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For the past 18 years, National Public Radio has offered Brian O'Donovan's popular radio show "A Celtic Sojourn." Four years ago, the homey format burst onto the concert stage in Boston, and A Christmas Celtic Sojourn, Live captures that annual experience. In some respects, the live performance reminds me of a music-only version of Garrison Keillor's folksy Prairie Home Companion; this is a gathering of good people--almost like extended family--getting together to celebrate an old-fashioned Irish Christmas with high-kickin' instrumentals, intensely lovely harmonies, and marvelous musical tales. Here, you are part of the audience, and you can hear the appreciative clapping at the end of every track.

A Christmas Celtic Sojourn, Live is a delightful mix of minimalist instrumentals (like Michelle Mulcahy's harp on An Bhuatais/The Bucks of Oranmore, mystical a cappella multi-layered harmonics (Navan on the compelling opening track, Amhran Oiche Mhaith (Song of Night)), and some ol' fashioned story telling (the incomparable Robbie O'Connell on fun pieces such as Miss Fogarty's Christmas Cake. For those who cannot make it to the renowned Cutler Majestic Theatre in Boston this December, you can savor a front-row seat in your living room with the DVD version of A Christmas Celtic Sojourn, Live. At 97 minutes, the DVD provides the show in its richer, fuller context; it is available for purchase here.

I am not Irish, and I have never had the good fortune to attend one of Brian O'Donovan's Christmas Celtic Sojourn concerts. As a matter of fact, I have never even heard the popular radio show. Having now experienced A Christmas Celtic Sojourn, Live both on CD and DVD, I am now thinking that New England would be a mighty fine place to be for the holidays. This production conveys the warmth and spirit that we all yearn to share when Christmas comes around. See you in Boston in December!

--Carol Swanson
(Reviewed in 2007)

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From the liner notes:

A Christmas Celtic Sojourn was recorded at the beautiful Cutler Majestic Theatre in Boston on December 18th, 2006. This performance was the culmination of a six-show, sold-out run at the theatre.

National broadcasts of the Christmas edition of O'Donovan's radio program, "A Celtic Sojourn," over the past 18 years have proven extraordinarily popular. Celtic Pagan and Christian traditions have a very strong link to the music of this season. The concert, called "A Christmas Celtic Sojourn with Brian O'Donovan," was first launched in 2003 and reflected the easy, relaxed and diverse offerings of the yearly national radio program.

This year's [2006] concert expanded to six shows and welcomed a combined audience of 6,400 to its charms. It featured the singing of Robbie O'Connell joined by fiddler George Keith and flute player Shannon Heaton; singer Karan Casey with her band which included husband, Niall Valelly, guitarist Robbie Overson, and bassist Chico Huff. Navan, the a-cappella harmony trio, have become a beautiful audio centerpiece. Dance director Kieran Jordan once again gathered spectacular dancers in young Nicholas Yensen and Aidan Vaughan who danced both the old and the new sides of the thriving dance traditions of Ireland and beyond. Fionnuala O'Donovan and Lindsay O'Donovan also rejoined host Brian O'Donovan. And especially for the video recording, guitarist extraordinaire Tony McManus returned for a cameo appearance and was joined for one remarkable piece by clarinetist Billy Novick.

And in the spirit of a family Christmas, the incredibly talented Mulcahy Family, from Abbeyfeale in County Limerick joined the gathering to bring the old-world flavor to the new world of a Boston Celtic Christmas.

Various Artists

A Christmas Celtic Sojourn,
Live

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Track List