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Our Review

When I picked up "Twas in The Moon of Wintertime," I expected a treat for several reasons. First, the lilting title has a poetic quality unlike most holiday CDs. The album's cover art, which presents lovely moon-over-the-mountains views, nicely corresponds with the title. Finally, the star of this show is dulcimer music, and the instrument has a rare and winning relationship with holiday fare. Dulcimers have an earthy, enchanting, and homespun quality that transports listeners to another place and time. In the extraordinary hands of Steve Eulberg, these dulcimers will carry you to a beautiful place this Christmas.

"Twas in the Moon of Wintertime" easily fulfilled--and even exceeded--my expectations. This instrumental folk CD covers territory well beyond the familiar holiday tunes. In fact, of the 21 offerings, I was unfamiliar with perhaps 10 cuts, including terrific gems such as "Sister Mary". Even better-known numbers such as "Pat-a-Pan" present a freshly vibrant face here.

The stylistic treatment of these minor mode tunes varies dramatically throughout the CD. The disc opens with an unusual, jazzy treatment of "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" and continues to surprise throughout. Sometimes mystical ("Lovely Star"), sometimes smokin' ("Ballad de Jesus Christ"), often contemplative ("Coventry Carol"), the album grabs the listeners' attention and holds it.

Anyone who loves dulcimer music should not be able to resist this CD. It's a keeper.

--Carol Swanson
(Reviewed in 2004)

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Musicians:
Steve Eulberg: all instruments (mountain dulcimer, hammered dulcimer, guitar, djembe, claves afuche cabasa, bodhran, congas, accent bells, guiro) except Siri Lichte: Flute on tracks 2 & 12; Russ Hopkins: Doumbek on track 3; Kaitlin Winter-Eulberg: snare drum; Katie Stieber: cymbal

About the Artist:

First introduced to both kinds of dulcimers by traveling performers while in college (Capital University in Ohio), Steve built his first two instruments in 1980 (mountain) and 1984 (hammered). He is self-taught on both instruments (mostly as a result of continuing to live in places which lack other dulcimer players!). Now he resides with his family in Fort Collins, Colorado, which is developing a reputation for hosting more dulcimer players. He has worked as a brick-laying/patio builder, historical collections processor, landscape laborer, inner-city pastor, anti-racism trainer, remodeler, stay-at-home Dad, and is now the Director of Music at the Lutheran Campus Ministry/CSU-St. Thomas Chapel.

He is the owner and founder of Owl Mountain Music, Inc. and teaches privately, on the faculty of the Westin Arts Academy in Fort Collins, as well as in workshops across the USA. He is author of the Dulcimer-Friendly Worship Series, publisher of poetry on his Owl Mountain Muses imprint, commissioned composer and recording artist.

Steve Eulberg

'Twas in The Moon of Wintertime

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Track List