Celtic Woman Treats Christmas Classics With Delicate Reverence in A Christmas Celebration

It’s been several years now since my family first discovered Celtic Woman on PBS. We always stop and watch when one of their concerts is on, but I hadn’t thought about them in a while when I first became entranced with Celtic Thunder, a group that in some ways is their male equivalent. My fondness for Celtic Thunder runs much deeper; I have always gravitated much more toward male voices, and Celtic Thunder places much more emphasis on individuals than Celtic Woman, while also focusing less on traditional music.

Not that I object to a more folksy focus, because I love those types of songs, and Chloe Agnew, Orla Fallon (no longer with the group), Lisa Kelly, Mairead Nesbitt and Meav Ni Mhaolchatha (also no longer with the group) perform them beautifully. Given my steady diet of Celtic Thunder recently, I knew that Celtic Woman would be one of the first Christmas albums I pulled out this season. When they join together, the lads convey a feeling of strength and power. The women, meanwhile, demonstrate exquisite delicacy, which comes across beautifully on Celtic Woman: A Christmas Celebration.

O Holy Night - In discussions of favorite Christmas songs, this classic seems to come up more often than just about any other, particularly in religious circles. It’s a simply glorious carol that appears on countless albums as singers try to prove they’ve got the vocal chops to pull it off. Celtic Woman’s extraordinarily delicate rendition is one of my favorites. Though I wish they hadn’t skipped one verse and truncated another, their voices have a crystalline beauty to them that make this a genuine contender for my favorite version of the song. I’m hoping Celtic Thunder covers this one too; if they do, I suspect I’ll like theirs even better, but until then, I’m quite happy to listen to the ladies.

Away in a Manger - Orla Fallon has this beautiful version of a Christmas classic to herself, one of only a few solo numbers.

Ding Dong Merrily on High - This lively group number allows for plenty of complex harmonizing. One of the peppiest songs on the album.

White Christmas - Piano-driven snippets of Somewhere Over the Rainbow weave in and out of this wistful song, which is loveliest when the women come together in harmony.

Silent Night - An excellent showcase for Mairead’s fiddle, and Meav’s vocals are gorgeous, particularly during the portion in which she sings the old favorite in Irish.

Christmas Pipes - I’ve actually heard this one on the radio, so I think of it as the face of this album. A stirring song about the power of music and of the ability of Christmas to unite people. It starts very quiet and gathers intensity gradually. Includes a nice little sample of O Holy Night.

The Christmas Song - Lisa has solo honors on this one. There’s nothing especially unique about it, but her rendition definitely brings out the beauty of her voice.

Carol of the Bells - Mostly instrumental in focus, this choral number that already has a slightly Celtic flavor to it is an ideal choice for the group.

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas - As with the others, this poignant song is at its most affecting when several of the voices are going at once. Some of the harmonies here are quite gorgeous.

Panis Angelicus - Chloe, my favorite member of the group as well as the youngest, takes the lead on this Latin song with which I am otherwise unfamiliar. It’s a beautiful song despite the language barrier.

Don Oiche Ud I mBeithil (That Night in Bethlehem) - A Nativity-focused Gaelic song with a haunting melody and harp accompaniment featuring Chloe, Mairead and Meav.

O Come All Ye Faithful - While my all-time favorite version of this song is the one Art Garfunkel recorded for the album The Very Best of Christmas Pop, this rich rendition, enhanced by a majestic chorus, is probably my second.

The Little Drummer Boy - Rather oddly, this track begins with an eerie chorus of male Gregorian chanting that continues throughout much of the song. Less surprising is the steady drumbeat throughout the song. The melody has a slightly minor tone to it and is a showcase for Chloe and Orla.

The Wexford Carol - A tender tune describing the Nativity, this is Meav’s solo number, though she is often backed by a chorus. This has an air of antiquity about it but is quite lovely.

Let It Snow! - This is designated as a bonus track, and I’m really not sure why; then again, I never really have understood the concept of “bonus tracks”. This jazzy song has a more contemporary feel to it than most of the tracks on the album and is a fun way to end the album.

Celtic Woman: A Christmas Celebration stands alongside the Irish Rovers’ An Irish Christmas as my favorite way to put an Irish stamp on my Christmas celebration. If you too would like to see a little green in your December beyond just the Christmas tree, it’s a good time to get to know Chloe, Orla, Lisa, Mairead and Meav.