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Our Review

I am trying to imagine if anyone would not enjoy Sunita Staneslow's Christmas Eve, and I believe the answer is NO. No sane individual could reject the gentle, exquisite music flowing from Staneslow's acoustic harp as she gracefully negotiates these 16 timeless tunes from Northern Europe (Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Germany). Staneslow's imaginative and artful improvisations on her solo harp weave an ethereal web of enchantment that catches and holds the listeners in an attentive embrace.

Everything about this music is warm and winning. It provides the perfect ambiance for any holiday event or for just contemplating the fire on a snowy night. Staneslow handles her harp techniques as a master, seamlessly moving through intricate runs and multi-layered refrains. Most numbers are quite well known, but there are less familiar jewels, too. Staneslow's music is consistently gentle, soothing, comfortable, and classic.

Now here's a picky complaint. Sunita Staneslow is an intelligent and creative woman, but her two holiday offerings are named Christmas Eve and Christmas Day (our review). These names are certainly to the point, but couldn't she have imagined something a bit more spectacular? Ah well, at least she didn't go with Christmas Eve and Christmas Eve II.

So lovely and delicate! For an acoustic holiday album that will please just about any audience, invite Sunita Staneslow into your home for Christmas Eve.

--Carol Swanson
(Reviewed in 2005)

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From the liner notes:

Most of the music in this recording came from the private collection of Peter Hendrickson, music director at Westminster Presbyterian Church, Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Executive Producer: Frederick Schlomka
Engineer: John Scherf
Mastering: Craig Thorson

All music arranged by Sunita Staneslow

A native of Minnesota, Sunita Staneslow began playing the harp at age eight and has studied with teachers in New York, Paris and Tel Aviv. Sunita has toured throughout Europe, including Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Germany and the British Isles. She also performs regularly in Israel and was principal harpist with the Jerusalem Symphony during 1986.

From the Web site:

A solo harp recording of timeless carols from Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Germany. Sunita's contemporary interpretations of traditional festive music is perfect for creating the holiday mood.

Sunita's music flows from her heart to her harp, expressing herself to her audience with passion and grace. Whether at an intimate reception or main stage performance, Sunita interprets and communicates the depth of her feeling for traditional music. Classically trained and an master of her instrument, she has immersed herself in the worlds of Jewish and Celtic music, performing and recording with some of the great musicians of Europe, Israel, and the United States. Her recordings are popular around the world, and her books of music for harp have become standards with both students and professional harpists.

Sunita performs for special events, clubs, colleges, concert venues and festivals. Her programs specialize in Celtic or Jewish music, and sometimes a combination of the two.

Sunita Staneslow

Christmas Eve

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Track List