To Drive the Cold Winter Away

by Loreena McKennitt

Overview

Recorded in various halls and abbeys in Ireland, and completed in the Church of Our Lady in Guelph, Ontario, harpist/arranger/vocalist Loreena McKennitt's first foray into the crowded field of holiday music -- she would go on to release an EP called Winter Garden in 1995 -- is steeped in old-world atmosphere. To Drive the Cold Winter Away celebrates the winter solstice through eight traditional English, Scottish, and Irish carols and ballads and two Mckennitt originals. The artist's reverence for her source material is moving, and her meticulous yet simple arrangements help tracks such as "The Wexford Carol," "The Kings," and "Let Us the Infant Greet" resonate with all of the grace and piousness that the lyrics and poems strive for. McKennitt has succeeded in making a beautiful, haunting, and ambitious yuletide song cycle that despite taking itself a little too seriously, ranks among her finest. ~ James Christopher Monger

Product Details

Release Date:	10/09/2015
Label:	Quinlan Road
UPC:	0774213501028

Tracks

1. In Praise Of Christmas
2. The Seasons
3. The King
4. Banquet Hall
5. Snow
6. Balulalow
7. Let Us The Infa Greet
8. The Wexford Carol
9. The Stockford Carol
10. Let All That Are To Mirth Inclined

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Loreena McKennitt   Primary Artist,Harp,Vocals,Accordion,Tambourine,Celtic Harp,Tin Whistle,Finger Cymbals
Shannon Purves-Smith   Viol,Viola
George Seara   Sequencing
Cedric Smith   Vocals

Technical Credits

Richard Dadd   Cover Art
John Hazen   Digital Recording,Engineer
Jeff Wolpert   Digital Remastering
George Seara   Digital Editing
Brian Hughes   Digital Remastering
Loreena McKennitt   Arranger,Composer,Producer,Adaptation,Liner Notes
Scott McKowen   Design,Package Design
Archibald Lampman   Composer
Traditional   Composer