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Celtic Christmas III Various artists Windham Hill Records. 1540 Broadway, New York, NY 10036   This worthy compilation from Windham Hill draws from both traditional and contemporary Irish compositions, vocal, and instrumental, united by a common themethe annual celebration of the birth of Jesus of Nazarethand by a consistently high standard of musicianship. One does not need to be Celtic or Christian to appreciate the aptitude of Irish composers for creating a body of work that is nothing short of astonishingly beautiful. This CD introduces us to a group of musical works that are at risk of neglect, simply because they are overshadowed by the high-profile compositions of baroque masters. "Circle of Joy" is a lilting contemporary composition by harpist Lisa Lynne, accompanied by the archlute, violin, and viola de gamba. Lynne's composition, instrumentation, use of tempo, and musical textures, imbue this delightful track with a sense of vitality that make it one of the finest on a CD characterized by music of undeniable intrinsic worth. Another track that stands out is "Sails of Galley" by guitarist Snuffy Walden, who, like Lynne, makes good use ancient instruments such as the cello, violin, viola, and penny whistle, to back his skillfully-executed flat-picked melody lines. The final offering comes from Patrick Casey, a lovely melodic piece called "Lament," featuring the organ of Stanley Ox and the Orchestra of Saint Patrick's Cathedral in New York. Dreamy and ethereal, "Lament" is a richly rewarding piece and a fine finale to this album. If one's knowledge of yuletide music is based solely on the masters of the Italian and German baroque, it is perhaps time to pay the Irish their due. There is no argument more persuasive for the musical merits of Irish devotional music than listening to the 12 tracks comprising Celtic Christmas III, a beautiful CD that belongs in the collection of anyone passionate about fine music.

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