A Christmas Celtic Sojourn

Various Artists (Artist)

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 9, 2001)
• Original Release Date: October 9, 2001
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Rounder / Umgd
• ASIN: B00005PJBV
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #38,803 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #46 in	Music > Folk > Traditional British & Celtic Folk > Scottish Folk
  #81 in	Music > Folk > Traditional British & Celtic Folk > Celtic Folk

Track Listings

1. It Came Upon a Midnight Clear - Maddy Prior

2. Gloomy Winter - Bonnie Rideout

3. Christ Child's Lullaby - Sheena Wellington

4. Sou Gan - Steve Schuch

5. Oiche Mhaith Leibh/Good Night to You - Áine Minogue

6. Wexford Lullaby - Maighread Ní Dhomnaill, John Renbourn

7. Draoícht Na Hoíche [The Magic of the Night] - Dordán

8. Cradle Song - Maddy Prior

9. Spered Hollvedel - The Revels

10. Misteriou Joaius - L'Ensemble Choral du Bout du Monde

11. Leanbh Ghil Mhilis [Bright Sweet Child] - Dordán

12. Midwinter Waltz - The Boys of the Lough

13. I Saw a Maiden - Nowell Sing We Clear

14. Ditchling Carol - Waterson:Carthy

15. Personent Hodie/Cantus - Connie Dover

16. O Na Kaerra Burzud - L'Ensemble Choral du Bout du Monde

17. Silent Night - Áine Minogue

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

On A Christmas Celtic Sojourn, Brian O'Donovan, the host of the Celtic Sojourn radio show, compiles a collection of songs that mixes the contemplative with more raucous fare, ancient melodies with modern, and the earthy with the ethereal. The musicians come from all corners of the Celtic world, and include the Breton choir Ensemble Choral du Bout du Monde, who blend medieval vocal harmonies with modern instruments such as the tin whistle and the guitar; Dordan, the masters of Irish baroque music; and the pan-Celtic band the Boys of the Lough. Also included are English performers Maddy Prior (the lead singer of Steeleye Span) and the family group Waterson:Carthy, who deliver a hearty version of the "The Ditchling Carol." The majority of the tracks feature vocals, but the instrumental selections--particularly fiddler Bonnie Rideout's haunting "Gloomy Winter" and the lovely "Midwinter Waltz" from the Boys of the Lough--do a beautiful job of wordlessly evoking the season. By passing over too-familiar Christmas songs in favor of less-well-known melodies, O'Donovan has come up with that rarest of all holiday treats--a gift that that both surprises and delights. --Michael Simmons

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

34 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "Christmas Yuletide Traditional Folk & Contemporary Celtic", October 17, 2001

By	J. Lovins "Mr. Jim" (Missouri-USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Celtic music encompasses the folk music of Ireland and Scotland, featuring string instruments, fiddles and pipes...performed by some of today's recording artists known and unknown to many of us, but one thing is for sure...this album of beautiful Christmas songs and carols from the past hundred years, will be played around the Holiday Season with heartfelt joy.

Tracks include ~ "GLOOMY WINTER" (Bonnie Rideout), "WEXFORD LULLABY" (John Renbourn with Mairead Ni Dhomhnaill and the Voice Squad), "CRADLE SONG" (Maddy Prior), "A MIDWINTER WALTZ" (Boys of the Lough), "PERSONENT HODIE/CANTUS" (Connie Dover), and if the closing track of "SILENT NIGHT" (Aine Minogue), doesn't bring a tear to your eye, then you've missed the entire meaning of CHRISTMASTIDE!

Total Time: 67:07 on 17 Tracks ~ WGBH/Rounder 116-617-042-2 ~ (2001)

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Love it over and over again, June 5, 2003

By A Customer

This is by far one of my favorite Christmas CDs, one of my favorite Celtic CDs, one of my favorite CDs period. I can listen to it for hours while driving through the farmlands in the US. It has a dreamy quality and my daughter day dreams out the window on our long cross country jaunts. If you enjoy the music in Rob Roy, Braveheart, or Lord of the Rings, you'll enjoy this. My favorite selections are #3 Christ's Child Lullaby, #4 Sou Gan, #9 Spered Hollvedel, and #12 A Midwinter Waltz.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Christmas CD set apart from the rest, December 29, 2002

By	C. Stevens "Cathy Knits" (Bainbridge, GA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I purchased this CD because of some of the musicians listed on the CD and after listening to some of the excerpts. This is one CD that I have repeatedly listened to this Christmas season. Not only can it be listened to during the holiday season, but throughout the year. Much of the music is not the traditional Christmas music and has an earthy, folk sound to it. Every time I have played this with company here, someone has wanted a copy of it!! If you are looking for Christmas music that doesn't have the commercial sound to it, this is the CD for you!!