Folk Christmas Music

Subject: RE: Folk Christmas Music
From: Dave MacKenzie
Date: 11 Dec 09 - 12:03 PM

Nobody's mentioned "Celtic Christmas" on Past Times PT7243.

Subject: RE: Folk Christmas Music
From: Les from Hull
Date: 11 Dec 09 - 11:53 AM

Midwinter 4cd set from Free Reed.

Subject: RE: Folk Christmas Music
From: robd
Date: 10 Dec 09 - 05:51 PM

With so many amazing albums named, especially by cetmst, I was surprised to find that my favorite folk christmas album is not yet here.

Drive the Cold Winter Away, by Horslips. Unfortunately hard to get.
Contains tunes, songs in English and Gaelic, and even one in Manx, Ny Kirree Fo Naghtey. A favorite is Rug Muire Do Dhia (Mary Bore a Son to God).

Others not yet mentioned:
-------------------------
On This Day Earth Shall Ring, Anne Hills w/ Shinobu Sato & Cindy Mangsen
Bygone Christmas, Artisan
Paper Angels, Artisan
Winter's Dance, Golden Bough
Carols for All Seasons, Jean Ritchie
Drive the Cold Winter Away, Loreena McKennitt
Nowell 4; Pageant of Mid-Winter, Roberts & Barrand (my fave of the R&B Nowell collections, especially Welladay (Christmas's Lamentation))
Holiday Songs and Lullabies, Shawn Colvin
A Real Irish Christmas, (Various artists)
From Texas for a Christmas Night, Tish Hinojosa (containing the only Sephardic Spanish Hannukah song I've ever heard)

   Mos vieve la fiesta de la hanukia
   A todos mosos hinche de alegria
   La mujer nunca manca de su taria
   Por que a ella encombe hanukia


And, let me second the Beers Family's Seasons of Peace. Only ~5 Christmas songs on here, but they are gems, especially Three Little Drummers from Africa.

-- robd

Subject: RE: Folk Christmas Music
From: bfdk
Date: 10 Dec 09 - 01:06 PM

12 Folk Days of Christmas

Subject: RE: Folk Christmas Music
From: Beer
Date: 10 Dec 09 - 12:52 PM

Oops!!   That should have read "Jesus The Fugitive Prince".

Subject: RE: Folk Christmas Music
From: Bettynh
Date: 10 Dec 09 - 12:49 PM

John McCutcheon's "Winter Solstice" album includes his "Christmas in the Trenches" and my favorite, Handel's "Unto Us a Child is Born" on hammer dulcimer

Subject: RE: Folk Christmas Music
From: Beer
Date: 10 Dec 09 - 12:38 PM

David Massengill "The Fugitive Prince".
Beer (adrien)

Subject: RE: Folk Christmas Music
From: JohnB
Date: 10 Dec 09 - 12:16 PM

The only one I can think of not mentioned is a cassette I have
Saydisc is the label Christmas Now Is Drawing Near
Sneak's Noyse / The City Waits
It is still available apparently here along with several others, some previously mentioned look under "Christmas" if the link doesn't take you there.
JohnB

Subject: RE: Folk Christmas Music
From: Anglo
Date: 10 Dec 09 - 11:42 AM

Do check out anything by Nowell Sing We Clear. 5 CDs here at http://www.goldenhindmusic.com. Some sound samples there.

Also on CD Baby with complete sound samples.

Subject: RE: Folk Christmas Music
From: Raggytash
Date: 10 Dec 09 - 09:40 AM

There is an album called Bah Humbug, a compliation for various artists, available on the network

Subject: RE: Folk Christmas Music
From: GUEST,Corona Smith
Date: 10 Dec 09 - 09:36 AM

Merry Xmass Folks!!!

The Christmas Ploughboy (& Jingle Bells) by Jim Eldon and Gerald

Subject: RE: Folk Christmas Music
From: snapperspike
Date: 10 Dec 09 - 08:22 AM

The "greatest" Christmas folk song ever ??
Fairey tale in New York
The one and only Pogues
Of course !!!!

Does it get any better ??????

