Vivienne Neville - Christmas Instrumental Collection
Artist:
Title:
Christmas Instrumental Collection
Type:
Album
Released:
01 Dec 2018
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Review
Vivienne Neville has released her 'Christmas Carols Instrumental Collection' featuring five classic, traditional Christmas Carols performed in an original and relaxed manner.
'Hark The Herald' opens with a beautiful and gentle piano interlude before the more familiar opening verse of this great carol emerges. Midway through the tune returns to that original musical opening, before continuing on to the traditional style. This injection of new music into an otherwise 'normal' song really adds something unique and special.
Considering this is billed as an instrumental EP, 'In The Bleak Midwinter' rather surprisingly starts with some vocals - a wavering Enya style of voice...
Read More Vivienne Neville has released her 'Christmas Carols Instrumental Collection' featuring five classic, traditional Christmas Carols performed in an original and relaxed manner.
'Hark The Herald' opens with a beautiful and gentle piano interlude before the more familiar opening verse of this great carol emerges. Midway through the tune returns to that original musical opening, before continuing on to the traditional style. This injection of new music into an otherwise 'normal' song really adds something unique and special.
Considering this is billed as an instrumental EP, 'In The Bleak Midwinter' rather surprisingly starts with some vocals - a wavering Enya style of voice sings "what can I give?" several times as the song begins, creating a mellow, lullaby feel. The normal rhythm of this carol is still there, but all around it floats original sounds once again - demonstrating the creativity and musical skill Vivienne is master of. The synthised sounds even produce a hint of brass, percussion and so much more to really build this into a stunning piece of soothing music.
'Oh Little Town of Bethlehem' has more of a crisp piano style to it, but that solemn sounding beginning soon makes way for a moody flute-like sound adding variation and intrigue to proceedings. The foot-tapping piano vibe returns to move the song along. You won't recognise 'Silent Night' from the opening minute at all, such is the new introduction that starts this normally well known carol. The familiarity does begin, eventually, but even then this song is given added sparkle and delight, as the notes are expertly intertwined with additional styles and sounds.
'We Three Kings' gets an almost pan-pipe style to start with, and once again the song is unrecognizable for quite a while as an entirely new beginning has been composed for it. When the opening verse does arrive, there's an appropriately Egyptian feel to the music. The sounds are layered here, carefully arranged so that one layer emits a rhythmic beat, whilst another adds atmosphere, before the more prominent sounds deliver the main tune. You have to marvel at the work that has gone into producing this track.
If you're not in the Christmas spirit yet - you will be after listening to this EP. At times it's simple but effective, but at other times it's also beautifully composed and highly original. There is something so relaxing, and warming, about listening to these laid back moments of musical heaven. Just the thing for those cold December evenings. Now if only we could have some snow.
Available on Vivienne's website: www.vivneville.com
LTTM Rating 4 Out of 5 Stars
Standout Track
We Three Kings
In The Bleak Midwinter
