Nollaig Cridheil, A Holiday Selection of Gaelic Songs, Music and Stories

Steve Winick, Dirty Linen, December'96
"The disc Nollaig Chridheil features a loose group of performers from Nova Scotia

called An Comhlan. Incorporating song,instrumental music and spoken word selections,the disc is

a treasury of Gaelic lore.Among the instrumental selections are a set of jigs by Highland piper

Barry Shears,several beautiful slow airs from the fiddle of Winnie Chafe, and a rousing set of

tunes from fiddling patriarch Buddy MacMaster.

Spoken selections include a story of St.Bride,told by Rosemary McCormack and several

reminiscences from Sadie Poirier,Joe Lawrence MacDonald and Effie Rankin. Excellent singing

by Catriona Parsons,Jeff MacDonald,Margo Carruthers and the Cape Breton Gaelic

Choir,enhanced by the sterling guitar work of producer Al Bennett,caps off a very enjoyable

listen."

Product Description
Nollaig Chridheil is a recording that combines traditional music,song and belief

with reminiscences of Christmases past and modern Gaelic compositions and translations of

Christmas standards. The presentation provides both sacred and secular material to add to your

Christmas entertainment.

Included in An Comhlan(the Group) are several of Cape Breton's best known traditional

musicians. Both fiddlers Winnnie Chafe and Buddy MacMaster have been household names for

many years and they are accompanied on piano by daughters Patricia and Mary Elizabeth who are

first-rate talents in theis own right.Keyboard work,tin whistle and uillinn pipes have also been

contributed by Ryan MacNeil who is a younger brother of The Barra MacNeil and the leader of

the exciting young Celtic group, Slainte Mhath.The Cape Breton Gaelic Choir are accompanied

by Shauna Doolan,one of Cape Breton's best known and respected teachers and choir

accompanists.

Barry Shears,a well respected piper who was born in Glace Bay and now resides in Halifax has

delivered a medley of lively jigs as well as playing small pipes on the Christ Child lullaby. And

musical director Al Bennett plays both acoustic guitar and electric base on several numbers.Solo

singing comes from Jeff MacDonald,an excellent young Gaelic learner from Kingsville; Catriona

Parsons,a native of Lewis who teaches at both St.F.X University and the Gaelic College;Michelle

Smith,a young learner from the St.Ann's area and Margo Carruthers,an accomplished learner

from Halifax who released her own CD called Talant nam Bard in 1998.

Oranaiche Cheap Breatuinn(the Cape Breton Gaelic Choir)has been together for over 15

years,under the direction of Mae Cameron a long-time Gaelic singer and teacher.The group has

performed at many locations in Nova Scotia and has travelled to other parts of Canada and the

U.S. It has made one recording of Gaelic songs to date.

Besides the singers and musicians,a number of people contributed stories and reminiscences.These

include Joe Lawrence MacDonald from Boisdale,Sadie Poirier from Judique, Effie Rankin from

Mabou and Rosemary McCormack from Iona who also contributed a Gaelic blessing(at the start

of the CD) and a Gaelic prayer during cut 13. Ave Maria .Rosemary also functioned as executive

producer as well as doing the notes and transcriptions.

Nollaig Cridheil, A Holiday Selection of Gaelic Songs, Music and Stories

Nollaig Cridheil, A Holiday Selection of Gaelic Songs, Music and Stories,Various Artist,Portland America Dis,World Music

Average customer rating: Homespun Traditional Comfort and Joy

Nollaig Cridheil, A Holiday Selection of Gaelic Songs, Music and Stories Various Manufacturer: Celtic America Llc ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | International | Styles | Music British Isles | Europe | Compilations | International | Styles | Music Holiday Music | Compilations | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music General | International | Indie Music | Stores | Music General | British Isles | Europe | International | Indie Music | Stores | Music Celtic | Europe | International | Indie Music | Stores | Music Holiday | Miscellaneous | Indie Music | Stores | Music International | Imports | Stores | Music ASIN: B000038IFC Release Date: 1995-09-01

Tracks:

1. Christmas Light
2. Duan Nollaig,a Christmas Chant
3. Bha Sneachda Na Chuibrig, the Snow Was Like a Coverlet
4. The Cherry Tree Medley
5. The Story of St. Bride
6. Seall Thall Tighinn Bhon Ear,See Coming From the East
7. Taladh Chriosda, the Christ Child Lullaby
8. Holiday Dance Selection
9. A'Challuinn, New Year's Eve
10. Oran Na Bliadhn'Uire, the New Year's Song
11. Holiday Jig Medley
12. The Christmas Tree
13. Ave Maria
14. Carol Medley

Album Description

Nollaig Chridheil is a recording that combines traditional music,song and belief

with reminiscences of Christmases past and modern Gaelic compositions and translations of

Christmas standards. The presentation provides both sacred and secular material to add to your

Christmas entertainment.

Included in An Comhlan(the Group) are several of Cape Breton's best known traditional

musicians. Both fiddlers Winnnie Chafe and Buddy MacMaster have been household names for

many years and they are accompanied on piano by daughters Patricia and Mary Elizabeth who are

first-rate talents in theis own right.Keyboard work,tin whistle and uillinn pipes have also been

contributed by Ryan MacNeil who is a younger brother of The Barra MacNeil and the leader of

the exciting young Celtic group, Slainte Mhath.The Cape Breton Gaelic Choir are accompanied

by Shauna Doolan,one of Cape Breton's best known and respected teachers and choir

accompanists.

Barry Shears,a well respected piper who was born in Glace Bay and now resides in Halifax has

delivered a medley of lively jigs as well as playing small pipes on the Christ Child lullaby. And

musical director Al Bennett plays both acoustic guitar and electric base on several numbers.Solo

singing comes from Jeff MacDonald,an excellent young Gaelic learner from Kingsville; Catriona

Parsons,a native of Lewis who teaches at both St.F.X University and the Gaelic College;Michelle

Smith,a young learner from the St.Ann's area and Margo Carruthers,an accomplished learner

from Halifax who released her own CD called Talant nam Bard in 1998.

Oranaiche Cheap Breatuinn(the Cape Breton Gaelic Choir)has been together for over 15

years,under the direction of Mae Cameron a long-time Gaelic singer and teacher.The group has

performed at many locations in Nova Scotia and has travelled to other parts of Canada and the

U.S. It has made one recording of Gaelic songs to date.

Besides the singers and musicians,a number of people contributed stories and reminiscences.These

include Joe Lawrence MacDonald from Boisdale,Sadie Poirier from Judique, Effie Rankin from

Mabou and Rosemary McCormack from Iona who also contributed a Gaelic blessing(at the start

of the CD) and a Gaelic prayer during cut 13. Ave Maria .Rosemary also functioned as executive

producer as well as doing the notes and transcriptions.

Customer Reviews:

Homespun Traditional Comfort and Joy.......2003-12-03

This is a wonderful cd with a simple cozy feel to it. The musicianship is top-notch, but the recording has such a homey intimacy that it's like having these wonderful musicians in your home. The album is an effective mix of story, song and reminscences largely in Gaelic but with enough English to keep it accessible. There are lots of instrumentals featuring wonderful fiddle work (as one would expect from Cape Breton) and piano as well as some superb guitar and Pipes (both Highland and Uillean). There are superb choral pieces from the Cape Breton Gaelic Choir that sound wonderfully homey. This is not the Mormon Tabernacle Choir by any stretch. It is spartan and simple, but no less beautiful or moving for all that. This is quite a treasure and well worth seeking out for anyone who likes folk or acoustic music or for anyone who just likes good music, because this is top notch.

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