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A Winter's Solstice: Windham Hill Artists
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32 new or used available from $13.86
Average customer review:
Track Listing
- Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring - David Qualey
- Engravings II - Ira Stein, Russel Walder
- New England Morning - Will Ackerman
- High Plains - Philip Aaberg
- Nollaig - Mícheál Ó Domhnaill, Billy Oskay
- Greensleeves - Liz Story
- Bach Bourée [From the French Suite] - Liz Story
- Northumbrian Lullaby - Malcolm Dalglish
- Petite Aubade - Shadowfax
- Tale of Two Cities - Mark Isham
Product Details
- Amazon Sales Rank: #12858 in Music
- Released on: 1990-10-25
- Number of discs: 1
Customer Reviews
The best "Solstice"
Windham Hill records has released about five "Winter's Solstice" albums that attempt to creat a somber mood of midwinter and sober reflection of the Holiday season. Of the five, the first one is the best because it contains a minimum of obvious holiday standards and because it creates the most somber mood. The music here, from various Windham Hill artists, is achingly beautiful. It is the type of music to curl up in front of a warm fire with a cup of hot cocoa and reflect on what it all means. This is a must have for fans of new age music.
A Winter's Solstice by Windham Hill
I first heard this music in '88, and immediately bought the tape. It is hauntingly beautiful and has a depth and perspective seldom matched by any recordings I know. My dad died that same year the week before Christmas, and we played this at his memorial. It was unforgetable and will never leave those of us who shared in that moment. Usually, I'm a hard core rock and roller, but this represents an important digression and expansion of my personal tastes. I don't think many would be disappointed with what they hear.
My favorite of the Solstice series
I listen to this one a lot during the holidays, and I always make sure to play it toward the end of a party, when the candles are low and the fire is purring instead of roaring. Unlike some of the other Solstice compilations, this one doesn't have any jarring clunkers or any tracks that go too far into a modern, mechanical techno flavor. It's just warmth throughout. Over the year, I've varied on which was my favorite track. First it was "Bring Me Back a Song" (a piece with fascinating structure and an appealing barrel-organ timbre to the main instrument). Then it was Phil Aaberg's splendid solo piano composition "The Gift," which comes out of nowhere and creates a majestic forest of sound. Right now it's "Abide the Winter" because the melody and texture are so expressive and comforting. This CD will enhance your appreciation of the candlelit solace of being sheltered from the bitter cold out there.
