|
Carol: A Christmas Journey | 
 enlarge | Creators: Franz Xaver Gruber, Geoffrey (composer) Shaw, Christmas Traditional, Zola Van
Label: Really Big Shoes
Category: Music
List Price: $14.99
Buy New: $10.89
You Save: $4.10 (27%)
New (8) Used (8) from $6.35
Rating:  8 reviews
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 5.6 x 5 x 0.5
UPC: 821144139421
EAN: 0821144139421
Release Date: September 3, 2003
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Tell A Friend
| |
| Tracks:
| • | A Virgin Most Pure | | • | Coventry Carol: the Holy Innocents | | • | Children's Song of the Nativity | | • | Carol of the Birds | | • | The Wexford Carol | | • | Huron Carol | | • | The Boar's Head Carol | | • | Joyeaux Noel | | • | Bring a Torch Jeanette, Isabella | | • | The Dutch Carol | | • | Ding Dong Merrily on High | | • | Poverty | | • | Silent Night |
|
| Similar Items:
|
| Editorial Reviews:
Album Description
"With Carol: A Christmas Journey, pianist, Zola Van once again ranked as the #1 New Age Radio Airplay artist on NAR's (New Age Reporter) Top 100 Radio Airplay CD report for December 2003. Her previous release, Paint the Forest Winter, also ranked as the #1 New Age CD on NAV's (New Age Voice) Top 100 Radio Airplay Report. Both CD's have garnered Van some impressive reviews in the industry along with 5-star reviews from top Amazon.com reviewers. Carol: A Christmas Journey recieved Top Pick at ChristmasReviews.com along with an impressive 5-star review by site-owner Richard Banks. Carol: A Christmas Journey features lesser-known carols, along with some that are well-known and loved. Timeless in its message and beauty, Carol is a journey across hundreds of years into the hearts and minds of the people who created the carols and whose message still touches us today.
|
| Customer Reviews: Read 3 more reviews...
 CArol - An Opinion December 9, 2007
Michael Links (Gymea Bay, NSW Australia)
I expected some lyrics, so to that extent I was disappointed. However the music is relaxing and I enjoy listening to it. If you know the Carols, it would be quite suitable as accompaniment for a singalong.
Wonderful, tasteful Christmas music. January 11, 2007
Digital artist (Rhode Island)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
This CD of traditional carols played by Zola Van is a refreshing respite from the blitz of tacky, cynical and commercialized Christmas music. Both familiar and rarely heard carols are played with tremendous simplicity and expression. Some listeners may find a few of the selections rather sad and solemn, but these carols convey the mystery and wonder of Christmas. My only complaint, and it is a small one, is that the piano sounds a bit tinny at times, as if the sound engineer was trying for a harp-like effect. In any case, this is a well-done collection of carols that will be enjoyed for years.
Christmas Memories and Dreams August 13, 2006
Rebecca Johnson (Washington State)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
"I am a simple traveler. I am transported adrift a gentle, melodic seduction across hundreds of years to this place. Here in a shroud of feudal protection is common man, with reasoning and conduct conforming to his day, desperately seeking beauty, purity, and gentleness in an otherwise brutal world. Beyond dark stone walls of medieval thought, the allure of the beautiful virgin and the child-king's humble birth is the cherished focus of desire and intrigue." ~Zola Van
I first heard Zola Van's radiant music on a CD titled "The HeartAid Project." Her music captures hope, wonder, kindness and beauty. The fluidity of the fragile notes are balanced by the strength and depth of the message. Crisp, delicate and heart-felt notes mingle with images of Christmas memories and dreams.
There are lesser-known carols you might be hearing for the first time and a few beloved favorites that have survived in the hearts and minds of people across the centuries.
1. A Virgin Most Pure - Poignant and delicate rendition of an Old English carol.
2. Coventry Carol: the Holy Innocents - A 16th Century English carol with familiar strains and has grief and love intertwined.
3. Children's Song of the Nativity - A piece filled with questions and expectation. "How far is it to Bethlehem? Not very far. Shall we find the stable room lit by a star?" Zola plays this piece with precision and deep understanding. It is pure and beautiful.
4. Carol of the Birds is from Bas-Quercy, France. The peasants of the time told legends of enchanted animals who could speak on Christmas Eve. I can see birds swooping and soaring and following the "noel star."
5. The Wexford Carol is an Irish Carol known as the "Enniscorthy Carol."
6. Huron Carol is an Indian/Canadian tune - One of my favorites because it almost foretells sadness. Zola shows the full force of her interpretation as she alternates between spectacular lightness of hand and rich intensity. Zola has truly captured a moment in time with exquisite detail.
7. The Boar's Head Carol - A piece to take your breath away. The notes almost seem to be floating through the air like an invigorating breeze.
8. Joyeaux Noel - A French Carol sung at New Year's in the 1400s. Zola captures mystery and magic. You will recognize this sweet dream of new beginnings and hope for the future. This piece might delve into your memory and remind you of your most beautiful Christmas memories. I love how Zola tantalizes the listener with tiny raindrop notes and then just sends a downpour of notes to refresh your spirit.
