A Winter's Solstice: Silver Anniversary Edition [Import]

Various Artists (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 9, 2001)
• Original Release Date: 2001
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Windham Hill Records
• ASIN: B00005NNDN
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #93,432 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Greensleeves

2. When Earth's Last Picture Is Painted

3. The Gathering

4. The Silver Swans

5. Shades of White

6. Col Partir la Bella Clori

7. Moon Lake

8. Come, All Ye Shepherds

9. Beneath the Trees

10. Down in Yon Forest

11. Maiden Chant

12. When Comes December

13. Queen's Prayer

Editorial Reviews

CD > BRAZILIAN MUSIC > MPB - BRAZILIAN POPULAR MUSIC

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful Music for Any Season of the Year, December 26, 2001

By 

Steve Vrana (Aurora, NE) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Winter's Solstice: Silver Anniversary Edition (Audio CD)

When is a Christmas album NOT a Christmas album? When it's a Windham Hill "Winter Solstice" album. For their silver anniversary edition, Windham hill put together a collection of all new recordings. These are all instrumental and mostly original compositions. The only song you'll recognize with overtly holiday overtones is the opening track, the traditional "Greensleeves," whose tune was used for the hymn "What Child Is This."

These songs all have a haunting beauty to them and are very soothing and peaceful--the perfect kind of background music for the holiday season or any other time of the year.

Among my favorite tracks are the collaboration between William Ackerman and Philip Aaberg on "Beneath the Trees" and multi-instrumentalist Barbara Higbie's "Come All Ye Shepherds" where she alternates on hammered dulcimer, violin, piano and Celtic harp.

Overall, this is 52 minutes and 48 seconds of pure bliss. Enjoy. RECOMMENDED

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Bravo Windham Hill!!, February 6, 2002

By 

E. M. Holderman (Perryville, Kentucky USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Winter's Solstice: Silver Anniversary Edition (Audio CD)

The Silver Anniversary Edition of "A Winter's Solstice" is grounded in the very roots of Windham Hill. The series was origionally started as an instrumental alternative to traditional Christmas music, with a focus more on the concept of the winter solstice. That's exactly what you get on this eighth recording of the series. Featuring different compostions from the origional (1985) "A Winter's Soltice," you will not be disappointed! Whether you're a long time fan of the series or just exploring some new music, this cd is full of beautiful instrumentals - i.e. solo piano, guitar, violin, cello, flute, oboe, harp, English horn, synthesizers and percussions. Some of my favorite songs - Shades of White by Jim Brickman, Handel's Col Partie la Bella Clori by Joan Jeanrenaud & Steve Erquiaga, Greensleeves by Steve Eruiaga, Moon Lake by W. G. Snuffy Walden, Beaneth the Trees by Will Ackerman & Philip Aaberg, and Down in Yon Forest by Jeff Johnson & Brian Dunning.

Is it Christmas music? Yes. Music for anytime, any season? Yes. Play it all year round! Really the only Christmas song, per say, is Greensleeves which was adapted to What Child Is This. I have most of the Winter Solstice cd's, but this is one of my favorites out of the entire series. Bravo to Windham Hill and Happy Anniversary! It's a perfect companion on cold, snowy winter days, especially since it is a celebration of winter itself. As I write this, it is snowing here. I am listening to this very cd and enjoying a cuppa hot tea. I am celebrating the beauty of winter God has blessed us with. Buy it. Pop it in your cd player and bask in the beauty of "A Winter's Solstice - Silver Anniversary Edition."

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Christmas Gift from Windham Hill, November 12, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: A Winter's Solstice: Silver Anniversary Edition (Audio CD)

I am listening to this CD on my computer as I write this review. It's getting to the point that you know that Christmas can't be far off when the new "A Winter's Solistice" CD shows up in the stores. Windham Hill has scored again with a beautiful collection of music appropriate to the season. The Winter's Solistice series is most untypical Christmas music. If your tastes run to the ultra traditional, like Perry Como, Bing Crosby or children's choirs, this might not be for you. But if you just got home from a vigorous day of Christmas shopping, tired, frazzled and footsore, make yourself a cup of hot cocoa, slip this baby into the CD player, kick back and let the bliss flow over you like a warm bath! It's the cure to the commonplace Christmas!