Subject: RE: Folk Christmas Music
From: Folkiedave
Date: 10 Dec 09 - 08:20 AM

As it happens I will be there!!

Subject: RE: Folk Christmas Music
From: GUEST,Armanaya
Date: 10 Dec 09 - 08:05 AM

Don't forget the new CD for this Christmas

Lighten the Dark by Kerfuffle

This is selling very well and is outstanding

Currently touring and to be seen tonight at The Crooked Spire
Chesterfield

Subject: RE: Folk Christmas Music
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 10 Dec 09 - 07:41 AM

... whoops - Forgot the clicke!

Christmas album

DeG

Subject: RE: Folk Christmas Music
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 10 Dec 09 - 07:40 AM

and not to foget Bob Dylan's new

Subject: RE: Folk Christmas Music
From: cetmst
Date: 10 Dec 09 - 07:09 AM

Cd's:
Kentucky Christmas, the Ritchie Family, if I were asked for a favorite
Sing We Now of Christmas, the Revels
Bells of Dublin, Chieftains
Kiev Liturgical Christmas, Moscow Liturgic Choir
Christmas in Early America, Columbus Consort
Bright Day Star, Baltimore Consort
Ancient Noels, Maggie Sansone
A Scottish Christmas, Maggie Sansone, Bonnie Rideout
Christmas in the New World, western Wind
Along the Road to Bethlehem, Toronto Children's Chorus
To Warm the Winter's Night, Aine Minogue
Old Christmas Returned, York Waits
Royal Beauty Bright, Mountain Streams Music, Jane Wilcox Hively
To Drive the Dark Away, Revels
Quilting An American Christmas, Roger Wagner Chorale
Vamos al Portal, Coro Hispano de San Francisco
Noels Celtiques, Brittany, Ensemble Choral du Bout du Mond
An Early American Chrostmas, various
Victorian Christmas, Revels
Voices of Winter, Priscilla Herman, Cindy Mangsen, Anne Hills
Little Barleycorn, Toronto Consort
Navidad en Cusco, Coro Polifonica Municipal Cusco (Peru)
The Night Before a Celtic Christmas, Dordan
Still the Night, Jean Redpath
English Village Carols, various
Hej koleda koleda, Poznan Nightingales (in Polish)
Off the Beaten Track, Telynor
Chrostmas in an Irish Castle, various
A Garland of Carols, Cooper, Boyes & Simpson
An American Christmas, Boston Camerata
Wolcum Yule, Anonymous Four
An American chrostmas, The Tudor Choir
Merrily Greet the Time, Sue Richards, Maggie Sansone
Christmas in Gloucester, various
Christmas Song, Elisabeth von Trapp
Rose and Thistle, Revels
Mistletoe and Wine, Medievel Babes
An Evening of Carols and Capers, Maddy Prior
The Christms Collection, Johnny Cash
Seasons of Peace, The Beers Family
Ballads and Candles, Maddy Prior
Behold That Star, Revels
Cassettes:
Old European Christmas Carol, Prague Madrigal Singers
Homespun Christmas, Mill Run Dulcimer Band
'Twas on a Night Like This, , Barton, Para, et al
Holy Evening, Dmitri Pokrovsky Ensemble
Noel Sing We Clear, v. 4, Roberts and Barrand
Christmas Day in the Morning, Revels
Wassail, Wassail, Revels
Three Log Night, Solstice Assembly
Carols Around the World, Quink Vocal Ensemble
Plygain Carols, Wales
Stable Loft Songs and Carols, Wales
Hail Smiling Morn, Roberts and Barrand
Victorian Christmas, Robin Petrie
The Longest Night, Amidons
LP's:
Holly and the Ivy, Deller Consort
Frost and Fire, Watersons
Sound, Sound Your Instruments of Joy, Watersons
Nowell Sing We Clear, Roberts and Barrand
Second Nowell, Roberts and Barrand
Winter Solstice, John McCutcheon
Traditional Christmas Carols, Pete Seeger
Books:
A Book of Christmas Carols, Haig and Regina Shekerjian/R.deCormier
World Around Carols, Cooperative Recreations Services
American Folk Songs for Christmas, Ruth Seeger
Christmas Revels Songbook
Awake to Joy, 2 v. Nym Cooke
Rise Up Singing

Subject: RE: Folk Christmas Music
From: theleveller
Date: 10 Dec 09 - 05:37 AM

Not forgetting the Watersons' 'For Pence and Spicy Ale', and 'Sound, Sound Your Instruments of Joy'.

