Traditional Celtic instrumentation always sounds beautiful on holiday classics, but Celtic Christmas is different than what its title might suggest. This oddly compelling album is composed entirely of modern New Age Celtic musicians playing their own compositions and obscure traditional folk tunes. Only three of the tracks contain any vocals, and only one of those--Karan Casey's "On a Winter's Day"--appears to be in modern English. It creates a mood, reflecting the meditative side of the holidays as opposed to the festive or religious. --Bill Holdship



1    Maire Breatnach* And Séamus Brett*–    Cornphíopa Ciorcalach
Keyboards, Producer, Engineer – Séamus Brett*
Written-By, Violin, Whistle, Vocals, Producer – Maire Breatnach*
3:54
2    Phil Cunningham (2)–    Newton Hill
Engineer – Kim Planert
Written-By, Accordion, Whistle, Keyboards, Producer – Phil Cunningham (2)
3:38
3    Maighread Ní Dhomhnaill* And Triona Ní Dhomhnaill*–    Kousket
Guitar, Producer – Mícheál Ó Domhnaill
Producer, Engineer – Philip Begley
Vocals – Maighread Ní Dhomhnaill*
Vocals, Keyboards – Triona Ní Dhomhnaill*
Written-By [Breton] – Traditional
4:27
4    Steve Cooney And Laoise Kelly–    Cúl A' Dún
Harp, Producer – Laoise Kelly
Written-By, Guitar, Producer, Engineer – Steve Cooney
4:33
5    Mairtín O'Connor* And Garry O'Briain*–    Annaghdown
Engineer – Kenny Ralph
Guitar – Garry O'Briain*
Written-By, Accordion, Producer – Mairtín O'Connor*
3:14
6    Mícheál Ó Domhnaill And Paddy Glackin–    Eili Gheal Chiúin
Arranged By, Fiddle – Paddy Glackin
Arranged By, Guitar, Producer – Mícheál Ó Domhnaill
Producer, Engineer – Philip Begley
Written-By – Traditional
4:17
7    Liam O'Flynn–    Sliabh Na Mban
Arranged By, Bagpipes, Producer – Liam O'Flynn
Engineer – Brian Masterson
Guitar – Steve Cooney
Keyboards – Rod McVey
Producer – Arty McGlynn
Written-By – Traditional
4:50
8    Brian Dunning And Jeff Johnson–    Christ Child Lullaby
Arranged By, Flute, Whistle, Producer – Brian Dunning
Arranged By, Keyboards, Producer – Jeff Johnson
Cello – Jami Sieber
Guitar – Tim Ellis (3)
Percussion – Gregg Williams
Violin, Arranged By [Strings] – John Fitzpatrick
Written-By [Gaelic] – Traditional
3:28
9    Cormac Breatnach–    Sporting Paddy And Adele
Arranged By [Sporting Paddy], Bass [Fretless] – Steve Cooney
Arranged By [Sporting Paddy], Bouzouki – Níall Ó Callanáin*
Arranged By [Sporting Paddy], Written-By [Adele], Whistle [Low F] – Cormac Breatnach
Engineer – Pearse Dunne
Producer – Garvan Gallagher
Written-By [Sporting Paddy] – Traditional
3:53
10    Karan Casey, Niall Vallely And Robbie Overson–    On A Winter's Day
Concertina, Producer – Niall Vallely
Engineer – Dan Fitzgerald
Guitar – Robbie Overson
Written-By, Vocals, Producer – Karan Casey
3:44
11    Nightnoise (2)–    Ar Pont Nevez
Fiddle – John Fitzpatrick
Flute – Brian Dunning
Guitar – Mícheál Ó Domhnaill
Keyboards – Triona Ní Dhomhnaill*
Producer, Engineer – Philip Begley
Written-By, Producer – Nightnoise (2)
3:35
12    West Ocean String Quartet–    Cailín Na Gruaige Doinne
Arranged By, Cello – Neil Martin (2)
Engineer – Enda Walsh
Producer – West Ocean String Quartet
Viola – John Fitzpatrick
Violin – Niamh Crowley, Seamus Maguire*
Written-By – Traditional
4:28
13    Kathleen Keane And Jim Cregan–    The Longing
Written-By, Arranged By, Producer, Engineer, Guitar, Programmed By – Jim Cregan
Written-By, Arranged By, Producer, Engineer, Whistle, Fiddle, Vocals – Kathleen Keane
4:46



All used  disks are professionally buffed and test played before shipping and will play  well in most machines.