Mittens for Christmas

Kirkmount | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 9, 2001)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Dorian Recordings
• ASIN: B00005NTPK
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #370,662 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Wexford Carol/Il Est Ne Le Divin Enfant/Christmas Eve Reel

2. O Holy Night/The First Noel

3. Coventry Carol/The Christ Child's Lullaby/Ding Dong! Merrily On High/Apple Tree Wassail/...

4. The Carol Of The Birds/Lo How A Rose E'er Blooming

5. Greensleeves Jig/Falcon's Christmas Jig/Miriam's Christmas Jig

6. O Come, O Come Emmanuel/What Child Is This/The Boar's Head Carol/Good King Wenceslas/...

7. I Wonder As I Wander

8. A Virgin Most Pure/Angelus Ad Virginem/Sussex Carol

9. Bring A Torch/Down In Yon Forest/There Was A Pig Went Out To Dig/I Saw Three Ships/Christmas Morning

10. Child In A Manger/Gloucestershire Wassail

11. New Snow/Mittens For Christmas

12. The Cherry Tree Carol

13. Jesus Christ The Apple Tree

14. Orange And Blue/Golden Rod Jig

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars different and beautiful, November 24, 2006

By 

K. R. Mangels (Washington, DC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Mittens for Christmas (Audio CD)

This release came out after 9/11. I remember it because it's first piece begins very slowly - mournfully - and then slowly, ever so slowly, starts to pick up in tempo and spirit and become more and more joyful. The rest of the album is equally beautiful, and I am certain the only reason more people don't know of it is because we as a country just weren't in the mood for Christmas music at that time. This is the sort of unusual holiday music that is characterized by ancient, traditional melodies and the passion of the people who perform it for us, today. Once you hear it, you will never forget it. The highest recommendation.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What a find., May 1, 2007

By 

Karen M. Penn "Karma Penn" (The Land of Pleasant Living) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Mittens for Christmas (Audio CD)

I first heard this CD played in the Abby bookshop of the Pennsylvania
Rennaissance Faire. I think I deprived them of their last copy. The brothers voices fit together seemlessly. I highly recomend this recording
to anyone who is tired of the radio's verison of Christmas music.

5.0 out of 5 stars Celtic contemplation and reel jiggery, November 14, 2011

By 

John Gough "John Gough - Deakin University" (Melbourne, Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mittens for Christmas (Audio CD)

Three talented brothers, multi-instrumentalists, take traditional Christmas carols (some French, many English) as their starting points.
Celtic harp, violin, cello, Celtic drums (and there seem to be other instruments, sometimes).
The instruments take turns to open a carol, sometimes quietly, contemplatively.
The violin, especially, can imitate the grace-note ripple-ornamentation of Celtic pipes -- or do Celtic pipes imitate the note-slipping ornamentation of a fiddle? -- or do these folk instruments imitate Celtic singing?
Then the first tune is replaced, medley or pot pourri style, by another: the tempo can pickup, the drum adds a surge of energy.
It becomes hard to keep your feet from dancing.
And, yes, this is all joyful, and beautiful.
The booklet of notes explains the personal background to each track, the sets of carols or medley and their connections, and the origins of each carol.
Happily the booklet also explains the unusual title: Christmas was when newly hand-knitted mittens were received from an elderly, ailing loving relative -- treasured as a remembrance of the giver.
All that's missing is the mulled wine, and a crackling fire, with holly and the scent of the Christmas tree.

Why isn't there are sequel? There are other carols that suit plaintiff Celtic ripples and the driving beat of a reel!
John Gough -- Deakin University -- [e-mail]