Subject: RE: Folk Christmas Music
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 10 Dec 09 - 05:23 AM

Poem, cum folk-carol, 230 of 230, from WalkaboutsVerse:
CHRISTMAS SUNG SIMPLY

As gospellers have said,
Beneath signalling skies,
On land dusty to tread,
A trough in a stable
Was the strawy first-bed
Of a divine baby -
The forgiving Godhead.

A season for new hope -
There then and here now;
The yuletide of goodwill -
There then and here now.

In respect of this chance,
Beneath bright or dark skies,
Faith's the star that we glance
Attending Christ's churches
And trying to enhance,
With singing and ritual,
Our God-loving stance.

A...

(You may hear it here.)
(C) David Franks 2003

Subject: RE: Folk Christmas Music
From: Jack Blandiver
Date: 10 Dec 09 - 05:22 AM

The Art Bears did an album called Winter Songs 30 years ago. A bit of a belter it is too - well in with the folky aesthetic albeit couched in a more progressive vocabulary with respect of song-writing & musical philosophy. And Dagmar Krause is always a joy to listen to. Check these:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FKcaBmDOT_A

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jgs6EKgpG0w

Subject: RE: Folk Christmas Music
From: Folkiedave
Date: 10 Dec 09 - 05:09 AM

Lots of folk carols on English Village Carols, Smithsonian Folkways - SFW CD 40476.

Subject: RE: Folk Christmas Music
From: Jack Blandiver
Date: 10 Dec 09 - 04:51 AM

Here's a new one from the Great Man Himself:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yIhqfB0QAbk

Subject: RE: Folk Christmas Music
From: Valmai Goodyear
Date: 10 Dec 09 - 02:16 AM

'Under the Greenwood Tree': SAYDISC CD SDL-360

Carols & dances of Hardy's Wessex played on authentic instruments by the Mellstock Band & choir (Dave Townsend & friends). These are West Gallery carols alternating with dance music.

It's one of the CDs I've played most often over the years; beautiful, glorious stuff.

The Copper Family: Coppers At Christmas.

Also John Kirkpatrick's 'Carolling & Crumpets'.

Valmai

Subject: RE: Folk Christmas Music
From: Arkie
Date: 09 Dec 09 - 11:29 PM

Just learned of this album a short while ago. Apparently issued in 2009 - The Albion Christmas Band; Winter Songs. There is also another Albion Christmas Band album called Snow on Snow.

Subject: RE: Folk Christmas Music
From: oldhippie
Date: 09 Dec 09 - 08:48 PM

Stan Rogers' "First Christmas"

Subject: RE: Folk Christmas Music
From: Arkie
Date: 09 Dec 09 - 08:45 PM

There are some really nice CDs of folk oriented Christmas music out there but finding them could be a challenge. And if you like the folk rock approach of Steeleye Span there are a few of these two and some very good ones. Here are a few.

Twas on a Night Like This - Folk Legacy. Cathy Barton, Dave Para, & Sandy & Caroline Paton: Acoustic folk and great album.

Noel Sing we Clear - John Roberts, Tony Barrand, & others. I have the cassette. Have yet to see the CD, but worth a try.

Christmas Revels - an annual Christmas celebration in Boston and a series of CDs with lot of variety and worth looking for.

Cold Blow these Winter Winds - collection of Celtic Christmas music and very well done. Every track is a winner.

Electric Folk:

Winter - Steeleye Span has been mentioned and fine choice.

Bruce Cockburn - Christmas. I love almost every track. Also has a CD with Jackson Browne that is worth a listen if just for The Rebel Jesus.

Maddy Prior and the Carnival Band
    Carols at Christmas
    Carols and Capers
    Gold, Frankincense, and Myrhh

Blackmore's Night - Winter Carols. One of my very favorite Christmas recordings. Blackmore's great guitar and Candace Night's voice plus good choice of songs.

