On Christmas Night

Cherish The Ladies | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 16, 2004)
• Original Release Date: 2004
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Rounder / UMGD
• ASIN: B00065GHQA
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #42,962 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #59 in Music > Folk > British & Celtic Folk > Celtic Folk

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Irish music is particularly rich in songs relating to the celebration of Christmas. Cherish The Ladies, an all-female band made up of Irish-born and first generation Irish-American performers, has mined the purest gold for this delightful set. The 10 tracks are given sensitive yet robust acoustic treatments by a consort of top-notch players. Bandleader Joanie Madden's mastery of tin whistle, low whistle and flute has taken her all over the globe and onto dozens of albums. Lead singer Heidi Talbot's husky-sweet tone is further graced by refreshingly uncluttered phrasing. Mary Coogan's intricate plucked strings, Mirella Murray's lively yet mellow squeezebox, Donna Long's Cape-Breton-inflected piano and Marie Reilly¹s propulsive fiddle are all remarkable but each nonetheless meshes into a tightly arranged, flawless whole. The program evokes nostalgia for joyous childhood holidays long past but also reflects the wistful prayer for peace that a modern celebrant might offer up in difficult times. --Christina Roden

Product Description

No Description Available.
Genre: Christmas Music
Media Format: Compact Disk
Rating:
Release Date: 16-NOV-2004

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best Celtic Christmas Album, November 19, 2004

By 

P O'Dee "Pearl" (New York) - See all my reviews

This review is from: On Christmas Night (Audio CD)

I recently purchased this album and can't recommend it enough! I have been a big fan of Cherish the Ladies for many years but I'm so happy they made a holiday album because I own many celtic Christmas albums and this is the best yet! Beautiful stunning singing from Heidi Talbot backed by the wonderful harmonies in favorite songs of the holidays and ones that I didn't know but are sure to become new favorites. The tunes are interspersed with wonderful traditional music - Joanie Madden leads the band with her masterful whistle playing setting the tone for a great foot stomping album that I know won't be leaving my Disc player for the holiday season!

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Christmas in Ireland, December 9, 2005

By 

Timothy Kearney (Haverhill, MA United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: On Christmas Night (Audio CD)

I first became aware of Cherish the Ladies when Keith Lockhart and the Boston Pops released a collection of Celtic music which features the group as guest soloists. I later saw a slide show of images of Ireland set to their music. It was at that point I was hooked on their music. The music of the group has an authentic Irish feeling to it, but it's not the same old same old that so many recording artist claiming to be Celtic produce. The ballads, jigs, and reels are authentic and original, and in the case of works that the group did not compose, performed in a new manner. The group brings these same qualities to its Christmas collection ON CHRISTMAS NIGHT.

The arrangements of the holiday music are similar to their other recordings. Some of the music is grouped in medleys while others are stand alone works. The arrangements vary in content. Some contain vocals while others are instrumental, and as always, the familiar is blended with the lesser known which creates a great listening experience.

Ireland may not be known for its rich treasury of Christmas music. There is the "Wexford Carol" and "Christmas in Killarney" but while risking blaspheming the name of Bing Crosby, I'm not sure the latter can be considered immortal. This recording demonstrates how Christmas music is truly at home in Irish music and listening to it can almost transport a person to a pub in Ireland during the Christmas season, enjoying the company of friends and quenching thirst with a pint of Guinness. I suppose I sound like one of the "all of the folks at home" mentioned in the song "Christmas in Killarney," but the music of Cherish the Ladies can transport me back to Ireland and this collection can give the listener a feeling of Christmas in Ireland.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful alternative to "traditional" Christmas music, December 3, 2005

By 

Megan Romer (Lafayette, LA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: On Christmas Night (Audio CD)

What? You're tired of "traditional" Christmas music? I can't imagine why, they only play the same 20 songs nonstop for 3 months a year in every shopping venue in America.

If you want something different that will still appeal to the traditionalists (we all have a few of those in our families), look no further. This is not only a top-notch Christmas album, but generally a top-notch Celtic album as well. Cherish the Ladies is undoubtedly one of the finest Irish groups in the world, not to mention one of the finest all-female groups! This album is a great collection of classic Christmas tunes, some common, some obscure, that will make for such a nice change come this holiday season.