Osborne, Stephanie - Victorian Christmas

Year of Release: 2003
Label: Silverline Records/5.1Entertainment
Catalog Number: 281212
Format: CD
Total Time: 53:32:00

Every time I get music, I consider it a gift. This DVD-A has to be one of this most beautiful Holiday music gifts I have received over the years and it was a completely different experience than what I have been accustomed to hearing this time of year.

Stephanie Osborne recreates a Victorian Christmas in gorgeous surround sound with her vintage Lyon and Healy Style 22 Harp (built in 1921). Just as the angel pictured on the cover portrays, this breathtaking collection of songs reminds you of what the season of giving truly means. The cover, shot in black and white, is a strikingly beautiful image in a distinctly Victorian setting to fit the theme of the project.

I have always appreciated and enjoyed harp music. I find it very soothing and relaxing. Osborne performs her own adaptations of classic songs with a modern blend of spirituality. Fine examples are ?What Child Is This (Greensleeves)? and ?Up On The Housetop/Jolly Old St. Nicholas.? Like the hybrid SACD format, these DVDs will play on all equipment. The bonus video provides valuable insight from Osborne on the complexity of the harp as well as what the project meant to her.

There is no lack of creativity to be sure on this recording and considering what you are hearing is only one instrument with no accompaniment, this is a major achievement in every sense of the word for the performing artist. The only thing missing are the trumpets at heavens gates sounding off. The sound on each track is as pristine as crisp clear blue skies, indeed a slice of heaven for the ears to absorb.

Tracklisting:
O Christmas Tree (3:33) / Deck The Halls (5:53) / It Came Upon A Midnight Clear (1:57) / Christmas Pastorale (3:53) / Jingle Bells (3:06) / Christmas Chimes Waltz (4:08) / Sleep Baby Sleep/Silent Night (3:15) / What Child Is This (Greensleeves) (1:54) / All Through The Night (4:36) / Up On The Housetop/Jolly Old St. Nicholas (2:59) / See Amid The Winter's Snow/I Saw Three (4:02) / Ave Maria (4:32) / Conte De Noel (6:02) / O Come All Ye Faithful (2:45) / O Holy Night (3:37)

Special Features: 24 Bit/96 kHz DVD-Audio, 24 bit/48kHz Dolby Digital 5.1 and 24 bit/192kHz Stereo Options / Stunning 5.1 Surround Sound / Studio Video / Speaker Setup / Plays on ALL DVD players

Musicians:
Stephanie Osborne ? harp

Discography:
Victorian Christmas (2003)

Genre: Other

Origin US

Added: January 11th 2004
Reviewer: Keith "Muzikman" Hannaleck
Score:
Artist website: www.silverlinerecords.com/stephanie_main.asp
Hits: 2869
Language: english