Mudcat's Phil Cooper with Margaret Nelson, Kate Early and the Bitterweet Band have an acoustic Christmas CD. This one I have yet to hear but I would expect it be comparable to their CDs which I have heard. Phil's guitar is expressive and he is a master of the instrument. Margaret's and Kate's voice are certain to put a spell on the listeners. A sample of their music can be found here:

Cooper, Nelson, & Early

Subject: RE: Folk Christmas Music
From: GUEST,pattyClink
Date: 09 Dec 09 - 08:38 PM

Chieftain's "Bells of Dublin"

Subject: RE: Folk Christmas Music
From: Crow Sister (off with the fairies)
Date: 09 Dec 09 - 08:23 PM

Spam spam spam spam - didn't they have spam at xmas in the old days? Well, we get it now anyway.. spam spam spam.

Subject: RE: Folk Christmas Music
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 09 Dec 09 - 08:19 PM

And if you like your Christmas with a healthy dose of the absurd -

'Arrest these merry gentlemen' - The Kipper Family

LTS

Subject: RE: Folk Christmas Music
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 09 Dec 09 - 08:17 PM

'Frost and Fire' & 'Holy Heathens and the Old Green Man' - Waterson/Carthy

'Da Day Dawns' (also known as 'Midwinter nights' dream') - Boys of the Lough

'The Bells of Dublin' - the Chieftains ~ my favourite all time Christmas CD

'Garland of Carols' - Coope, Boyes and Simpson ~ my second fav all time Christmas CD

'Sing lustily and with good courage' & 'Carols and Capers' - Maddy Prior and the Carnival band ~ Gallery carols and other hymns/tunes


'Gabriel's Message' - Sinfonye ~ mediaeval Christmas music (not technically folk but a damn fine album)

'A Box and a Banjo' - your Christmas favourites played on concertina and banjo - ask 'Catter "Ralphie" if you can borrow his copy and don't ask who gave it to him....

Sorry I can't link to any of these, my computer is having "issues".

Enjoy!

LTS

Subject: RE: Folk Christmas Music
From: Georgiansilver
Date: 09 Dec 09 - 06:01 PM

I love Steeleye Spans "Marigold-Harvest home" which although not designed as a Christmas song.. puts me in mind of Christmas........    Marigold-Harvest Home... Steeleye Span.

Best wishes, Mike.

Subject: RE: Folk Christmas Music
From: GUEST,AndyC
Date: 09 Dec 09 - 05:52 PM

Coope, Boyes and Simpson have done a couple of excellent christmas cd's. Also the 'mystery plays' cd by Home Service is half christmas-related. I don't know if either of these will be easily available if you are not in the UK though.

Johnny Copin has done a couple of cd's of traditional songs from the west country area of England. If you want something more folk-rock then Jethro Tull's christmas album has some good tracks.

For interesting individual christmas songs then my favourites would be 'Winter Song' by Lindisfarne, 'Christmas Eve Can Kill You' by Everly Brothers (amongst others) and Stan Rogers' 'First Christmas Away From Home'.

Subject: RE: Folk Christmas Music
From: Tootler
Date: 09 Dec 09 - 05:45 PM

"Knock at the Knocker, Ring at the Bell" by Magpie Lane

From Amazon UK

Subject: RE: Folk Christmas Music
From: GUEST
Date: 09 Dec 09 - 05:35 PM

'Winter' by Steeleye Span is excellent.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Winter-Steeleye-Span/dp/B00066FNBO

Subject: Folk Christmas Music
From: GUEST,Me
Date: 09 Dec 09 - 04:36 PM

Hey people.

I have recently become a big fan of Folk music. I find the music soothing, different, and beyond abstract. However, I have not come across too many Folk Christmas Albums. The ones I have come across amaze me and inspire my ears to find more. Here is the list where I got all my Christmas Folk Music. Folk Christmas Songs But, I want more songs to add to my ipod. So if anyone can help me find new Christmas Folk songs or have any reviews on the ones on that website that would be great. Thanks a lot.