This CD is an ethereal collection of both famed and rare Christmas carols, presented on acoustic guitar and mandolin. All carols are traditional and up to 14 centuries old. Jim Lee of Dirty Linen Magazine called the CD "lovely, low-key... and tastefully done...it's sure to make for a nice soundtrack for opening gifts on Christmas morning". According to Richard Banks (christmasreviews.com), "It's delicate bouquet is that of a fine red wine, and would perhaps be enjoyed in a dimly-lit folk venue over a glass or two. These two masters of the contemporary acoustic idiom deliver a wonderfully nuanced performance. Less is more here, and it is hard to see where anything could be added to these arrangements that could make them any better." Warren Gerds (Green Bay Press-Gazette) described it as 'a full-fledged treat' and 'beautifully crafted...Warmth and skill radiate.' The artists are Eric Lewis (2003 winner of the Best String Player Award from the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences-Memphis Chapter) and Doc Heide (co-founder of the wildly popular American Folklore Theatre and a 35-year veteran of the professional musical theatre stage). The 'Door County Advocate' described Doc and Eric as 'a cure for the winter blues.' Eric has performed with such luminaries as Robin and Linda Williams and opened for Travis Tritt, Chuck Berry, and others. The Memphis Flyer has described him as 'one of the city's finest pickers.' Doc has recorded two other CD's, both available on CDBaby. This is Doc and Eric's first project as a duo. The CD was named for Wisconsin's Door County peninsula, where it was recorded in a cozy farmhouse studio. The mood is quiet and reflective, invoking a roaring fire in the fireplace and snow gently falling outside the windows. We hope that it will remind you of cookies baking in the oven and friends gathering on long winter nights.
1) First Noel
2) Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence
3) Creator of the Stars of Night
4) Here We Come a Wassailing
5) God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
6) Ding Dong Merrily
7) Cherry Tree Carol/The Friendly Beasts
8) Joy to the World
9) Sleep Sleep
10) We Three Kings
11) Of the Father's Love Begotten
12) What Child Is This
13) Unto Us a Child Is Born
14) O Come O Come Emmanuel/In the Bleak Midwinter
15) Silent Night