|
I have discovered
a real wealth of great solo piano Christmas CDs this year! Isadar's
"In Search For the Meaning of Christmas" definitely falls
into this category! Thoughtful, introspective, and a bit moody,
Isadar's arrangements are true to the carols (with some small melody
changes in "Bring a Torch" and "Carol of the
Bells" that bother me just a little) and still seem very
personal. "Bring a Torch", "The Holly and the
Ivy", and "I Saw Three Ships" are given a
lighthearted, joyful treatment. "Star of Wonder (We Three
Kings)", "What Child Is This?", "The Coventry
Carol", and "Sing We Now of Christmas" are all minor,
somber, reverent pieces, and all four are given loving arrangements
that keep the dark, mysterious nature of the songs and reflect
Isadar's own sensibilities. "Carol of the Bells" and Liz
Story's arrangement of "Greensleeves" are energetic without
losing all abandon. "Silent Night" and "It Came Upon a
Midnight Clear" present us with a very cold, deep solitude -
both feel like late night with moonlight reflecting off the snow.
Both are moody, but very beautifully so. George Winston's
"December" is one of my all-time favorite holiday albums,
and I feel "In Search For the Meaning of Christmas" holds
up exceptionally well next to it. This is an excellent collection of
Christmas music, and I highly recommend it!
### |
