This CD contains a collection of some very old Christmas carols. Every year, as Christmas approaches, we hear music written for the season, both old and new. In this age of ever growing popularity of secular carols, I have compiled this brief collection of some older and more reverent - one might even consider them more relevant - songs commemorating the promise, the prophecy, and the birth of the Christ child. The more familiar melodies I have offered without words, while some of the less familiar are offered with vocal accompaniment. It is my hope that this collection may remind everyone that there once was a time when even secular music acknowledged the presence of God in our lives.

Read the Review at Modern Bard at http://modernbard.org/reviews/ilestne.htm .

All of the tracks of my CDs, "Il Est Ne", and "On the Woad" are available directly through soundclick.com sans packaging and physical media.

This CD music collection is a mixed assortment stemming from many sources. The sort of music one hears at a modern medieval faire is rarely of the actual medieval variety. If the songs were medieval, many patrons would not suffer listening to them for long. The language alone would prove indecipherable to the common fairgoer. Instead, what you hear is a conglomeration of old songs and melodies interspersed with modern songs and variations played on anachronistic instruments.

Following in that tradition, these recordings range from extremely traditional to just plain silly. Some of the melodies have been customized, others creatively appropriated or parodied, and most of the instruments are only modern day cousins of what may have been available in medieval times. They are plucked, pounded, shaken, rattled, and otherwise played in relatively simple manners as might simulate a faire performance.

I hope you enjoy these recordings as much as I have enjoyed making them. For more information you can read the review of this CD on Modern Bard at http://modernbard.org/reviews/onthewoad.htm .