Track Listing

1. On Christmas Night / Charles O'Conor
2. The Castle of Dromore
3. Henry Roe McDermott / The Holly and the Berry
4. Hark the Herald Angels Sing / The Traveler / Lilies in the Field / The Blacksmith's Reel
5. The Distressed Soldier / Angels We Have Heard on High / The Fairy Reel
6. The Little Drummer Boy
7. O' Holy Night / Cill Chais
8. Ding Dong Merrily on High / The Cordial Jig / Old Apples in Winter / Con Cassidys
9. Silent Night
10. Oh Little Town of Bethlehem / The Ballintore Fancy / The Kerry Reel / Limestone Rock

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #4036 in Music
• Brand: CHERISH THE LADIES
• Released on: 2004-11-16
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .20 pounds

Album Description
The critically acclaimed women's ensemble Cherish the Ladies extends its theme of traditional Irish music to the holidays. On Christmas Night features traditional Irish melodies and carols like "The Holly and the Berry" and "The Wexford Carol" interspersed with well-known Christmas carols, including "O Come All Ye Faithful," "What Child Is This," "The Little Drummer Boy," "We Three Kings," "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen," "Angels We Have Heard on High," "Silent Night," and "The First Noel." All of the arrangements are brought forth with a new freshness by the use of the group's unique Celtic instrumentation (penny whistles, fiddles, accordion, concertina, piano, guitar, mandolin, banjo, flutes) and beautiful harmonies, and then heightened by the inclusion of world-class Irish stepdancing.

Amazon.com
Irish music is particularly rich in songs relating to the celebration of Christmas. Cherish The Ladies, an all-female band made up of Irish-born and first generation Irish-American performers, has mined the purest gold for this delightful set. The 10 tracks are given sensitive yet robust acoustic treatments by a consort of top-notch players. Bandleader Joanie Madden's mastery of tin whistle, low whistle and flute has taken her all over the globe and onto dozens of albums. Lead singer Heidi Talbot's husky-sweet tone is further graced by refreshingly uncluttered phrasing. Mary Coogan's intricate plucked strings, Mirella Murray's lively yet mellow squeezebox, Donna Long's Cape-Breton-inflected piano and Marie Reilly¹s propulsive fiddle are all remarkable but each nonetheless meshes into a tightly arranged, flawless whole. The program evokes nostalgia for joyous childhood holidays long past but also reflects the wistful prayer for peace that a modern celebrant might offer up in difficult times. --Christina Roden

Customer Reviews

The Best Celtic Christmas Album
I recently purchased this album and can't recommend it enough! I have been a big fan of Cherish the Ladies for many years but I'm so happy they made a holiday album because I own many celtic Christmas albums and this is the best yet! Beautiful stunning singing from Heidi Talbot backed by the wonderful harmonies in favorite songs of the holidays and ones that I didn't know but are sure to become new favorites. The tunes are interspersed with wonderful traditional music - Joanie Madden leads the band with her masterful whistle playing setting the tone for a great foot stomping album that I know won't be leaving my Disc player for the holiday season!

Christmas in Ireland
I first became aware of Cherish the Ladies when Keith Lockhart and the Boston Pops released a collection of Celtic music which features the group as guest soloists. I later saw a slide show of images of Ireland set to their music. It was at that point I was hooked on their music. The music of the group has an authentic Irish feeling to it, but it's not the same old same old that so many recording artist claiming to be Celtic produce. The ballads, jigs, and reels are authentic and original, and in the case of works that the group did not compose, performed in a new manner. The group brings these same qualities to its Christmas collection ON CHRISTMAS NIGHT.

The arrangements of the holiday music are similar to their other recordings. Some of the music is grouped in medleys while others are stand alone works. The arrangements vary in content. Some contain vocals while others are instrumental, and as always, the familiar is blended with the lesser known which creates a great listening experience.

Ireland may not be known for its rich treasury of Christmas music. There is the "Wexford Carol" and "Christmas in Killarney" but while risking blaspheming the name of Bing Crosby, I'm not sure the latter can be considered immortal. This recording demonstrates how Christmas music is truly at home in Irish music and listening to it can almost transport a person to a pub in Ireland during the Christmas season, enjoying the company of friends and quenching thirst with a pint of Guinness. I suppose I sound like one of the "all of the folks at home" mentioned in the song "Christmas in Killarney," but the music of Cherish the Ladies can transport me back to Ireland and this collection can give the listener a feeling of Christmas in Ireland.

A wonderful alternative to "traditional" Christmas music
What? You're tired of "traditional" Christmas music? I can't imagine why, they only play the same 20 songs nonstop for 3 months a year in every shopping venue in America.

If you want something different that will still appeal to the traditionalists (we all have a few of those in our families), look no further. This is not only a top-notch Christmas album, but generally a top-notch Celtic album as well. Cherish the Ladies is undoubtedly one of the finest Irish groups in the world, not to mention one of the finest all-female groups! This album is a great collection of classic Christmas tunes, some common, some obscure, that will make for such a nice change come this holiday season.