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Our Review

Harried by the holidays? "Winter Ayres" casts the spell; beautiful Celtic and Baroque music transports the listener to a serene location. Magical RoseWynde is the flute and harp duo of Kathryn Cater (harp) and Sandy Duffy Norman (flute), and Ann Beesley provides lovely assistance on violin.

"Winter Ayres" provides fourteen tracks, a lovely mix of classical (Vivaldi's "Largo", Pergolesi's "Adagio", "Ave Maria") and the more traditional ("Away in the Manger", "What Child Is This"). The musicianship is flawless, and the flute and harp create a pristine ambiance of gentle repose. The high quality is consistent throughout, making it difficult to choose favorite tracks. That being said, "Ave Maria" and "Noel Novelet" demonstrate remarkably fragile beauty, and the medleys (especially "Sussex Carol/A Merry Christmas") are particularly satisfying.

This album is all about the mood; the soft and elegant strains of Winter Ayres will lift you from the crashing tensions of the overdone holiday scene. Relax for the ride; you are in splendid hands with RoseWynde.

--Carol Swanson
(Reviewed in 2004)

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From the liner notes

Musicians:

Kathryn Cater (harp)
Sandy Duffy Norman (flute)
Ann Beesley (violin)

A crystalline breath sharp is drawn
As you step from hearth and candle,
Outside to the glitter of an icy dawn.
Walk fast in the snow and slow in the frost.
Feel the grass crunch underfoot,
Every fence, every tree as white as white can be.
Across the fields snow drops drooping on their stalks,
Holly and mistletoe etched in silver lace.
And there, in your own backyard,
Your heart stands still, eyes grow bright,
Winter Ayres tells its song with silent night.

From the website:

This CD creates a mood for the winter journey. From harvest to the darkening of the days, Through to the New Year and the return of the light. Winter Ayres presents the most beautiful music of the Baroque by Vivaldi, Pergolesi, and Tartini, the heartfelt Christmas tunes from Ireland, Scotland, and England like Wexford Carol, Auld Lang Syne, Here We Come A-Wassailing, and Sussex Carol, including traditional music of the Season with, What Child Is This, Away in the Manger, Jeanette Isabella, and more.

Sandy Duffy Norman, flute, Kathryn Cater, harp, and Ann Beesley, violin, perform throughout the beautiful Willamette Valley in Oregon, and have released three CDs under the Sunridge Studios label. Building a body of literature for this instrumentation through writing and arranging has been a primary focus of the group.

Sandy Duffy Norman, originally from Atlanta, Georgia, received her BSMus and B.M.E. from Louisiana State University. Since then she has continued with graduate studies in music education, taught band in Oregon for 15 years, and has maintained Sunridge Flute Studios in Salem since 1984. She has performed at the 1998, 2000, and 2003 National Flute Convention, served as principal flutist and Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Salem Pops Orchestra, performed with the Salem Woodwind Quintet 1984-1991, NorthWest Winds 1991- 1999, and the Oregon Flute Quartet 1997 - 2002.

Kathryn Cater, a graduate of Lewis and Clark in Portland, Oregon, is a performer, arranger and composer. She has been composing since the age of seven, and most recently has published three books of harp songs for students, which are being released through Melody's Traditional Music and Harp Shoppe.

Rose Wynde

Winter Ayres

Artist link

Track List