9. Bring a Torch Jeanette, Isabella - A 15th Century French Provincial Carol with a playful twist. In the depth of night I can see little torches swirling in circles as Jeanette playfully dances instead of hurrying with the torches. There is a touch of humor here. It is as if time stops and this song could play forever.
10. The Dutch Carol - The beauty here is a solitary angel flying high above the earth. In the stillness of the night you can here "How sweet is love." The most comforting carol on this CD. It wraps you in warmth and you almost feel protected from all harm. Zola's playing dissolves all stress, this is a piece you could easily fall asleep to. As beautiful as a lullaby with a depth of caring that speaks of love and sweet dreams.
11. Ding Dong Merrily on High - A lighthearted piece. The emphasis here seems to be a joyous celebration.
12. Poverty - Spectacular depth and understanding. Zola shows her sensitivity in this interpretation. I hear a message so subtle it almost begs not to be explained but only to be felt with the heart. Perhaps this piece mostly evokes a sense of awe. We gaze at the tiny gift sleeping in the straw and are amazed at how a small child could be the hope of the world.
13. Silent Night - Instantly recognizable and a combination of all we love at Christmas Time. Zola plays this carol with an intricate beauty befitting this captivating story of heavenly peace.
Truly, I've never heard a collection of piano solos so delicate in magical beauty. Zola Van's music will quickly capture your heart. The universal messages of hope, peace and love have been captured in her interpretations of each carol. I highly recommend "Carol: A Christmas Journey" for the Holiday Season or anytime when you need a musical escape. It is timeless in its appeal and is a much needed escape from the harried pace of the holiday season or everyday life.
You may also enjoy "Paint the Forest Winter," and "River to River Trail: The Hike."
~The Rebecca Review
Carols of Christmas Past December 24, 2003
Jerry Fry (Freeman, MO USA)
7 out of 7 found this review helpful
If you're tired of Christmas songs after hearing so many of the same ones over and over and are ready for something new here is the solution.
Zola Van's beautiful melodies give the Christmas spirit a new dimension. Carols from past centuries, seemingly lost in time, are brought to the present and surely must sound more beautiful than ever before.
These selectins are calming and soothing to the nerves. Highlights here are "Huron Carol", "The Boar's Head Carol" and "The Dutch Carol". But every song is played with remarkable excellence. For those longing to hear something more familiar, the timeless carol "Silent Night" completes this magnificent set of piano solos.
from Solo Piano Publications November 8, 2003
Kathy Parsons (Florence, OR United States)
6 out of 6 found this review helpful
When I slipped "Carol: A Christmas Journey" into my CD player, I expected to hear a collection of the usual Christmas pieces and carols with Zola Van's inspired solo piano interpretation. She had told me that this album was going to be different, and different it is! What sets "Carol" apart from other collections is the darkness and moodiness of the album. At first, it seemed almost bleak, but the more I listen, the more I hear the hope and anticipation in the music. Most of the carols are extremely old, going as far back as the twelfth century, and come from various European countries and traditions (one is Indian/Canadian). Van really did her homework on this album, researching the origins of the music as she collected the songs, and writing a short history of each piece in the liner notes. With all of the Christmas music I listen to and teach, I was amazed that I was familiar with only a small number of the carols, and because the collection is so unusual, I would think it would be easy to listen to it year-round without feeling silly about playing a Christmas album in, say, April while you're preparing your taxes!The three familiar carols are "Coventry Carol," "Bring a Torch Jeanette, Isabella," and "Silent Night," all played lovingly true to the originals, but with fresh interpretations. "A Virgin Most Pure," is a hauntingly beautiful carol that tells of the prophecy and of three journeys to Bethlehem. Van's use of heavy chords in the deep bass of the piano accentuates the mystery and darkness of many of the pieces, this one included. "Children's Song of the Nativity" is a bit lighter, full of innocence and questions about traveling to Bethlehem - how far is it? what will we do when we get there? - a very sweet vignette. My favorite track is probably the darkest one of all, "Huron Carol". The words come from Huron droning, and were set to an Indian/Canadian tune by a Jesuit missionary who taught the Huron and Wendot in a wilderness outpost in Quebec. Van does an exquisite job with this piece - to the point that you can almost feel the chilling winds blowing through it. "The Boar's Head Carol" is a bit lighter and more festive. "The Dutch Carol" comes from about 1599, and is delicate, melancholy,and very beautiful. "Ding Dong Merrily on High" is probably the most upbeat piece - a dance that servants and peasants would perform for their employers' entertainment. A very unusual collection of holiday music, "Carol" is certainly an antidote for too much Santa Claus. It makes you realize how far back our holiday traditions go, and the vastly different ways in which Christ's birth has been celebrated over the centuries. Historically, this is a fascinating collection - I learned so much from the liner notes. Musically, it is a spiritual and introspective journey to hear these haunting melodies played with such care and emotion. Zola Van has done an outstanding job with this album. Just be aware that this is not a happy-go-lucky album of "Jingle Bells" and "Santa Claus is Coming to Town."
|
|
|
| |
