Christmas Ep [EP, Import]

Enya | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 4, 1994)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: EP, Import
• Label: Wea Int'l
• ASIN: B00005K8EC
• Also Available in: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #38,566 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #22 in Music > Imports > Import Deals
  • #53 in Music > Imports > New Age
  • #77 in Music > World Music > Celtic > Fusion

Track Listings

1. Oíche Chiúin [Silent Night]

2. As Baile

3. 'S Fagain Mo Bhaile

4. Ebudae

5. The Celts

Editorial Reviews

One of our annual best-selling Christmas titles, back again in time to make sure you'll have enough stock on hand for the holidays! This 1994 Canadian-only EP features beloved Irish new age vocalist Enya's cherished take on the classic Chrristmas carol "Silent Night" sung in Gaelic under the title of "Oiche Chiun". Accompanying the gentle melody here are four other essential recordings by this former member of Clannad: the title track to her 1987 debut solo album 'The Celts', plus "Ebudae" from her best-selling 1991 outing 'Shepherd Moons' and the hard to find B-sides "'S Fagaim Mo Bhaile" & "As Baile" (a Gaelic-sung version of the standout track "Exile" from her breakthrough 1988 album 'Watermark'). Comes packaged in a standard jewelcase.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

143 of 144 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very good, VERY expensive, January 27, 2004

By 

A. Burchfield (Conway, Missouri USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Christmas Ep (Audio CD)

Just about anything Enya does will be good, this EP is no exception but it is so expensive.
Oiche Chiun is Silent Night sung in Irish Gaelic by Enya, sounds so much like the English version that if you don't really listen you might not even notice the difference. The next three are also Gaelic and very good, #5 Celts is, I believe, instrumental. Although $18.99 is rather steep for me the buyer will be getting good music unlike so many CD's seem to be these days.
If the price is a problem check your Enya CD's and see if you already have the songs. #1 Oiche Chiun can also be found on the maxi-single by that name and on a single with Only Time. #2 As Baile and #3 's Fagaim No Bhaile (this one is also on the Oiche Chiun maxi)are on Book of Days EP while #4 Ebudae (also on Shepherd Moons CD)and #5 Celts (also on Celts CD)can be found on the Paint the Sky with Stars best of Enya CD.

42 of 42 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars There Will Be No More "Silent Nights" after Hearing This, March 2, 2001

By 

Andrew Gallas (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Christmas Ep (Audio CD)

This "Oiche Chiun" EP is a gorgeous way of celebrating Christmas, and will surely be listened to all year long. There are five songs to this release, and the following will describe each one separately.

1. "Oiche Chiun (Silent Night)" is the traditional Christmas carol made into an almost a capella song. Her trademark vocal crescendos and layering blend with her solo voice in an extraordinary masterpiece. A key change near the end of the song adds to the ethereal atmosphere.

2. "As Baile" takes the background and melody from _Watermark_'s "Exile" but the vocals are really Gaelic incantation. The original piece "Exile" already gave the sense of winter, and Enya's remake does so even more vividly, showing that real words are unnecessary to create a feeling.

3. "'S Fagaim Mo Bhaile" is a rare song of Enya's, in Irish Gaelic, about leaving home and wanting to return. Although this song may not make you visualize a happy Christmas morning, the hopelessness that can come from winter is conveyed.

4. "Ebudae" is a familiar piece from _Shepherd Moons_ and was featured in the movie _The Toys_. Incantations and bell-like sounds project a more bright feeling.

5. "The Celts," the first song and title track from both _Enya_ and _The Celts_ is the last song on this album. For some reason, this song always makes me think of people in cloaks marching through the snow. I know that doesn't have much to do with Christmas, but that's what always comes to my mind. The energetic vocals seem to say, "We have survived the winter and will prosper in the year to come!"

Barely over 15 minutes, this EP is quite brief, but is a wonderful CD to own and can be enjoyed year-round. Also, this would make a great Christmas gift for anyone who enjoys Irish Gaelic or any type of cultural music. Very well done!

49 of 50 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Her most spiritual and sacred sounding recording., July 17, 2001

By 

Neal C. Reynolds (Indianapolis, Indiana) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Christmas Ep (Audio CD)

Okay, so "Silent Night" sung in Gaelic is the only true Christmas song here, but all four vocals followed by the instrumental, "The Celts" together build up an intense feeling of beauty of spirit, more concentrated than in any of her full length albums. Yes, it's short, it's an EP, not a full length CD, but it's worth the money if only for the sound of her "Silent Night", and the change of pace of a short album that starts with an exquisite vocal and ends with an instrumental...different and refreshing for Enya.