Celtic Christmas III CD

From the opening track's mournful oboe, cor anglais and uillean pipes it's obvious this will be an excursion into a Celtic evening. But what starts out engaging enough, with David Arkenstone's artful blending of synthesizer and pennywhistle to the vocals of Triona Ni Dhmohnaill and Lisa Lunne's Celtic harp, soon turns dark. The tunes conjure images of the season, mournful ones for the most part, such as James McNally's "Black is the Colour" and Patrick Cassidy's concluding "Lament," though Paddy Glackin and Micheal O Domhnaill's "The South Wind" and Brian Dunning and Jeff Johnson's "A Raven in the Snow" lighten it somewhat. Still, no matter how well it's played or how soulful it is, it's pretty depressing for Christmas music. ~ Ross Boissoneau

Compilation producer: Micheal O Domhnaill.

Engineers include: Philip Begley, Mike Aarvold, Micheal O Domhnaill, Gil Morales, Jeff Johnson.

Personnel: Tríona Ní Dhomhnaill (vocals, whistling, accordion, piano, harmonium); Seamus Begley (vocals, background vocals); Maighread Ní Dhomnaill (vocals); David Downes (whistling, Uilleann pipe, piano, keyboards); James McNally (whistling, keyboards, drums, percussion, programming); David Arkenstone (guitar, keyboards, percussion); Steve Cooney (guitar, keyboards, background vocals); Dean Parks, Mícheál O Domhnaill, W.G. Snuffy Walden, Tim Ellis (guitar); Lisa Lynne (celtic harp); Michael Eagan (archlute); Mary Barton, Ken Rice, Sid Page, Peter Kent, Nancy Roth (violin); Paddy Glackin (fiddle); Robert Becker (viola); Mark Chatfield (viola da gamba); Adele O'Dwyer, Erika Duke-Kirkpartick (cello); Brian Dunning (flute, pennywhistle, accordion); Susan Craig Winsberg (flute); Jon Clarke, Don Markese (pennywhistle); David Agnew (oboe); Randy Kerber (piano); Stanley Cox (organ); Jeff Johnson (keyboards); Gregg Williams (drums, percussion); Jim McGraff (bodhran); Roger Hadley (cymbals); Steve Reid , Michael Fisher (percussion); Oisin Lunny (drum programming).

Audio Mixers: David Arkenstone; Gil Morales; Jeff Johnson; Mícheál O Domhnaill; Philip Begley; Steve Brown .

Recording information: Beechpark Studios, Rathcoole, Ireland; Castle Oaks Studios, Calabasas, CA; Poppyhill Studio, Blessington, Ireland; Taylor Made Music, San Diego, CA; The Ark, Tigard, OR; The Church Of St. George, Stuyvesant Square, New York,; The Farm, Raezor Studios, London, England; The Media Complex, Los Angeles, CA; West Kerry, Ireland.

Directors: David Agnew; John-Michael Caprio.

Photographer: Thea Schrack.

Unknown Contributor Roles: Susan Craig Winsberg; Orchestra of Saint Patrick's Cathedral; Steve Cooney; Steve Vining.

Arrangers: David Downes; James McNally; Maighread Ní Dhomnaill; Nightnoise; Paddy Glackin.Entertainment Weekly (12/5/97, p.93) - "...this collection conjures the haunting spirit of Xmas without once making you think of leprechauns."
- Rating: B