Track Listing

1. When the Snow Melts - Phil Cunningham, Loreena McKennitt
2. Solus (Light)
3. On a Cold Winter's Day/Christmas Eve - Luka Bloom
4. Winter's End - Cormac Breatnach
5. Ciara - Dónal Lunny, Maighread Ní Dhomnaill
6. Nollaig Ma Mban (Women's Christmas, 6th January) - Nightnoise
7. Third Carol for Christmas Day
8. Snow on High Ground
9. Galacian Carol
10. Soillse Na Nollag (The Lights of Christmas)
11. King Holly, King Oak - Johnny Cunningham
12. Snow - Loreena McKennitt
13. We Follow a Star - Brian Dunning

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #68585 in Music
• Released on: 1995-09-12
• Number of discs: 1

Amazon.com
Another satisfying collection of Celtic music, traditional and contemporary, that includes such modern-day folkies as Luka Bloom and, for the lack of a better term, New Age composer Loreena McKennitt. Fans who remember Planxty, the Bothy Band, Silly Wizard, and Capercaillie will embrace the performances here by individual members of those critically acclaimed and popular groups. Nightnoise singer Triona Ní Dhomhnaill, who was once described as one of the greatest voices of the century, sings a haunting piece called "Solus," while her brother and former Bothy Band fiddler Kevin Burke create an enchanting place on "On a Cold Winter's Day/Christmas Eve." In the end, Celtic Christmas really is all of a piece. Each work stands on its own, but taken together they form real feelings for the holiday that run from reverence to revelry and from joy to solitude. Moody and transcendent stuff. --Martin Keller

Customer Reviews

Winter Solstice With Gaelic Accent
It was probably inevitable, and certainly a good idea, that after having produced the Winter's Solstice series of holiday music CD's, Windham Hill would offer a series that, while similar in mood, is more specifically Celtic in nature. This CD is the first in that series and is most welcome. However, to label it exclusively Christmas music would appear to unfairly pigeonhole it, and circumscribe what should be a more universal appeal. It's just as enjoyable in July as in December.

EXCELLENT VARIETY, SOOTHING YET STIRRING MUSIC
wE BOUGHT THIS CD JUST ON A WHIM AND IT HAS BECOME OUR FAVORITE CHRISTMAS CD. ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL MUSIC, PERFECT BACKGROUND FOR ENTERTAINING OR RELAXING.

Fogive me Amazon.com
I found this CD in a shop off of Piazza Navona in Rome (hence I beg the forgiveness of Amazon.com) four or five years ago. It was then entitled "A Celtic Season". After hearing one or two cuts in the store, I knew that I had to have this in my collection.

I would be hard put to pick a favorite cut. I usually drift off into some deep inner space when I listen to this CD, and hardly notice when the tracks change. No I'm not unconscious. It is just that the playing order is so exquisitely well thought out.

If anyone is looking for an introductory CD to Celtic music, this is the one to choose. You will no doubt find yourself reading and rereading the liner notes as you seek out more works of these artists, as soloists or in their collaborations.