by Catherine L. Tully

Artist: The Black House Ceilidh
Album: "Upon A Winter's Eve"
Year produced: 2006

This debut album provides the listener with a variety of yuletide carols that have an "old time music" flavor to them, giving a nostalgic--and yet timeless feel to the entire CD. Instrumentation such as the viol de gamba, violin and the lute are on hand to lend a good tug to the heartstrings with the emotion they evoke on the holiday selections here.

Rather than relying on flashy arrangements, the selections by The Black House Ceilidh instead favors simple, earnest sounds; relying on the purity of the music rather than the complexity to give it style. This, in fact, can take as much skill as virtuoso play, as it must be clean, sincere and nearly perfect to have the effect of inspiring the listener. This band succeeds on all three counts, delivering a 19 track album that anyone would be delighted to have on their music lineup for the holidays--and beyond.

This is music to enjoy by the fire with a warm mug of something tasty in hand. There is a feeling of the "traditional" woven throughout this CD, so it makes a terrific selection for those looking to add to their collection a bit of the olde holiday spirit; delivered with expertise and simplicity for the enjoyment of the listener.

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Catherine L. Tully is a freelance writer and photographer who specializes in the arts. She has written for American Style and Classical Singer, among other magazines, and reviews music for Marc Gunn's Celtic MP3s Music Magazine. You can reach her through her website at www.catherineltully.com.

Labels: cd_review_2007

Posted by Marc Gunn, Sunday, December 30, 2007.
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