If On A Winter's Night [Amazon.com Exclusive CD/DVD Deluxe Edition]

Sting - If On A Winter's Night [Amazon.com Exclusive CD/DVD Deluxe Edition]

If On A Winter's Night [Amazon.com Exclusive CD/DVD Deluxe Edition]
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CD Details

Artist: Sting
Edition: Music CD
CD Release Date: 2009-10-26
Music Label: Decca U.S.
Soundtracks:
  1. Gabriel's Message
  2. Soul Cake
  3. There is No Rose of Such Virtue
  4. The Snow it Melts the Soonest
  5. Christmas at Sea
  6. Lo How a Rose E'er Blooming
  7. Cold Song
  8. The Burning Babe
  9. Now Winter Comes Slowly
  10. The Hounds of Winter
  11. Balulalow
  12. Cherry Tree Carol
  13. Lullaby for an Anxious Child
  14. Hurdy Gurdy Man
  15. You Only Cross My Mind in Winter
  16. Blake's Cradle Song (Bonus Track - Deluxe Version Only)

Music reviews of If On A Winter's Night [Amazon.com Exclusive CD/DVD Deluxe Edition]

Music Review: Songs of the Season rather than overtly Christmas-ey
Rating: 5 Stars

The first A Very Special Christmas CD (1989) included Sting's very stark modern take on Gabriel's Message, an old Basque folk carol. It was an odd fit amongst the usual buoyant Christmas cheer presented by the other artists on that disc, yet reflective of Sting's artistic canon. It's no surprise then that "If On A Winter's Night" follows that same easthetic; it's not overtly Christmasy, or to paraphrase Lucy Van Pelt from A Charlie Brown Christmas [Blu-ray] it's not Santa Claus and ho-ho-ho and mistletoe. If anything "If On A Winter's Night" could be more appropriately titled "Songs for the Season" as in songs for and about the winter season. In that respect it's more like George Winston's December, Piano Solos: 20th Anniversary Edition in that it contains songs that are more evocative of the winter season than songs that are more obviously Christmas songs. And as with his earlier foray into Christmas music, Sting delves back into traditional folk carols that likely will be unfamiliar to many listeners. Fans of folk music however will recognize many of the songs here such as "Cherry Tree Carol" and "Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming" among others, and there are reworkings of classic pieces as well as two new compositions by Sting ("Lullaby for an Anxious Child" and "The Hounds of Winter"). Sting reprises a reworked version of "Gabriel's Message" that is warmer and more approachable and which is reflective of the musical underpinning as well. Many casual fans and listeners may be tentative about purchasing "If On A Winter's Night" fearing it will be musically similar in it's stark minimalism, but fear not, as it is very lush and intricately arranged, yet not syrupy or treacley as some seasonal records can be. Longtime guitarist and accompanist Dominic Miller joins as do an array of traditionalist musicians on fiddle, pipes, melodian, and harp. They are at times joined by an array of guest musicians such as trumpeter Chris Botti and the Webb Sisters on vocals. The result is warm and charming, evoking the spirit of the season of another era, much like Phil Manzanera and Andy Mackay's 1987 Christmas.

The overall mood of "If On A Winter's Night" is evocative of the season without being so obviously Christmas related. This is what you want to hear when you are burned out from hearing Christmas music and want something a bit less obvious. This wouldn't be out of place at low-key seasonal gatherings or for those who want something more refined and more restrained for the season. If you like hearing sleigh bells jingle, precocious children singing about their two front teeth, barking dogs, or Grandma's tragic encounter with Santa then this probably isn't for you. Some listeners may feel it is all a bit too cold, too detached, and too calculated for their liking, and those certainly can be valid criticisms. For some Sting's concept here may seem a bit too cold-blooded and calculated rather than a gathering of people who want to revel in the music of the season. Few artists possess the talent to pull off such a restrained yet charming set of music arranged around the theme of the winter season. And unlike most Christmas music you could enjoy this well before and well AFTER Christmas Day.
More If On A Winter's Night [Amazon.com Exclusive CD/DVD Deluxe Edition] free music reviews:
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Description of If On A Winter's Night [Amazon.com Exclusive CD/DVD Deluxe Edition]

This is the Amazon.com Deluxe Package that contains the standard CD, the deluxe edition "behind the scenes" video and Sting's first music video from this recording entitled, Cold Song! If on a Winter's Night presents an arc of songs that conjure the season of spirits, the eerie silences of the snow; days of solitude and reflection for some, a time of re-birth and celebration for many. With traditional music of the British Isles as their starting point, Sting and his guest musicians draw the listener in through a collection of songs, carols, and lullabies spanning the centuries - such as The Snow it Melts the Soonest (traditional Newcastle ballad), Soul Cake (traditional English "begging" song) Gabriel's Message (14th century carol), as well as two of Sting's own compositions - Lullaby for an Anxious Child and The Hounds of Winter. Also featured on the album is Hurdy Gurdy Man - a musical reworking and English translation (by Sting) of Der Leiermann from Schubert's classic winter song-cycle Winterreise. For this exploration of the themes and emotions of winter Sting is joined by friend and long time colleague, guitarist Dominic Miller - and an ensemble of three remarkable musicians from Northern England and Scotland: Kathryn Tickell (fiddle and Northumbrian pipes) Julian Sutton (melodian) and Mary MacMaster (metal string Scottish harp). Additional guest artists include Vincent Ségal (cello), Daniel Hope (violin), Chris Botti (trumpet), Ibrahim Maalouf (trumpet), Stile Antico (vocal ensemble), Cyro Baptista (percussion), Bijan Chemirani (percussion) and the Webb Sisters (vocals). Together they've created an album with a wonderful, warm, and unique ensemble sound - an acoustic meditation on winter.

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