Christmas Peace

Description

Christmas Peace is a Christmas album by the Norwegian singer and songwriter Solveig Leithaug, independently released on Solveig Music in 2009. (The original Norwegian version of the album, entitled Julefred, was released on the Norwegian gospel label Master Music the previous year.) The album was recorded by Derri Daugherty with Steve Hindalong of The Choir fame producing. Mixed by David Schober.

Featuring Solveig Leithaug on acoustic guitar and vocals; backed by Phil Madeira on slide guitar, steel guitar, accordion, and Hammond B3 organ; Paul Moak on vibraphone, electric guitar, lap steel guitar, mandoguitar, banjo, and mandolin; Marc Byrd on (ambient) guitar; Chris Donohue on bass; and Ken Lewis on drums and percussion, with producer Steve Hindalong providing percussion, chimes, and glockenspiel.

‘Christmas Peace’ is, it seems, Solveig’s first ever Christmas album. It really does deserve to be on the ‘must play’ shelves during the festive season – and well beyond. As well as traditional favourites «Away In A Manger», «Silent Night», «O Holy Night», etc there are new English lyrics («The Cities Are Lit And Festive», «Hay And Straw») and new music («I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day») written by the Norwegian-born singer now living permanently in the USA and is a perfect blend of old and new. The arrangement of those familiar old standards is sensitive, almost fragile – you are sure you are hearing them for the first time – and the new settings are paired down to the point of intimacy, complementing her extraordinary vocals with acoustic guitar and understated orchestration. You are left with the feeling she is singing just for you. Arguably, there is one minor distraction. Many of the songs are sung in Norwegian, with the English lyrics published in the sleevenotes. Yet there can hardly be a more hauntingly beautiful voice, in any language. It is a wonderful instrument which transcends such barriers. For «O Holy Night» alone (sung in English), this is worth the experience. Added value comes in a strangely evocative cover of a film song (film: Meet Me In St Louis) – Judy Garland’s debut of the reassuring «Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas». Just what this album will help you to do. [Phil Thomson, Cross Rhythms, March 2011]

> iTunes (https://music.apple.com/us/album/christmas-peace/341404392)

CD tracklist:

01. Woundrous Invisible Pilgrimage – 2:57
02. What Child Is This? – 4:28
03. The Cities Are Lit And Festive – 4:04
04. Away In a Manger – 3:05
05. My Heart So Dearly Ponders – 4:03
06. Silent Night – 3:39
07. Tell Me the Story of Jesus – 2:19
08. I Heard the Bells On Christmas Day – 2:59
09. Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming – 3:08
10. Hay and Straw – 4:31
11. O, Holy Night – 5:37
12. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas – 4:30

[youtube_sc url=”” playlist=”P8Eareqg8Xs,dlvOHqt2nC4,odUuvh3h4M8,XpniAB5SbH4,MqYuKawxZOk,RgUKmAyZNlg,c6vqyxe4U5Q,LLCz7qo-FCY,JWGmpq4x5b4,koJdGoUaPxs,bwtNVvqBJK0,rZpcOgPMvos” title=”Solveig Leithaug, Christmas Peace – Woundrous Invisible Pilgrimage + What Child Is This? + The Cities Are Lit And Festive + Away In a Manger + My Heart So Dearly Ponders + Silent Night + Tell Me the Story of Jesus + I Heard the Bells On Christmas Day + Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming + Hay and Straw + O, Holy Night + Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” autohide=”1″ rel=”0″]