Customer Reviews

Night Before: Celtic Xmas

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This is one of my all-time favorite Christmas CDs. It's an annual tradition in my home to play this one on Christmas Eve since the entire album's theme is the night before Christmas and the Irish tradition of welcoming wayfarers in from the cold on that night. The CD was originally released as "The Night Before" a few years ago.

I sent this CD to my Irish friends in Dublin, and they called me to say that they were playing it it over and over again, finding it the perfect traditional Irish music for Christmas.

This is no schmaltzy "Celtic" holiday music, this is the real thing.

The Night Before...A Celtic Christmas by Dordan is forty-nine minutes and thirty-two seconds long and released on September 9, 1997. All of the music is in Celtic\Irish setting. Even the words are sung in Gaelic. The only traditional Christmas song on it is Silent Night; and that is done in a Cetic twist. If you love Irish music and Christmas, then this cassette is for you. The Night Before...A Celtic Christmas by Dordan gets an AAA+++.

Side 1
Twenty-five minutes and forty-one seconds

Enniscorthy Christmas Carol
Leanbh Ghil Mhilis [Bright Sweet Child]
Christmas Eve Reel
Mistletoe Waltz
Draíocht Na Hoíche (The Magic of the Night)
Winter Solstice
Oiche Nollag (Christmas Eve)
March of the Dreolín

Side 2
Twenty-three minutes and fifty-one seconds.

Oíche Chiúin (Silent Night)
Fáilte an Fhánaí (The Wayfarer's Welcome)
Don Oíche Úd Í Mbeithil (Because of a Night in Bethlehem)
Polly in the Holly
The Gartan Mother's Lullaby
Ding Dong! Merrily on High
Shades of Auld Lang Syne

This is a "classic"! I mean, you just have to own it! It complements a collection of Christmas music quite nicely: some pieces are light, other invite to dance while others are sweet and tender.

I'm telling you: it's a must! Enjoyable, even out of season!

This is a must-have for fans of Celtic music; give it a try even if you aren't but just love Christmas music. This was also issued (in Ireland?) under the title "The Night Before" with the same tracks. One of my favorites.

There's not a whole lot to say about this incredible work, it would be like "dancing about architecture" but I can say that these pieces, and particularly The Mistletoe Waltz for me, are an absolute beauty.