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Our Review

Ellen Tepper is one seriously talented woman. She is a phenomenal Celtic harpist, a witty historian/lecturer, a skillful arranger, an outstanding performer, AND a skilled artisan--she designed and hand-embroidered the cover art. All this, and a great instrumental holiday album, too! Tepper's Winter Cycles: Christmas on Celtic Harp is everything you might imagine from a harp offering and more. All season harp albums have a certain mystical beauty, and Winter Cycles certainly reflects that quality, but in addition, Tepper's work rises on the strength of its song selection, recording quality, and virtuosity.

When Winter Cycles opens, "Ding Dong Merrily on High" is light and bright, putting a big smile on the listener's face within the first few bars. The 18 tracks are largely familiar classical fare for the holidays and some exquisitely eclectic choices, including "Simple Gifts," "Largo (from Winter, The Four Seasons)," "Drewrie's Accordes," "Speak Softly Before the Dear Baby," and "Four Variations on Auld Lang Syne." The "Auld Lang Syne" variations are particularly sweet; I'm not a big fan of that New Year's number, but Tepper's treatment is a revelation.

This buoyant music exhibits grace and style at every step. Tepper's precise style is clean and light, and the excellent production values here make every note shimmer. My favorite tracks include the sophisticated harp duet on "Carol of the Bells," the lyrical and melancholy "In the Bleak Midwinter," and the always gorgeous "Lo How a Rose." This lovely instrumental album would create an impeccable ambiance for any holiday gathering or quiet evening before the fire.

So take a gentle spin with Ellen Tepper on Winter Cycles; her glorious Celtic harp will make you dizzy with delight!

--Carol Swanson
(Reviewed in 2005)

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From the liner notes:

Recorded, mixed and mastered by Daoud Shaw at Radio Active Productions, Philadelphia, PA

#1, 10*, 18 arranged by Ellen Tepper
#2, 4, 13, 14 arranged by Kim Robertson
#3, 7, 8, 15, 16, 17 arranged by Dan Burton
#5 arranged by Sam Milligan
#6 arranged by Sunita Stanislaw
#9 arranged by Sylvia Woods
#11 arranged by Ray Pool
#12* arranged by Darhon Rees-Rohrbacher
*harp duets

From the Web site:

Ellen Tepper - Celtic harpist and historian brings life to 500 years of harp music. Her abiding interest in early music was inspired by a childhood spent exploring ruins in Europe and by her exposure to the multi-faceted cultural life of Vienna, Austria. She began her study of classical harp at the age of eight, and continued her studies to earn a degree in Harp Performance from the Philadelphia College of Performing Arts.

Entering the world of the Irish harp through historical sources rather than folk tradition, she has produced two recordings Timeless Music for the Celtic Harp and Celtic Refractions. Her repertoire ranges from the 13th to 18th centuries, and includes the music collected in Belfast, 1792, at the gathering of the last of the Irish minstrel harpers.

As an authority on the early harp, she is in demand as a lecturer and performer. Known for her humorous approach to historical anecdote, her History of the Harp through Iconography show is both educational and funny. She has served on the Board of Trustees of the Historical Harp Society, performed with PIFFARO, and has conducted workshops in English Country Dance Music for the International Society of Folk Harpers and Craftsmen. In addition to workshops, she also teaches harp privately from her Glenside home.

Ellen Tepper

Winter Cycles: Christmas on Celtic Harp

Artist link

Track List