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Of Dean Shostak's glass armonica I am often reminded of the sound of a music box, only with much clearer tones. On Crystal Carols, Shostak's first Christmas offering, the music is so rich and clear it can almost be seen. What I see is a vision of a snowy night, icicles hanging down from outside the window. Looking inside the window, I see a traditional Christmas setting: the living room decorated, fire in the hearth, stockings hung, and a beautifully trimmed tree decorated with spun glass.

Because the glass armonica is not ideally a solo instrument, Shostak often accompanies himself on violin (some trick!) and is, at times, accompanied also by Jacqueline Schwab on piano and Carol Rose Duane on harp. The result of this collaboration is at times simple and at other times almost baroque.

I liked the sound of Auld Lang Syne, which was a bit haunting on glass armonica. Also interesting was the inclusion of Simple Gifts, which yielded to interpretation by this instrument more completely than any other song on the record.

--Richard Banks
(Reviewed in 1999)

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Dean Shostak

Crystal Carols

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Track List