Christmas cheer

[vaneramos]

In the mail today I received a Christmas package from wonderboymi. Leave it to Brian to compile an outstanding Christmas CD with everything from Bessie Smith to Bette Midler. The cover even features one of my winter images. Talk about Christmas cheer me up. Thanks BW.

I have also been listening to Loreena McKennitt's Christmas album, To Drive The Cold Winter Away (1987), thanks to bitterlawngnome.

McKennitt is an artist not to be missed. She is an outstanding performer of Celtic music, and has expanded to incorporate other folk traditions.

The title of this album is ironic. McKennitt has an unique voice: so bright and clear it is otherworldly. Combined on this album with spare instrumentation (harp and little else), it gives me the goose bumps.

I prefer her later recordings (The Mask and the Mirror, 1994, The Book of Secrets, 1997) that explore her warmer lower range, which effectively sets off her eye-smarting high flights. She also fuses the Middle-eastern rhythms and rich folk instrumentation that have won her a place near the top of my favourite contemporary artists. For an example, listen to one of my favourite songs: Marrakesh Night Market (mp3 download: other formats are available on her website).

Having said that, I'm delighted to finally add her Christmas album to my library. Unfortunately this world-class Canadian artist has not recorded anything for several years.

Comments

Snow

[bigmacbear]

We've done an arrangement of "Snow" from To Drive the Cold Winter Away and it is quite haunting.

In last weekend's concert one of the many medleys we did featured two soloists, one singing "Winter, Fire, and Snow" which is a Winter Solstice song recommended to us by redcub, and the other singing the first verse of "Snow". Then they began alternating lines of each, weaving them together until the final lines of each blended into a duet.

Re: Snow

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

That sounds awesome!

[bitterlawngnome.livejournal.com]

She has not been idle though ... she bought a local historic highschool that was to be torn down, and has remade it into a conmmunity center. Also she has recorded for various TV and movie things, I gather.

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

That's good to hear. I had no idea what was happening with her.

[wonderboynj.livejournal.com]

You're very welcome, hope you enjoy it *hugs*

[eloquentwthrage.livejournal.com]

I didn't know she had a holiday album aside from the EP. Is it available on CD?

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

Yes, click here for a list of full length recordings available from her website. You can also find sound clips from all the songs.