Silent Night: Christmas Carols On Acoustic Guitar (Acoustic Music Records)
Various Artists
Released in 2017
DownBeat Four-Stars Review
YouTube:
https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_ldsgCuu9Fn-pAQAFJ4UUjz8Hrgqe3yXQg
Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/album/5a8rDCGZi82Uo1mcAF9Oq7?si=xImAuEmjT3izQWi-t6CDqA
About:
Three different versions of “Silent Night” have been recorded on a single CD and give some insight into the concept behind the new Christmas sampler, which will be released on the Acoustic Music label just in time for the holidays.
Steve Hicks (Great Britain) arranged some of the lesser-known traditional English winter carols, while Rainer Mafra (Brazil), Peter Autschbach (Germany), Thomas Ruez (Austria) and Ernie Rissmann (Germany) perform uniquely individual versions of well-known Christmas carols. The stylistic bandwidth of the CD ranges from Brazilian and jazz, to Leo Kottke-style powerpicking, and it shows in an exciting and impressive way just how diverse and colorful guitar music can be. It’s a genuine enrichment for a Christmas celebration.
Track Listing:
1. Silent night (F. X. Gruber), performed by Peter Autschbach 4:14
2. Rudolph the red nosed reindeer (J. Marks), perf. Rainer Mafra 2:22
3. Villancico de navidad (A. Barrios), perf. Steve Hicks 2:51
4. Oh you little merry one, perf. Thomas Ruez 2:19
5. In the bleak midwinter, perf. Ernie Rissmann 2:09
6. Silent night (F. X. Gruber), perf. Rainer Mafra 4:44
7. Medley: Deck the halls ; Ding dong merrily on high, perf. Steve Hicks 2:06
8. Come children, perf. Thomas Ruez 3:03
9. There is no rose, perf. Steve Hicks 2:27
10. Hark! the herald angels sing (F. Mendelssohn-Bartholdy), perf. Rainer Mafra 4:37
11. The snow they melt the soonest, Steve Hicks 2:11
12. Silent night (F. X. Gruber), Thomas Ruez 3:19
Personnel:
Peter Autschbach: guitar
Rainer Mafra: guitar
Steve Hicks: guitar
Thomas Ruez: guitar
Recorded in 2016
Review:
Silent Night: Christmas Carols On Acoustic Guitar tenders rare rewards with a dozen tracks by five Europeans who display exceptional skills as soloists and as arrangers. Steve Hicks, an Englishman, delves into the beautiful melodies of carols from Great Britain as well as Paraguayan classical guitarist Augustín Barrios’ “Villancico De Navidad.” Germany’s Peter Autschbach is poised, precise and loving with his version of “Silent Night,” while countryman Ernie Rissmann follows the way of his heart as he interprets the handsome old Albion tune “In The Bleak Midwinter.” Brazil’s Rainer Mafra treats both lighthearted and reflective songs with understanding. Thomas Ruez’s folky picks “Oh You Little Merry One” and “Come Children” may not be particularly Christmassy, but this Austrian, playing resonator guitar, articulates a sense of elation.
Frank-John Hadley (DownBeat)
