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Such style and grace! With a name like Celestial Sounds of Christmas, you might think this instrumental album is so ethereal that it could blow away like insubstantial smoke. Not to worry! Elaine Christy (harp) and Patricia Davila (flutes, piccolo) are masters at their crafts, and they have put together a most magnificent, new age/classical album. The musicianship is exquisite, and the harp and flutes converse like long-time companions. Both women are accomplished soloists in their own right, and the Christy/Davila duo pull off an impressive feat: these artists have crafted an utterly accessible, yet highly sophisticated, new age/classical album for the holidays.

The 14 cuts are largely well-known numbers with some elegant, lesser-known pieces thrown into the mix. The mood is relatively serious, though never stuffy, and often carries a whimsical edge. For example, their creative treatment of "Good King Wenceslas" is mesmerizing; the harp and flutes keep switching off on the melody, and there is the most wonderful, and sometimes discordant, counterpoint. Very cool! There is excitement around every cornier; "We Three Kings" features the most exotic harp/flute combination I have ever heard, and "Patapan" pops right off the CD.

Lovely, lovely, lovely! Hoping to become a celestial body? Patricia Davila and Elaine Christy will propel you to the heavens on the wings of their fabulous holiday CD. Fly away on the Celestial Sounds of Christmas!

--Carol Swanson
(Reviewed in 2005)

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From the liner notes:

Patricia Davila: flute, piccolo and alto flute
Elaine Christy: harp

Elaine Christy and Patricia Davila, each recognized soloists, have combined their talents to form one of the metropolitan area's most distinguished harp and flute duos. They have appeared in concerts along the eastern seaboard..

From the Web site:

This first recording in a series of future classical releases for Twinz Records performed by the Christy/Davila Duo features the heavenly sounds of harp and flute in stunning arrangements of seasonal songs and traditional carols. May your holidays be blessed with the comfort and joy of Celestial Sounds.

Elaine Christy and Patricia Davila, one of the New York Metropolitan area's finest harp and flute duos, are passionate in their commitment to create a music for the needs of the 21st century.

Patricia Davila, flutist, has distinguished herself as a soloist, chamber and orchestral musician. She is a three time winner of Artists International in New York City and gave her critically acclaimed New York recital debut at Cami Hall. She has performed as soloist for the National Flute Association Professional Flute Choir and won first prize in the North Jersey Philharmonic Concerto Competition. Ms. Davila is a Miyazawa Flute Artist, (www.miyazawa.com), is listed as a Famous Flautist on the website www.mostlywind.co.uk/famflaut.html and currently is a Twinz Records Recording Artist. She is a 2004 Winner of the National Flute Association Convention Performers Competition.

Elaine Christy is winner of the American Harp Society National Harp Competition and has twice won the Ruth Lorraine Close Competition Award for advanced study. A Steinway Hall Soloist, Ms. Christy was invited to perform at the World Harp Congress in Seattle/Tacoma, 1999 and Geneva, Switzerland, 2002. She appeared with the Princeton University Chapel Choir in the 250th Anniversary Documentary film entitled Princeton: Images of a University, produced by Gerardo Puglia. Of her solo performance in York, England, Musician Magazine said, 'American harpist Elaine Christy.. enthralled the delegates.' Her Holiday Concerts in the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, Newark, New Jersey were met with standing ovations.

Patricia Davila and Elaine Christy

Celestial Sounds of Christmas

Artist link

Track List