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A Scottish Christmas is a very cool instrumental album for the holidays. Featuring Craigievar Castle (an impressive "fairy tale"-style castle located five miles south of Alford on Aberdeenshire's Castle Trail), on the cover, this release capitalizes on the two facets of Scottish music that I love best--the hard-drivin', hard-drinkin' explosively joyful side, as well as the contemplative, somewhat mournful, side. Both present themselves beautifully in the hands of these incredible artists (Bonnie Rideout, Maggie Sansone, and Al Petteway). Bravo!

This is yet another superb seasonal release from the "Maggie's Music" family (www.maggiesmusic.com), and Maggie herself is featured here. She is a masterful dulcimer player, someone whose work I have admired for many years. Joining Maggie on A Scottish Christmas are Bonnie Rideout, an amazing fiddle champion (at the time of this recording, Rideout was a 3-time U.S. Scottish Fiddle Champion, among other honors), and Al Petteway, a Grammy-winning guitarist. With credentials like these, you just know that the album will be GOOD, and it most definitely is. The three instruments (Scottish fiddle, hammered dulcimer, acoustic guitar) converse in the most agreeable ways, bright and beautiful, with each artist adding sophistication and passion to the mix. It is the sort of music that makes nonbelievers religious.

Overbrimming with exquisite musicality, A Scottish Christmas is chock-full of excellence. The Highland bagpipe droning Adeste Fidelis brings authentic Scottish chills, the expressive Baloo, Lammy (a 17th century Scottish carol) is oh-so-sweet, and the dark voices of Gloomy Winter are just what one might expect. Of the 16 tracks, I was familiar with perhaps half, and only a few are universally recognized by holiday music aficionados. Still, the themes expressed pull the heartstrings, and the musicianship is undeniably terrific. The closing Auld Lang Syne moves through several versions of the tune, and is probably the loveliest rendition I have ever heard.

Such lovely music! Step out of your everyday life and onto the highlands this holiday season. A Scottish Christmas with Bonnie Rideout, Maggie Sansone, and Al Petteway is a most delightful trip.

--Carol Swanson
(Reviewed in 2006)

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From the liner notes:

Traditional Scottish carols, wassail tunes, strathspeys and reels for the celebration of Christmas, Hogmanay & the New Year.

The Players:

BONNIE RIDEOUT is a 3-time U.S. Scottish Fiddle Champion, scholar,adjudicator and the first American invited to the Edinburgh International Festival to present the Highland style of fiddling. She is also know for her Celtic renditions on viola.
MAGGIE SANSONE with her hammered dulcimer has spread the sound of Celtic chamber folk music around the world through her recordings, her award-winning record label, and her appearances at Celtic and folk festivals.
AL PETTEWAY is a multi-award-winning acoustic guitarist whose trademark sound blends Celtic themes with open tunings, original compositions and a seamless finer-style technique. He also performs on cittern and bodhran.

ERIC RIGLER (Highland bagpipe, Scottish smallpipes & Uilleann pipes) performed all the pipe music on the soundtrack to the Oscar-winning movie "Braveheart."
Cellist ABBY NEWTON is a recording artist and producer for Scottish singer Jean Redpath.
JON QUIGG plays Highland fife drum.

Producer: Charlie Pilzer
Music Director: Bonnie Rideout
Executive Producer: Maggie Sansone

Dear Listener,

When selecting music for this recording, I considered two important factors. First, I sought compositions that fit well to both Maggie's evocative interpretations on the hammered dulcimer and Al's fluid contemporary guitar style. Their unique sounds combined with the Scottish fiddle, pipes, and cello created a wide palette of textures. Also, I chose a potpourri of repertoire to reflect the many moods of Christmas. Included are familiar Christmas melodies, lesser known tunes from Scotland with seasonal titles, and a few choice classics such as "Bottom of the Punch Bowl" and "Ale is Dear" which were too irresistible not to include. We hope that this recording will bring a wee touch of Scots pine and peat fire into your holidays for many years to come!

Merry Christmas from the bottom of our punch bowl!

--Bonnie Rideout

Bonnie Rideout, Maggie Sansone, and Al Petteway

A Scottish Christmas

Artist link

Track List