Our Review
Richard Carr is a new age pianist strongly reminiscent of George Winston. "Christmas Fireside" is his first holiday offering (his second, "Crystalline Christmas," is also reviewed on this site), and it presents marvelous mood music for any holiday setting.
This is a substantial album, containing over 63 minutes of music and 17 holiday songs. Three of these are Carr originals ("Bells in the Valley," "Sleight Ride Across Open Fields," and "Christmas Fireside"); I especially enjoyed "Bells in the Valley," which has a driving beat and the dramatic feel of fast-chiming bells over new fallen snow. The title song creates a quiet, introspective atmosphere; you can imagine yourself lost in thought in front of a crackling fire.
The remaining tracks are holiday standards, and Carr does fine new age interpretations of these classics. The feeling is serene, yet spirited. For me, the most effective numbers in terms of emotion are the slower, thoughtful pieces such as "All Through The Night" and "Greensleeves."
If you enjoy new age music and the stylistic approach of George Winston, then Richard Carr's "Christmas Fireside" may be a welcome guest this winter.
--Carol Swanson
(Reviewed in 2004)
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From the liner notes:
All music arranged and/or composed and performed by Richard Carr.
From the website:
Carr's improvisational composition style is full of melodic lines and rich harmonies indicative of the classical influences of the American, Russian and French composers of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Additionally, more modern influences as diverse as Mannheim Steamroller, Tangerine Dream, John Adams, Keith Jarrett, Cole Porter, Thomas "Fats" Waller, Steve Reich, George Winston, and George Gershwin are also evident. With his first three releases, Through the Mind's Eye, Fogland, and An American Quixote, Richard introduced his unique blend of classical music, jazz, and pop resulting in a romantic New Age/Contemporary piano style that is soothing to the soul, mind and body. Releasing When Soul & Heart Collide and Christmas Fireside simultaneously in October 2000, Richard gave his listeners some new compositions and his own interpretations of some of the holiday favorites. It also showcased the further development of Carr's unique improvisational style of composition.
Richard Carr
Christmas Fireside
Order from Amazon
Artist site
Label: Rec'D Music
Length: 63 minutes
Genre: New Age
Release: 2000
Track List
| Song Title |
|---|
| God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen |
| The First Nöel |
| Gesu Bambino |
| Bells in The Valley |
| O, Holy Night |
| Away in a Manger |
| O Come, O Come Emanuel |
| O Tannenbaum |
| Sleigh Ride Across Open Fields |
| Good King Wenceslaus |
| Shalom Cheverin |
| Christmas Fireside |
| We Three King |
| Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming |
| All Through The Night |
| Coventry Carol |
| Greensleeves |