Music Review: Celtic Women, Lullaby

Lullaby is a 2010 release from Celtic Women and funded through PBS.  This is a group of ten going to bed songs featuring the light voices of the Celtic Women.  This C.D. features early performers and more recent performers.  This includes the early violinist, Mâiréad Nesbitt.  The vocalists are Chloe Agnew, Lynn Hilary, Lisa Kelly, Órla Fallon, Mêav Ní Mhaolchatha and Hayley Westerna.

The songs are classic children's songs; two from Disney, "When You Wish Upon a Star" and "Stay Awake" are from Pinocchio and Mary Poppins.  One is from Wizard of Oz, "Somewhere Over the Rainbow."  One is an Irish song, "Suantrai," which is Irish for Lullaby.  We also have two classic songs, Brahms "Lullaby" and "Hush Little Baby."  Very enjoyable.  I really like "Hush Thee My Baby."

Christmas Music Review: Celtic Woman: A Christmas Celebration

 Celtic Woman: A Christmas Celebration,  Chloë Agnew, Órla Fallon, Lisa Kelly, and Méav Ní Mhaolchatha, with violinist Máiréad Nesbitt.  David Downes producer and arranger.  Manhattan Records, 2006.

For the past 20 years no one has made music like Celtic Woman.  This is an early Christmas album, in fact their second album.  Their combination of Celtic themes with traditional hymns is magnificent.  On this album their are 15 songs, inluding: O Holy Night, Away in a Manger, Silent Night, Let it Snow and many more favorites.  I enjoyed this album very much.

Celtic Woman - Home For Christmas (Live From Dublin 2013)

Here is another Christmas music concert released in 2012.  With Celtic Women the women change, but the quality of the music is not comprised.  I have my personal favorites, but some of them have moved on from Celtic Women years ago.  The high light of this concert is a fantastic version of "What Child Is This?"  Listening to this is wonderful.  In this concert there are three singers, and the violin player who has been with them through out.  There are four bonus songs at the end which seem to take place at the conductor's studio and is not part of the concert.  I really like the focus on spiritual songs with a few secular songs thrown in.

Music Review: Celtic Woman: Believe: Live

I watched the DVD version of Celtic Woman, "Believe."  This album features Mairead Nesbitt on violin.  She is the original dancing violinist.  As vocal soloist, and also performing trio and duets are: Chloe Agnew, Lisa Kelly and Lisa Lambe (in her first Celtic Woman performance).  This performance really hit its stride after about half way through the sang a tribute to Broadway.  The were perfect together in "I Dreamed a Dream" and followed this with "The Circle of Life."  "You'll Never Walk Alone" is another song all four women perform together and it sounds beautiful.  Chloe performs a show stopper Ave Maria.  The women all come together for "Smile."  This song is haunting as the women start a 'Capella and then are joined by violin only. 

Smile though your heart is aching
Smile even though it's breaking.
When there are clouds in the sky
you'll get by.

If you smile with your fear and sorrow
Smile and maybe tomorrow
You'll see the sun come shining through
For you.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jg4XTvtkKPs

Movie Review: ****^Celtic Woman: A Christmas Celebration

Sharp, beautiful vocals, two back up choirs, terrific arrangements, traditional Christmas songs and some new, orchestral backup, dancing violinist.  This concert has it all.  It is available through You Tube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jga12Im8cvk&list=HL1355954816&feature=mh_lolz
I like everything about Celtic Women except the silly way they hold their arms.  
I particularly like the arrangement of "Away in a Manger." Orla Fallon does vocals on this song.  I think this is my favorite Christmas Hymn.  I also heard an old carol I had never heard before, with a powerful message.

The Wexford Carol
Good people all, this Christmas-time,
Consider well and bear in mind
What our good God for us has done
In sending his beloved Son.
With Mary holy we should pray
To God with love this Christmas day;
In Bethlehem upon that morn
There was a blessed Messiah born.

I want to double this testimony.  There was a Messiah born that day, and He is my Lord.