Search - Various Artists :: Winter Solstice on Ice

Winter Solstice on Ice
Various Artists
Winter Solstice on Ice
Genres: Special Interest, New Age, Pop, Soundtracks
 
  •  Track Listings (14) - Disc #1
  •  Track Listings (15) - Disc #2

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 »

     
   
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CD Details

All Artists: Various Artists
Title: Winter Solstice on Ice
Members Wishing: 0
Total Copies: 2
Label: Windham Hill Records
Original Release Date: 9/14/1999
Release Date: 9/14/1999
Genres: Special Interest, New Age, Pop, Soundtracks
Style: Holiday & Wedding
Number of Discs: 2
SwapaCD Credits: 2
UPCs: 019341145929, 019341151227

Synopsis

Amazon.com
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

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Member CD Reviews

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."