis the season to be jolly or so the old rhyme does state, but ‘tis also the season to listen to and sing much loved carols, regardless of whether the ground is covered in snow, or dust from a long drought. There is something special about the Christmas season and the underlying sentiment which is as always, perhaps best translated through the magic of music

    Richard Dillion has, in his usual unique style created an album of Christmas music, We Follow The Star, featuring the enchanting vocals of Corinne Seganos, over cover versions of much loved, lesser known and traditional carols, as well as two new works from Dillon, A Winters Night and We Follow The Star.

    Simplistic in the presentation of nine tracks, the subtle blending of the instruments with voice, take each of the pieces to a fresh new level of carol, leaving well in the distance, the often-sugary tones of traditional Christmas albums.

    Charming and with an almost Celtic overlay, the overall concept is one of music from a bygone era, where music was once for the privileged, with the everyday folk creating their own songs and music from whatever was to hand; the voice, lute, flute or drum.

    A Winters Tale, an original composition features a wonderful mix of ethereal voices and electronic blends, creating a fusion of elements that is almost eerie in the execution, before the voice of Seganos arrives to tell the age-old tale of the birth of Jesus.

    Another original work and the title track We Follow the Star, tells of the journey made by the three wise men to discover if what had been foretold had come true and to bring gifts to the Christ child. This soundscape creates with music the vast seas of the dessert, the magical omnipotence of the event unfolding. A beautiful song and well worthy of the album title.

    Silent Night is sung almost as a benediction whereas I Saw Three Ships return the piece to its origins as a popular 17th century carol from Derbyshire in England, with the inspired use of clapping sticks, hurdy gurdy and vocals.

    Wrapping up a fresh take on Christmas carols is In The Bleak Midwinter a piece derived from a poem by English poet Christina Rossetti, set to music by Gustav Holst in 1906, to create the work as a Hymn. A fitting finale to a delicately created album.

    If you are looking for something a little different to help bring in the Christmas season this year, you could not do better than this lovely, eclectic work from Richard Dillon and friends.

  • Christmas From the Heart

    Christmas From the Heart

    Throw away all your preconceived ideas about Christmas music and get set for a very rare and beautiful treat in the compilation CD from Heart Dance Records and the Made In Arizona project.

    Opening the list of wonderful pieces is pianist Louis Landon with a delicate, yet robust version of Joy to The World which has immediately put you on notice, as you unconsciously take note of what is next to follow: then you find your toe is tapping and somehow or other you begin to sing the time old words loved by many.

    Thano and Lolo blend the beauty of harp and acoustic guitar to create an incredible version of Angels We Have Heard on High: should the angelic ones be listening they would more than approve of this wonderful melding of two incredibly versatile instruments to create such stunningly beautiful melody.

    The Gift is introduced by Art Patience playing harmonica. The haunting manner of each note played is reminiscent of a clear and cold night on the open plains surrounded by the beauty of the night as the stars come out to celebrate the wonderful gifts of life and light.

    The much love traditional carol Away in the Manger is introduced by Chris Burton Jacome. His simple and yet elegant rendition on Spanish Guitar is absolutely delightful.  Light to the World is presented in an upbeat Country style by Amber Norgaard with her beautiful vocals bringing the ancient story of the birth of Christ into the modern arena.

    The dulcet tone of the harp played by Jocelyn Obermeyer heralds in the very beautiful First Light followed by the rocking version of Jingle Bells from the award winning trio Sherry Finzer on flute, Darrin Mahoney of guitar and Will Clipman on percussion.

    God Rest Ye, Merry Gentlemen, a well-loved and often sung Carol dating from 1833, is played with a lovely depth of feeling and a mellow and reflective tone by Greg Starr.

    Franz Schubert composed the lyrics of Ave Maria as a devotional piece to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Many have covered this incredibly beautiful piece. This version by Tatum Lynn Stolworthy is one that will stack up well amongst the many, as it is sung with a depth of understanding which is rare in one so young.

    Greensleeves is a loved and much enjoyed English folk tune which has found itself in the middle of a Christmas Carol’s collection, but why not! John Calvert with his finger-picking guitar brings freshness to this once again, time old traditional piece.

    Ambient Instrumental is the blend of choice for the deeply moving Silent Night, a piece which has been presented in a way that is both reflective and meditative, encouraging us to ponder on the tradition that is Christmas and the year yet to unfold.

    The haunting, almost melancholic, notes of the Native American Flute played by Nathan Tsosie wrap around The Huron Carol which is absolutely the right instrument for this composition, which has long been considered as the first Canadian Christmas Carol to be written.

    O Come O Come Emmanuel is a fitting finale to this wonderful composite collection sung by chanteuse Amy Faithe in a rendition that is as masterful as it is beautiful. The backing is rich, deep, sombre presenting a perfect soundscape for the purity of sound from this talented vocalist.

    Christmas is a time for giving and thankfulness therefore it follows that 10% of this album sold will go towards Music as a Therapy, so give yourself a real treat and purchase an album that will delight, enhance and add that something extra special to your Christmas, from the Made In Arizona team of musicians who have recorded this incredibly beautiful album.