Our Review
Winter Harp is the first holiday release (1999) by this wonderful ensemble (Jill Whitman, Lori Pappajohn, Joaquin Ayala, Brian Mix, Kenichi Ueda, and Lauri Lyster). This very special Celtic music offering is not unlike their most recent seasonal CD Christmas Night (also reviewed on this site). The musicality is top notch, and all performances are first class.
Everything about this album reflects beauty and balance. The CD offers a terrific mix of voice and instrumentals; five tracks reflect vocals. There is also an appropriate blend of the traditional with the new; five numbers are originals created by an ensemble member or their poet Alan Woodland.
Favorites abound on Winter Harp. Carol of the Bells is always lovely, but this delicate performance, with its bells and wind chimes, absolutely glitters. In A Winter Song, a striking original written and performed by Joaquin Ayala, the organistrum (I think!) lays down a throaty, almost discordant, foundation that gives the listeners a thrilling ride. I love Coventry Carol, and the ensemble's version is an elegantly minimalist presentation on nyckelharpa (a medieval instrument that is a hybrid violin/hurdy-gurdy) and flute--sensational! Woodland's Carol of the Child is the breath of sweetness with two impressive vocalists (Pappajohn and young Shylo Sharity--how does she hit those high notes?). At the album's end, O Come, O Come, Emmanuel brings back that droning organistrum, providing an eerily dramatic finish.
The 10 pages of liner notes are a gold mine, providing the listeners with lovely photos, helpful background info, and the lyrics for the original numbers. While you're leafing through the notes, relax and let the Winter Harp envelop you for the holidays. As the album takes you on "a journey deep into the heart of winter," you will feel nothing but splendid warmth.
--Carol Swanson
(Reviewed in 2004)
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From the liner notes:
A journey deep into the heart of winter.
Jill Whitman: classical and Spanish harps
Lori Pappajohn: Celtic and Spanish harps; voice
Joaquin Ayala: nyckelharpa, organistrum and bass psaltery
Brian Mix: cello
Kenichi Ueda: flute
Lauri Lyster: percussion
Shylo Sharity: child singer
All music arranged by Winter Harp
Carol of the Bells adapted from an arrangement by Lynne Wainwright Palmer
Lori Pappajohn, Jill Whitman & Ensemble
Winter Harp
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Label: Lydian Music
Length: 48 minutes
Genre: New Age
Release: 1999
Track List
| Song Title |
|---|
| Nöel! Nöel! (music and lyrics by Lori Pappajohn) Celtic, Spanish and classical harps; cello, nyckelharpa, tambourine, bells, djembe and voice (ensemble) |
| Carol of the Bells Celtic and classical harps, bells and wind chimes (Jill Whitman, Lori Pappajohn and Lauri Lyster) |
| Let Us the Infant Greet (English traditional with variations written by Lori Pappajohn and Jill Whitman) Celtic, Spanish and classical haps; cello, nyckelharpa, flute, tar drum, and anklet bells (ensemble) |
| A Winter Song (by Joaquin Ayala) Bass psaltery, organistrum and bell (Joaquin Ayala) |
| Coventry Carol Nyckelharpas and flute (Joaquin Ayala and Kenichi Ueda) |
| The Bellman's Prayer (music and lyrics by Lori Pappajohn) Celtic and classical harps; nyckelharpa, tambourine, djembe, bells, wind chimes and voice (Lori Pappajohn, Jill Whitman, Joaquin Ayala, Lauri Lyster) |
| Winter Harp (by Lori Pappajohn) Celtic and classical harps (Lori Pappajohn and Jill Whitman) |
| Sussex Carol Classical harp and two flutes (Jill Whitman and Kenichi Ueda) |
| Carol of the Child (music and lyrics by poet Alan Woodland) Celtic harp and voice (Lori Pappajohn and Shylo Sharity) |
| Good King Wenceslas Celtic and classical harps; cello, nyckelharpa, flute, tambourine, surdo, bells and wind chimes (ensemble) |
| A Vos Dona Verge Santa Maria Celtic and classical harps; flute, nyckelharpa, tambourine, udu, bells, wind chimes, rattles, shakers and voice (ensemble) |
| O Come, O come, Emmanuel Two organistrums, bass psaltery, Tibetan bowl, bells and voice (Lori Pappajohn, Joaquin Ayala and Lauri Lyster) |