Customer Reviews

A Scottish Christmas

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

A friend in Fairbanks, Alaska, who runs a gift store, first told me about this CD. I was mighty skeptical, I can tell you. Wailing bagpipes, and haggis-filled happiness was what I was expecting. Instead, this is a very tasteful, musically magnificent holiday album bound to please many, many folks--those who play the pipes to those who run from the room at the sight of a tartan. Each medly piece eases gently from tune to tune. The stand-alone songs like Greensleeves and Adeste Fidelis are fantastic from end-to-end. I played this CD for a friend of mine who is a highly discerning piper, and she tried to make the CD disappear into HER collection. For one piper to apprecite the music of another to that level is a compliment, indeed.

If you can imagine the haunting tones of bagpipes playing "Oh, Come Emmanuel," this is for you. Maggie Sansone, dulcimer artist and music producer extraordinare, Eric Rigler, the Braveheart piper, and award winning Bonnie Rideout combined to create a Christmas collection both familiar and new. All of these pieces are strikingly beautiful. If you love holiday music, but don't want to hear the same things again and again in the same old tired arrangements, get this one. Better yet, get one for home and one for your car (or office). You'll play it throughout the season.

I particularly love the hammered dulcimer and on the songs where it is prominent on this CD, it is a pleasure to hear such mastery of that difficult instrument. It is especially complimented by the bagpipes that accent throughout several where they work wonderfully well together and offer their ancient, celtic flavor to the traditional Scottish songs of Christmas. The "Yeoman's Carol/Sound of Sleat" is rich with the musical harmonics of those two instruments together.

The Scottish tunes on this CD are very engaging. "Hark the Bonny Christ Church Bells", "Da a Day Dawis", "New Year's Day/On Christmas Night", "Rorate" in particular, really bring forth the feeling of Scotland. However, I did not much care for the styling on those more familiar songs, (to North American ears) such as "God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen", or "Greensleeves", and "O Come all ye Faithful". Personal taste aside, the blending of fiddle, hammered dulcimer, guitar and bagpipes offer a refreshing and interesting taste of scottish music and nicely showcase the talents of the main three award winning artists and their backup players. Plan a party, find a bottle of fine scotch and invite some friends full of mischief and a desire for fun to spend some time laughing and dancing to this high spirited musical rendition of Christmas cheer.

Many albums claim to be "Celtic Christmas," but few actually deliver the goods. This one does. It is a collection of traditional Scottish carols, wassail tunes, strathspeys and reels. Nothing synthesized here. No morphing into New Age. Exceptional muscianship, interesting arrangements, authentic sounds fill the album. If you love Scottish and Celtic music, you will love this album. If you hate bagpipes, this is not for you. The hammered dulcimer is beautiful, with an almost music box sound. You get just over 60 minutes of music, definitely your money's worth. I highly recommend this album. Just be aware that it is not for everyone. Listen to some of the clips before purchasing. I am thrilled to have this album in my collection. Many others will feel the same way, but you have to appreciate this style of music to truly appreciate the album. Think of Christmas comes to "Lord of the Rings."

I recently had the chance to see Bonnie Rideout in concert when they came to Fairbanks AK. Having just moved there recently and not knowing many people, I went to this concert as a way to feel at home. I have grown up on this music and this concert was no diappointment. The musicianship of these performers is unquestionable. They are highly talented, extremely friendly, and undeniably one of the best live shows I have see. The perfection in which the music is played is so wonderful it sounds almost as same as the albulm. I will be following this lady's career, because she is such a joy to see and hear.

poignant, elegant renditions of classics.

These songs are elevated to soothing, melancholic tunes that evoke memories and a real sense of the holidays.

Very entertaining and sustaining.

My entire family saw the Scottish Christmas concert in Indianapolis on 12/9/01. What a fabulous group of musicians! Their on-stage chemistry is obvious from the moment they first walk on stage, one by one. The "Scottish Christmas" CD is fabulous, each and every song. Whether soloing or playing with the entire group, each musician displays his/her fine musical talent. I highly recommend this CD. It really puts you in the holiday spirit!

If you want to hear some beautiful Chrismas music with a Celtic flair and you cannot see the corresponding concert live, then this album is for you. "What Child Is This" will bring tears to your eyes, it's so beautiful.

This is a wonderful CD. I listen to it year round when I need to listen to something soothing. Try it--you'll like it.

Just saw them on their opening night of their Christmas tour and after the show bought the cd, nothing else hs been in the player since! really great!