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Hark! The sound of sleigh bells o'er the snow! And Winter Tidings takes off with Breakin' up Christmas, the first of 13 superb tracks on the most recent release by married couple Al Petteway and Amy White. Before I go further, let me plug their excellent label, "Maggie's Music" (www.maggiesmusic.com), an independent label that celebrates Scottish music, Irish music, and early music CDs (as well as books). If you enjoy the richly-crafted warm tapestries of sound familiar to these genres, then you cannot do any better than the "Maggie's Music" label. The music is always exceptional. Always.

Never heard of Al Petteway & Amy White? Shame on you--they are among the most-respected acoustic players on the planet! Often appearing on NPR and having served as Artists in Residence at the Kennedy Center Millennium Stage, the two now live in the Appalachians. That gorgeous setting provided the inspiration for Winter Tidings, a magnificently textured acoustic folk gem swirling with guitars, banjo, Celtic harp, mandolin, piano, mountain dulcimer, fiddle, Whistle, and more! This music genuinely transports me to wonderful places, making tears well up in my eyes; it's just that good. Although Winter Tidings is primarily an instrumental album, it does include several well-placed vocals (5 of the 13 tracks, I believe) to enrich the overall presentation. On The Holly and the Ivy, for example, the lovely layers of instrumentation in Amy White's arrangement of this traditional number had swept me away. In the track's final minute, Amy's crystalline voice suddenly surfaced, presenting one verse as an unexpected and much-welcomed gift.

Two of the 13 tracks are Amy White originals, and both are exquisite. Of these two, Aerial is particularly moving; it depicts the flight of birds past their ridge-top home in the Appalachians. The song includes harmonized vocalizations that put the image of soaring birds firmly in mind.

Everything works here. Picking a "favorite" on an album as fine as Winter Tidings is a traumatic experience. Every piece fits so well, and every song is a delight. That being said, I adored Cherry Tree Carol, which opens rather simply, then builds in complexity and sound throughout its five-minute length. Also rewarding is Roving on a Winter's Night (based on a poem by famed Scot Robert Burns) with its delicate Petteway/White harmonies. Finally, Christ Child's Lullaby is unforgettable; the haunting foundation sound and sweetly matched vocals are perfection.

Even the liner notes are nifty. They fold out to provide the backdrop on each and every piece, explaining the underlying motivation for inclusion. Nice.

I give Winter Tidings my highest recommendation. Embrace Al Petteway and Amy White this holiday season; you will not regret it!

--Carol Swanson
(Reviewed in 2006)

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From the liner notes:

A musical tribute to winter's majesty in the Southern Appalachians from Grammy-Award winning guitarist Al Petteway & Amy White. Holiday classics, original, Celtic-inspired & traditional mountain melodies performed on acoustic guitars, mandolin, Celtic harp, Irish bouzouki, mountain dulcimer, vocals, fretless bass, pump organ, whistle, banjo, piano & percussion.

All compositions & arrangements by Al Petteway and/or Amy White.

Al: Acoustic Guitars, Irish Bouzouki, Banjo, Fretless Bass, Vocals & Percussion
Amy: Celtic Harp, Mandolin, Piano, Mountain Dulcimer, Acoustic Guitar, Fiddle, Whistle, Vocals & Percussion

As is customary with many holiday recordings, we finished work on this album near the Summer Solstice. Somehow, it seemed appropriate to revel in the long evening light as we honored the coldest and shortest days of the year. It is a pognant and sometimes precarious balance--this recurring cycle of light and darkness, of life and loss, of hope and desperation. But as the author Barbara Kingsolver once put it, "No matter what kind of night you have, morning always wins."

In this recording you will hear songs of devotion and ecstasy, and traditional melodies that are synonymous with winter celebration. You will also hear own contributions to this tradition. Christmas music has always had a special place in our hearts. We are particularly fond of those ancient Noels with secular roots but which now bear fruit in the sacred tradition. We like to imagine that we are following in the footsteps of all those centuries-old devotees who incorproated traditional melodies into their spiritual practice. We, too, are helping to keep this expression and tradition alive by celebrating hope, unity, eternal peace, returning light and love--through music.

Al Petteway & Amy White

Winter Tidings

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Track List