Album Notes

The Eugene Concert Choir, a 100-voice masterworks chorus, is a Resident Company of the Hult Center for the Performing Arts in Eugene, Oregon. Their holiday concerts offer a mix of classical and popular sounds to delight all ages. This recording features highlights of a live concert performance, and as the reviewer related, "those who attended the Eugene Concert Choir's 'A Celtic Christmas' had a rousing good time. . . If you think of the extravagant productions of Celtic Woman and Riverdance, you will get some sense of the scene in Silva Concert Hall." The Choir was joined by The Willis Clan, multi-talented children ranging from ages 10 to 18 - Jessica, Jeremiah, Jennifer, Jeanette, Jackson, and Jedidiah, and their father, Toby, playing keyboards, violin, guitar, uilleann pipes, button accordian, whistles, drums, bodhran and bass, in traditional Irish and contemporary styles. Benjamin Britten's classic "A Ceremony of Carols," with superb harpist Jane Allen, is performed by the Choir and soloists with Middle English and Early Modern English pronunciation of the poetic text.