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Our Review

I love this album.

Some popular artists include a holiday release in their discography as an easy mark, a perfunctory, throwaway project that safely covers traditional fare in a routine fashion. Not Sting. If on a Winter's Night is moody and magnificent, with dramatically shifting rhythms and intense emotions. This is serious business and high art, Sting-style.

It is tough to peg this offering's genre. Sting is a pop star, but this isn't pop music. More recently, the artist has dabbled in the classical pool (and the Deutsche Grammophon label reinforces this notion), and this release does exude a classical feel in places (especially on tracks such as Now Winter Comes Slowly; music by Henry Purcell). The music has significant folk flavors, too.

If on a Winter's Night is all about exploration and discovery. Using winter (Sting's self-professed favorite season) as the central theme, Sting and his excellent guest musicians interpret traditional music of the British Isles, including The Snow It Melts the Soonest (traditional Newcastle ballad) and Soul Cake (an English "begging song"). Sting includes two originals, The Hounds of Winter and Lullaby for an Anxious Child (both previously released). The excellent music is well-executed and exciting. From the sterling, stark presentation of Cherry Tree Carol (just Sting and his guitar) to the haunting, layered Balulalow (featuring Sting's fascinating, elongated enunciation of each note and eerie background support) and the mystical There Is No Rose of Such Virtue, this eclectic holiday offering surprises and pleases on every level.

My one minor disappointment is Lo How a Rose E'er Blooming. Sting narrates one verse. Although he does so with dramatic effect, such readings can distract from a song's musical pleasures, and that's the case for me. This small gripe, however, does not change the fact that I give Sting's If on a Winter's Night my highest recommendation. Enough said.

--Carol Swanson
(Reviewed in 2009)

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From the liner notes:

All songs arranged by Sting and Robert Sadin

Appearing on the album:
Sting: Vocals, Percussion, Lute, Guitar, Snare Drum
Dominic Miller: Guitar
Ira Coleman: Bass
Ibrahim Maalouf: Trumpet
Cyro Baptista: Percussion
The Webb Sisters: Background Vocals
Joe Sumner: Background Vocals
Dean Parks: Guitar, Mandolin
David Mansfield: Mandolin, 12 String Guitar, Lap Dulcimer, Mandocello
Kathryn Tickell: Violin, NOrthumbrian Smallpipes, Violin
Peter Tickell: violin
Chris Gekker: Trumpet
Brent Madsen: Trumpet
John Clark: Horn
Chris Dudley: Trombone
Marcus Rojas: Tuba
Leslie Neish: Tuba
Bassam Saba: Oud, Ney
David Hartley: Harmonium
Rhani Krija: Percussion
Bijan Chemirani: Percussion
Daniel Freedman: Percussion
Mary Macmaster: Vocals, Harp
Donald Hay: Percussion
Bashiri Johnson: Percussion, Frame Drum
Stile Antico: Vocal Ensemble
Vincent Segal: Cello
Julian Sutton: Melodeon
Strings of Musica Aeterna Orchestra: Robert Sadin, Conductor
Svetlana Tsovena: Violin
Daphna Mor: Recorder
John Ellis: Bass Clarinet
Robert Sadin: Percussion, Soundscape
Lisa Fischer: Background Vocals
Julian Sutton: Melodeon
Kenny Garrett: Soprano Saxophone
Jack DeJohnette: Drums
Daniel Druckman: Snare Drum
Daniel Hope: Violin
Dov Scheindlin: Viola
Melissa Meell: Cello
David Sancious: Organ
Jasmine Thomas: Background Vocals
Charles Curtis: Cello
Chris Botti: Trumpet
Edin Karamazov: Lute

Produced by Robert Sadin and Sting


From the Website:

"The theme of winter is rich in inspiration and material. By filtering all of these disparate styles into one album I hope we have created something refreshing and new."
--Sting

Sting

If on a Winter's Night

Artist link

Track List