‘Ireland’s greatest Christmas music’ is written on the back of the CD I
have in front of me.
Yes, it is Christmas
music, but naming this a Christmas album would not honor this album enough. A Christmas
album is one that gets played in the appropriate period and then disappears in
the attic for a year, together with all the decorations. This album does not
fit that picture. No, it will find its place between all my CD’s, because it is
not merely a great ‘Christmas album’, it simply is … ‘a great album’.
“Another victim of time, this Devereux carol is
no longer sung in Wexford and its tune has been forgotten.”
This quote
about ‘A virgin queen in Bethlehem’ in the booklet represents maybe the
importance of this album. Caitríona O’Leary has been fascinated by the Wexford
Carols for over 20 years, and brings them back to live. She has done a lot of
research to bring this music, with the utmost respect to the original tunes.
This fact alone makes it a must have, since the original music seemed lost.
But there
is much more. I have been listening to it now for a couple of weeks and it brings
extra beauty in our home.
I had never
heard Caitríona’s music. She has a wonderful voice, and an amazing vocal range.
The first words of opening track ‘Tell Shepherds’ immediately set the atmosphere.
With merely these 2 words she grabs your attention, and keeps it for the entire
album.
She is
accompanied on the album by 3 guests. Rhiannon Giddens brings us a wonderful
version of ‘Now to conclude our
Christmas Mirth’, Tom Jones sings ‘The Angell said to Joseph Mild’ like I never
heard him sing before, and Rosanne Cash gently lays me down on a pillow with
‘Behold three kings’. Apart from these
songs, they all bring their welcome contribution to several songs.
Lots of
great ‘listening’ songs, but also
songs like ‘An angel this bright Midnight’ which is a very rhythmical, hypnotic
and joyful song, and in the end ‘Christmas day is come’ swings us to the
closing track of the album : ‘The Enniscorthy Christmas Carol’, which is sung
by these four wonderful voices in close harmony.
Joe Henry
produced this album, and he did it with the same respect Caitríona treated the history
of The Wexford Carols. He also brought in longtime collaborator and Sound
engineer Ryan Freeland. It’s like not 1 instrument or voice is pushed to the
back. You can hear it all so clear, each littlest sound. It’s like all these
musicians are live in the room with me.
They all deserve a big applause. And yes, I will name all of them, so
stand up : Dónal Lumny, John Smith, Adrian Hart, ´Éamonn de Barra, Kate Ellis,
Greg Cohen, Mel Mercier and Graham Hopkins. (I hope I didn’t forget anyone)
All this delivered
with a wonderful lay-out. Even the booklet got the deserved treatment. Great
photos by Laelia Milleri, accompanied by info on the separate tunes and history
on the Carols.
If all this
doesn’t convince you to get this album, then still do, and listen to it. That
will do the trick.
Now let’s
give it another spin.
