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A Winter's Solstice: Silver Anniversary Edition
Participated by Various Artists
Studio : Windham Hill Records
by Windham Hill Records
Release Date : 2001-10-09
Publisher : Windham Hill Records
Availability : Usually ships in 1-2 business days
EAN : 0019341160427
UPC : 019341160427
Avg. Customer Rating: (based on 11 reviews)
List Price : $9.98
Our Price : $6.26
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Americancivilwar.com |
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Since the Windham Hill imprint's Winter Solstice series was born in 1985, the concept has gone through some changes, bottoming out with 1999's abysmally kitschy Winter Solstice on Ice. With this Silver Anniversary Edition, Dawn Atkinson, who produced the first Winter Solstice disc, has gone back to her original concept of nontraditional seasonal music and novel arrangements of Christmas classics. She's also brought in some old standbys, soliciting works from Paul McCandless, Barbara Higbie, Will Ackerman, Philip Aaberg, and Liz Story. Much of this new Winter Solstice turns on classical themes. Ex-Kronos Quartet cellist Joan Jeanrenaud teams with guitarist Steve Erquiaga on an airy Handel piece, and McCandless adapts Orlando Gibbons's "The Silver Swan." Others explore traditional carols, including Erquiaga's double-guitar filigree on "Greensleeves." As with past titles in this series, the best compositions are usually the originals. Keyboardist Tim Story, a Winter Solstice stalwart, unfolds another gorgeously melodic ambient chamber piece called "What Comes December." Tracy Silverman and Thea Suits turn in a wistful duet for electric violin and flute, and TV composer W.G. Snuffy Walden goes soft focus on "Moon Lake." While "Beneath the Trees," by Ackerman and Aaberg, seems born in the snow-covered trees of Ackerman's Vermont home, Hawaiian Ozzie Kotani's "Queen's Prayer" seems to have nothing to do with the season. Yet, it somehow fits the mood. --John Diliberto |
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New Age Wonder |
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This is a perfect collection for the holidays, or any occasion. I have the complete Winter Solstice set, and lost the first album in a divorce. This seems to be out of print, but found a like new, perfect one on Americancivilwar. I would highly recommend these for anyone who likes to sit and comfortably relax to soothing music. Steve |
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Instrumental relaxation |
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Mellow, almost too much so, instrumental only. Would be good for background in a store of someplace, but not engaging. |
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This is how traditions begin |
This disc is way, way up there among the best in the series - and this whole series is a "must have" in my book. Most of the songs in this series, and certainly in this disc, would not be considered traditional Christmas music. But for me, the season would lose much of it's charm without this playing in my home. Traditions become traditions because they are enjoyable, and if you give this series (and especially this volume) a chance, you won't regret it.
Lastly, the 30th anniversary of Windham Hill Winter's Solstice discs came and went in 2006. Too bad - a commemorative effort would have been most welcome.
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Solstice goes back to its original style with maturity |
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This is one of the best "Solstice" albums. There is a maturity to the choices on this album which has been lost on the last two "solstice" albums. All are new selections by Liz Story, Philip AAberg. W.G. Snuffy Walden (West Wing theme) is also represented. All in all this is a very enjoyable offering. Highly recommended. |
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Seasonal mood music to surround yourself in |
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This CD and likewise this review is aimed at those who know Windham Hill and appreciate the music put out by the company. It seems logical to presume that if you're reading this review, you enjoy the music that embraces new age, world, smooth jazz and light classical genres. Indeed, as others have pointed out, this is a new recording and has different material than the original Winter's Solstice. In fact, I'll admit that I was disappointed not to find "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring" here. Nevertheless, this is uplifting and inspiring music for the season. You'll find some traditional such as "Greensleeves", "Come All Ye Shepherds", "Down In Yon Forest", along with Handel's "Col Partir La Bella Clori", Orlando Gibbons' "The Silver Swan", and the notable "Queen's Prayer" by Hawaii's last queen, Queen Lili'uokalani. But you'll also find the originals composed by some of the performers such as Richard Schonherz, Tracy Silverman, Jim Brickman, W.G. Snuffy Walden, Will Ackerman and Philip Aaberg, Liz Story, and Tim Story to be the equal if not sometimes better than ther older ones. This is for those who can find a depth of sound and beauty in quiet and simple music, who can enjoy the depths of the instrumentation without thinking it bland, boring or repetitive. |
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