Christmas cheer
Dec. 15th, 2003 08:57 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
vaneramosIn the mail today I received a Christmas package from ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
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 tobitterlawngnome.
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.
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.
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Date: 2003-12-17 09:42 am (UTC)