A Christmas Celebration

Online Shopping / Music / A Christmas Celebration

Big Fat Search

Binding: Audio CD
Published: 2006-10-03

$12.97

A Christmas Celebration
by: Celtic Woman

Editorial Review:

No Description Available
Track: 10: Panis Angelicus,
Track: 11: Don Oiche Ud I Mbeithail That Night In Bethehem,
Track: 12: O Comes All Ye Faithful,
Track: 13: The Little Drummer Boy,
Track: 14: The Wexford Carol,
Track: 15: Let It Snow Bonus Tracks,
Track: 1: O Holy Night,
Track: 2: Away In A Manger,
Track: 3: Ding Dong Merrily On Hight,
Track: 4: White Christmas,
Track: 5: Silent Night,
Track: 6: Christmas Pipes,
Track: 7: The Christmas Song,
Track: 8: Carol Of The Bells,
Track: 9: Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
Media Type: CD
Artist: CELTIC WOMAN
Title: CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION
Street Release Date: 10/03/2006
Domestic
Genre: XMAS VOCAL
One of the more impressive things about A Christmas Celebration is its glowing immediacy. The record's rich vocals and colorful instrumentals create a concert-like setting, reprising the season's most loved hymns, carols, and pop standards, along with a Gaelic version of "That Night in Bethlehem." Unexpected numbers such as "Christmas Pipes" and "Carol of the Bells" (here led by the spirited fiddling of Mariread Nesbitt) only enhance an already engaging disc that finely weaves between the piety of classical music and the playfulness of pop. Chloe Agnew, Orla Fallon, Lisa Kelly, and Meav Ni Mhaolchatha combine their Celtic voices against orchestral arrangements and sparser settings--spiked with the traditional Irish fare of uilleann pipes, harp, and ancient choral harmony--to deliver an assortment of reverent but lively arrangements that wouldn't be out of place at a church, concert hall, or good Irish celli. --Martin Keller
Irish producer/arranger David Downes, the creative mastermind behind Celtic Woman's chart breakthrough and burgeoning international success, here conjures up an inviting holiday showcase for his neo-superstar crossover quartet. He pushes the group's crowd-pleasing formula into more expansive arrangements with the Irish Film Orchestra, supplemented by a strong core of featured instrumentalists, including Downes himself. If the ethnic folk influences that gave the group its name are sometimes less pronounced, the result is a collection whose dignified, pop elegance often transcends national boundaries. The vocal performances are expectedly polished, with the quintet breaking off into smaller units and solo showcases such as Lisa Kelly's Broadway-lullaby take on "The Christmas Song," a neo-classical "Panis Angelicus" by Chloe Agnew, and the muscular orchestral/choral setting for Mariead Nesbitt's earthy fiddle on "Carol of the Bells." The quintet (backed only by Nesbitt's spare strings) harmonize richly on "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" and bring their trademark neo-Celtic charms more fully to bear on intimate translations of "Silent Night" and "The Wexford Carol" as well as a glorious take on the Gaelic traditional "That Night in Bethlehem." Perhaps to remind fans of their true range, the swinging, big-band bonus track "Let It Snow" closes the collection with upbeat flair. --Jerry McCulley

Customer Reviews:

Avg. Customer Rating: 4.5 / 5.0

Lovely Classic Mix:

This is a lovely, classic mix of interesting and complex choral arrangements of Christmas and holiday classics.

Angelic Voices for the Christmas Season:

They are magnificent. However, the popular traditional Christmas songs, I thought, detracted from the wonderful tone they set with the Celtic-type music.

Wintry ,Wonderful And Peaceful !:

I Love this Album. I was not sure at first I would like it .
It surprised me ! Every Song is Amazing . Upbeat for the Holidays and Beyond The Wintry Months. Does Not Disappoint.
I would Highly Recommend This Album To All.

My NEW Favorite Christmas c.d.!!!:

I saw the "Celtic Woman" group perform these Christmas songs on PBS, at a concert in Ireland. My husband and I fell in love with the soothing celtic music and beautiful voices of the singers. So I got the c.d. and it has become my new favorite! My kids even enjoy listening to it! It has a wonderful selection of songs, and really gets you into the Christmas spirit!

Tracks: