Our Review
Soothing Sir Charles Hammer (legend has it that a golden-haired princess dubbed him "Sir Charles" in his youth) is a well-traveled fellow who has plucked guitars from Virginia to Mexico to Arkansas. His Classical Guitar Christmas is an instrumental holiday recording that showcases the artist's superlative plucking prowess and arrangement abilities in fine style.
The overall tone is gentle and relaxing. I listened to this CD while stuck in serious commuting traffic, and the soft guitar renditions of songs such as O Holy Night kept my nerves from becoming too frazzled.
All 19 tracks are well known; the songs reflect a very nice range of popular and classical selections. For the most part, the mood is light, bright and emotive (Deck the Halls, Hark! The Herald Angel Sings, The Wassail Song); in other spots, the guitar sounds mysterious, almost mystical (God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, We Three Kings). Sir Charles also manages to accomplish some fascinating effects; on Silver Bells, for example, the guitar strings simulate bell-like tones.
There is much to commend A Classical Guitar Christmas. For me, the best parts include Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring, a composition that matches the classical guitar voice perfectly; the mellow and jazzy Chestnuts Roasting; and We Wish You a Merry Christmas, which features gorgeous guitar runs and fascinating interludes.
The easy-going presentation of A Classical Guitar Christmas is like a warm embrace. If you're looking for restful instrumental holiday music that will transport you away from the frenetic material world, then Sir Charles is your man.
--Carol Swanson
(Reviewed in 2003)
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From the liner notes:
All arrangements by Charles Hammer.
"As I worked on these arrangements I discovered that by turning the pieces into duets I could focus on the melody and make it sing. Some of the accompaniments are simple chords, while others feature more complex harmonizations. There are however four solo guitar pieces. (Can you spot them?) Above all, I attempted to produce sweet soothing sounds from these delightful old melodies. My wish is that you be soothed."
"A Classical Guitar Christmas was created from August thru October of 2001. It was recorded, engineered and mixed by the most excellent Mr. Eric Schabacker at Winterwood Studios - Eureka Springs - nestled by the lake in the gorgeous woods of Northwest Arkansas."
Charles Hammer
A Classical Guitar Christmas
Artist link
Label: Schabral Music
Length: 52 minutes
Genre: New Age
Release: 2001
Track List
| Song Title |
|---|
| Deck The Halls |
| God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen |
| Angels We Have Heard On High |
| O Come All Ye Faithful |
| We Three Kings |
| Hark! The Herald Angels Sing |
| Silent Night |
| Silver Bells |
| Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring |
| O Little Town of Bethlehem |
| Joy To The World |
| The First Nöel |
| Chestnuts Roasting |
| Oh Holy Night |
| Once In Royal David's City |
| We Wish You a Merry Christmas |
| The Wassail Song |
| It Came Upon A Midnight Clear |
| O Come O Come Emmanuel |