Our Review
Lovers of Celtic music--or of folk music generally--will enthusiastically embrace the Barra MacNeils' Christmas Album. Although the group will win no awards for creative album names, this is an outstanding offering in every other respect. The Barra MacNeils are an amazingly talented, close-knit family (Lucy, Sheumas, Stewart, and Kyle) who hail from Cape Breton, Nova Scotia.
The Barra MacNeils have also produced a DVD, The Barra MacNeils' Cape Breton Christmas, that contains many, but not all, of the same numbers. For listeners who yearn to attend a Barra MacNeils' holiday concert, the DVD is the next best thing to being there.
The Christmas Album is a fully satisfying jewel. Packed with 14 tracks at just under 55 minutes, the Barra MacNeils run the gamut from well-familiar ancient carols to tunes far better known on Cape Breton; still, every song has universal appeal and is superbly executed. The Barra MacNeils' Celtic arrangement of "Carol of the Bells" is perhaps the finest version I have ever heard; the rhythms and harmonies lift the number to a higher plane. All of the vocals are wonderful on this album, but Lucy's voice is extraordinary--transparent and crystalline, yet warm and rich; her solos (on songs like "Ann am Baille Ri'oghail Dhaibhidh/Once in Royal David's City") will stop you in your tracks.
So stunningly sweet! Although the Barra MacNeils have several CDs at Amazon.com, I did not find the holiday offerings (DVD or CD) there. These works are, however, available online through several Canadian retailers, including Castlebay Music.
--Carol Swanson
(Reviewed in 2005)
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From the liner notes:
The Barra MacNeils are:
Lucy: Lead vocals, backing vocals, fiddle, bodhran, stepdance, celtic harp
Stewart: Lead vocals, backing vocals, accordions, Irish flute, whistles, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, percussion
Kyle: Lead vocals, backing vocals, fiddle, viola, mandolin, banjo, acoustic guitar
Sheumas: Backing vocals, acoustic piano, keyboards With Jamie Gatti: Electric bass, upright bass
Additional musicians:
Boyd MacNeil: Octave mandolin
Mathew Foulds: Drums, percussion
The fiddlers: Michael A. MacLean, Carl MacKenzie, Hector MacKenzie, Hughie Campbell.
The gaelic singers: Rod C. MacNeil, Jamie MacNeil, Maxi MacNeil, Paul K. MacNeil, Joe Peter MacLean and Frances Forrest.
From the Web site:
Canada's Celtic ambassadors, the Barra MacNeils have been nominated for Best Folk/ Traditional Group at the 2005 Celtic Fusion Awards.
The Barra MacNeils, from Sydney Mines Nova Scotia, are one of Canada's premier Celtic groups steeped in Cape Breton tradition with strong Celtic roots and musical artistry. This diverse and talented family group continues to wow audiences around the world with their captivating vocals, harmonies and extraordinary musicianship.
The Barra MacNeils
The Christmas Album
Order from Amazon
Artist site
Label: New Scotland Pictures, Inc.
Length: 54 minutes
Genre: Celtic
Release: 2003
Track List
| Song Title |
|---|
| God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen |
| Children's Winter |
| Carol of the Bells |
| Ann am Baile Ri'oghail Dhaibhidh (Once in David's Royal City) |
| Singing in the Streets |
| Christmas Comes But Once a Year (Christmas in Carrick) |
| Christmas in Killarney |
| Snowplow Set |
| O Holy Night |
| Galician Carol |
| O Come Divine Messiah |
| Taladh Chriosda (Christ Child Lullaby) |
| Party in Washabuckt |
| Auld Lang Syne |