Songs for Christmas and Winter Celebrations

Festive collection of traditional music for the winter holidays performed by Celtic/Medieval band Brocelïande.

Beautiful instrumental and vocal arrangements for Celtic harp, cello, guitar, octave mandolin, voices, oboe, English horn, flute, melodeon, recorders, whistles and drums. Brocelïande is: Margaret Davis, Karl Franzen, Kristoph Klover, and Kris Yenney.

SIR CHRISTÈMAS includes these songs of Christmas and Winter
(click on links for soundclips):

Gloucestershire Wassail

Un Flambeau, Jeanette, Isabella

Gaudete

O'Carolan's 179

The Boar's Head Carol

Carol of the Birds

Gavottes I and II

Entre le Boeuf/Noel Nouvelet

The Holly and the Ivy

Mrs.White's Nothing/Mrs.White's Thing

Shoot the Wren

Edi Beo Thu

Abbots Bromley Horn Dance

Yo Me Soy La Modenica

Sir Christemas

Away in a Manger

REVIEWS OF SIR CHRISTÈMAS

"Brocelïande is a very capable four-piece ensemble in the early-music/Baroque/Celtish mold. On this Christmas recording, the players cover a very broad range of music from Western Europe, everything from an interesting hymn in Middle English to French carols, English wassails, Bach tunes, and even familiar Christmas songs. Margaret Davis has a high, clear voice and considerable talent on the harp. A pleasant blend of guitars, cello, oboe, flute, and so forth combine with some fine harmony singing to make this an enjoyable CD to put on while trimming trees, baking cookies, and all those other midwinter tasks. The insert includes a recipe for wassail. " --Dirty Linen

"Seasonal and Christmas music from several western European traditions, arranged for guitars, harp, winds, and cello, are offered by this California quartet. Some Yuletide chestnuts, some unusual songs (for example, the beautiful 'Carol of the Birds') and a few splendid instrumental pieces make this a nice holiday collection. -- Sing Out!

"Sixteen entertaining tunes in medieval and Renaissance styles range from 'Gloucestershire Wassail' to 'Un Flambeau, Jeanette, Isabelle' (with French and English lyrics), the Latin 'Gaudete,' an lrish instrumental, and 12 more with similar variety--including one song in Medieval English. This excellent quartet not only plays Celtic harp, flute, guitar, period instruments, oboe, English horn, and cello, it also shines on vocals, with qualities that suit the pub/street-singing feel of certain cuts. Engaging Old World atmospheres. " --NAPRA ReView

"Drawing from a diversity of European and American cultures, Sir Christemas presents songs in English, French, German, and Spanish spanning periods from the 13th to 20th centuries. The words hark to Christmas, Yule, Winter Solstice, and other "Festivals of Light" integral to this time of year. Detailed liner notes give lyrics for the vocal pieces, historical context and attributions for all songs, and other fascinating background information. My favorite tracks include the rousing "Gloucestershire Wassail", "The Boar's Head Carol", an exquisitely soulful rendition of "The Holly and the Ivy", and "Edi Beo Thu." Actually, I loved them all ... Put it on your shopping list, too; Sir Christemas is a perfect gift for fans of traditional music. This is far and again the best winter holiday release I've heard since MotherTongue released This Winter's Night ... Most highly recommended." --PanGaia


**To purchase CD with check or money order, email us for address.

And don't miss these other fine recordings
by the Barley Rigs performers ...

JIG OF LIFE:
Magical collection of Celtic, Medieval, and Renaissance music of Summer performed by Brocelïande -- volume three of Songs of the Seasons.

GATHERING MAY:
Joyous collection of Celtic, Medieval, and Renaissance music of Spring performed by Brocelïande -- volume two of Songs of the Seasons.

BARLEY RIGS :
Festive collection of seasonal Christmas, Solstice, and Yule music performed by Brocelïande -- volume three of Songs of the Seasons.

PRINCESS OF FLOWERS: 
Broceliande bandleader Margaret Davis's solo album of beautiful, ethereal Celtic and Medieval music. Vocals with Celtic harp, recorders, and acoustic instruments. Info:http://www.flowinglass.com/princess/index.html

THE STARLIT JEWEL: 
Songs of J.R. R. Tolkien, music by Marion Zimmer Bradley, Kristoph Klover, and Margaret Davis. Performed by Margaret Davis, Kristoph Klover and Brocelïande.

AVALON RISING:
Kristoph Klover's Celtic rock band, playing scintillating new arrangements of Celto-Medieval-Psychedelia! "Wets the mind like Irish mist." HarpBeat
Band info:http://www.avalonrising.com
STORMING HEAVEN: 
Kristoph Klover's Celtic rock band, playing even more scintillating new arrangements of Progressive Celtic/Medieval Rock! "With a mystical presence evocative of Otherwhere and Otherwhen."
Band info: http://www.avalonrising.com

 

Back to Flowinglass Music home page
Back to Avalon Rising home page
Back to Broceliande home page