4 Variations of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star - Mozart, Wolfgang Am
The Little Drummer Boy - Davis, Katherine [2
Bittersweet - Brickman, Jim
A Medley: Sweeney's Buttermilk/The Ships Are Sailing/Jerry's Chickens - Traditional
Nigh Bethlehem - Burt, A.
The First Noel - Sandys, William
We Three Kings - Hopkins, John Henry
What Child Is This? - Dix, William Chatte
Track Listings (15) - Disc #2
This Christmas - Hathaway, Donny
Christmas Wish - Andress, Patricia C
Winter - Brown, Gary [Sax]
Your Love - Brickman, Jim
The Gift - Brickman, Jim
Silent Night - Gruber, Franz
I Wish I Could - Douglas, Tom
Black Diamond - Freeman, Russ [Guit
Esawayo - Samite, Mulondo
Snow Is Lightly Falling - N? Dhomhnail, Tr?on
The White Spirit - Jean, Didier
The Ice Palace - Arkenstone, David
Stars to Share - Aaberg, Philip
Santorini - Yanni
Mr. Moto's Penguin (Who'd Be an Eskimo's Wife?) - Isham, Mark
We've come to depend on Windham Hill's annual Winter Solstice collections as a relief from the glut of traditional Christmas tunes, but this double CD, Winter Solstice on Ice, slips. The soundtrack to an A&E ice skatin... more »g special, the first disc follows the Winter Solstice formula, mixing original tunes inspired by the season and inventive covers of traditional Christmas fare. Brian Keane starts it off with an imagistic number called "Magic Forest," featuring the Angels of Venice, Samite, and others. The L.A. Guitar Quartet provides a novel, minimalist dissertation on "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star," and Janis Ian surprises with an intimate, guitar and synth-string reading of "We Three Kings." But the second disc starts with over-the-hill R&B crooners like Jeffrey Osborne, Roberta Flack, and Peabo Bryson, then shifts into a sampler of Windham Hill artists. It has little to do with the Winter Solstice theme, even if they are among the best songs on the disc. --John Diliberto« less
We've come to depend on Windham Hill's annual Winter Solstice collections as a relief from the glut of traditional Christmas tunes, but this double CD, Winter Solstice on Ice, slips. The soundtrack to an A&E ice skating special, the first disc follows the Winter Solstice formula, mixing original tunes inspired by the season and inventive covers of traditional Christmas fare. Brian Keane starts it off with an imagistic number called "Magic Forest," featuring the Angels of Venice, Samite, and others. The L.A. Guitar Quartet provides a novel, minimalist dissertation on "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star," and Janis Ian surprises with an intimate, guitar and synth-string reading of "We Three Kings." But the second disc starts with over-the-hill R&B crooners like Jeffrey Osborne, Roberta Flack, and Peabo Bryson, then shifts into a sampler of Windham Hill artists. It has little to do with the Winter Solstice theme, even if they are among the best songs on the disc. --John Diliberto
Michele H. (cdheaven) from FORT MYERS, FL Reviewed on 11/27/2011...
Wonderful sounds of nature with this great Christmas CD. Ice skaters in the background skating on the ice in one song. Love this!
CD Reviews
Tired of the Umpteenth Playing of "The Christmas Song"?
Steve Vrana | Aurora, NE | 02/06/2000
(4 out of 5 stars)
"I have more than 200 Christmas albums in my music collection. [Hey, it's my favorite time of the year!] And the Windham Hill "Solstice" series is among my favorites. The double-disc "On Ice" is no exception. [If you're wondering about the post-Christmas review, I can also be something of a cheapskate and I get most of my Christmas music half price during the week after Christmas.]This album is the musical companion to the A&E special "Winter Solstice On Ice." The two discs are mostly divided into instrumental (disc 1) and vocal (disc 2) tracks with both discs presenting a variety of both contemporary and traditional songs.Disc 1 highlights include Liz Story's lovely "Joy to the World," George Winston's playful "Skating" (from Linus and Lucy), the LA Guitar Quartet's "4 Variations on Twinkle Twinkle Little Star," and the late Michael Hedges stately reading of "What Child Is This."Disc 2 highlights include Tuck and Patti's "Christmas Wish," Hiroshima's take on "Silent Night" with its harp-like koto, and Samite's "Esawayo."This is Christmas music so enchanting that you'll want to play it all year long. RECOMMENDED"
Kenny G lovers, Disc 2 is for you
Steve Vrana | 12/09/2001
(2 out of 5 stars)
"Definitely not the best in the Winter's Solstice series, this is a mixed bag at best. Disc I is much like the others; if you like others in the series, you'll like these instrumental pieces. Disc 2 is disappointing; it's a collection of songs reminiscent of what you'd get on a "Light (or Lite) Hits" pop radio station. The songs are unremarkable, and the voices are a distraction. For my money, Winter's Solstice 5 is the best so far, but this does not meet that standard."
The Best Solstice Yet
Betzeegee | West(by God)Virginia | 12/25/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I have purchased "Solstice" CD's in the past and I truly think this is the best. I love to hear a completely different mix of Christmas music on a CD. This is a relaxing and refreshing mixture of various artists. I know that I will probably listen to the 2nd CD all year round. A true winner in my book."
Half good, Half bad
moondancer | Cocoa, FL United States | 12/24/2001
(4 out of 5 stars)
"To repeat the other reviews, disc one is great, disc two not so good. They should have just made a long disc one, and added some of the good instrumentals from disc 2 to 1."
Some nice selections but disapointing
moondancer | 12/12/2001
(3 out of 5 stars)
"This Winter Solstice is probably the most disapointing of the series. Although disc one is pretty and typical of some of the other releases, I am not particularly inspired by any selection as I have been on IV and V. DiscTwo sounds like commercial lite FM. I would have never bought this if I had known that I was getting over processed, unevolved music that I like to avoid. I will still play Disc one and even enjoy some of it, but Disc two will collect dust."
Track Listings (14) - Disc #1
Michele H. (cdheaven) from FORT MYERS, FL