Customer Reviews

The Holly & The Ivy

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I have been a Celtic music buff for nearly 20 years and own albums by most of the Celtic artists performing today. Many female Celtic artists are ethereal and lovely, but Connie Dover's voice soars above them all. Her soprano is clear and true, but behind its pure tone is a hint of the muscular Midwest where she makes her home. Hers is no airy-fairy voice; she needs no such self-conscious vocal adornments, possessing as she does, the most naturally pure and most listenable soprano I know.

With a perfect voice and the looks to match, it's a puzzlement why Connie chooses to make so few albums, or not tour far outside of her Kansas City hometown. She could easily have a global following like Loreena McKennitt or Enya, but she seems very content to remain a homegrown Midwestern product. I call that a waste of a national treasure, a performer who successfully melds Celtic tradition with the most American of songs. This latest offering, recorded in 2008 with the Kansas City Chamber Orchestra represents her first recording in 8 years, since 2000's "Border of Heaven." The most burning question begging to be asked is why Connie waited so long to record a Christmas album; these ancient carols, many with Celtic roots, are a perfect match to her voice. If you are looking for a "pure" Christmas CD, untainted by New Age-y 'experimental' winter numbers or by any secular songs, this is a perfect choice. Connie has actually done the impossible here and introduced me to a new carol ("The Huron Carol")--and here I thought I knew them all. My only beef with this album, and the reason I give it four stars rather than five is its brevity: its 9 songs are a scant 43 minutes long. More please, Connie! She could record a new Christmas project every year for decades to come and not exhaust all her potential material.

It's too late to have this for this Christmas season, but I guarantee that you will love this year round and for many many Christmases to come. I'd call this a must-buy if you're a Connie fan; if you aren't already, this will win you over after one song.

I was glad to find this album in time for Christmas. She performs all the songs in her special style and "the Holly and the Ivy" is especially suitable listening as you sit beside the Christmas tree when it's snowing outside. A nice addition to any Christmas music collection.

Connie Dover has been a consistently brilliant performer of Celtic, folk and western music since I was a teenager. This holiday album with the KC Chamber Orchestra is a real treat and a great gift. I'm thankful that it's available on MP3 from Amazon, since it would otherwise only have local exposure in the plains states. The Holly and the Ivy is my favorite track, but it's always in my top five Christmas songs. Please support these great musicians, then sit back and enjoy the clear beauty of Connie's voice backed up by the rich sound of the KC Chamber Orchestra.