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Our Review

So elegant, lovely, and exquisite, Julie Keim's A Child My Choice is a classical beauty. Although I sometimes shun sopranos as too shrill, Keim wins me over with her supple and warm, yet oh-so-precise instrument. Her excellent singing is perfectly framed by minimal accompaniment, primarily the harp (Eric Sabatino).

This refined offering presents a full hour of gracefully-executed holiday fare. The album opens extremely well with The darkest midnight in December, an Irish traditional carol that is all about sweet melancholy. The gorgeous harmonies (with counter-tenor Roger Isaacs, I believe) on Es is ein' Ros' entsprungen (Low, how a rose e'er blooming), are breathtaking, and the same can be said about What Child Is This?. Keim's plainchant version of Ave Maria is haunting and memorable, especially with the backdrop of handbells. Keim's crackling Jesus born in Beth'ny is an Appalachian trip, and A Carol Garland--with its syncopated percussion and choral refrains--is a very cool melange of diverse carols. In truth, the 19 tracks are all superb.

The mood and musical selections may be classical in tone, but My Child My Choice is accessible to a broad audience. Julie Keim is a phenomenal artist, and her album might well be your wise choice this holiday season.

--Carol Swanson
(Reviewed in 2006)

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From the liner notes:

Julie Keim, soprano
Eric Sabatino, harp

J. Gabriel Stone, flutes and percussion
Gary Davison, handbells, organ and piano
Margaret Neil, soprano
Roger Isaacs, counter-tenor
Kim Miller, violin
Regino Madrid, violin
Chris Shieh, viola
Diana Fish, cello

Julie Keim

A Child My Choice

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Track List