Friday, November 12, HeresyRecords will release 'Strange Wonders' Volume 2 Wexford Carols

 Strange Wonders, The Wexford Carols, Vol. II Brings Together Folk, Classical and Traditional Music Luminaries to Present Ireland’s Greatest Christmas Music

 Produced by Ethan Johns Featuring Singers Caitríona O’Leary, Seth Lakeman, John Smith, Clara Sanabras & Stile Antico with Instrumentalists Alison Balsom, Olov Johansson, Simone Collavecchi & Others

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/i8f75zorf9hgrwe/AACxXhoObMQ1zbxaX5_2e7FDa?dl=0

https://open.spotify.com/album/1PFVAEhkuVE0MmKkBYiPqn?si=I8B-7ASbTzmJglI00Bv5vA&dl_branch=1&nd=1

The carols represent the astonishingly rich, yet rare, tradition of Irish Christmas music.  (www.heresyrecords.com).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JzaPIaHW20U

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_uuVUxMaMM

In 2014 Heresy Records released the first volume of the carols to international critical acclaim. Titled The Wexford Carols, the album reached #1 on both the Billboard and Amazon charts. The songs on the first Wexford Carols focused on the best-known episodes of the Christmas story. Produced by Joe Henry and featuring singers Caitríona O’Leary, Tom Jones, Rosanne Cash and Rhiannon Giddens, the album musically linked Irish traditional music with its Americana cousins. (www.thewexfordcarols.com)

Strange Wonders, The Wexford Carols Vol. II features another 11 carols from the tradition that focus on the spiritual and mystical aspects of the Christmas story - Gabriel’s visitation to Mary, the humble stable, the meeting of Herod and the Magi, the Fall (of Lucifer and of Adam), the Mystery of God as Man - as well as less familiar aspects of this narrative including carols to the saints whose feast days fall within the 12 days of Christmas (24^th December – 6^th January). These includes carols for St. Stephen, St. John, St. Sylvester and the Holy Innocents.

For Strange Wonders, The Wexford Carols Vol. II singer/arranger Caitríona O’Leary and producer Ethan Johns have adopted an intimate interpretation of these remarkable and moving carols that marries early music, folk music and classical styles, bringing together an ensemble of  luminaries that include Seth Lakeman (voice, viola), Clara Sanabras (voice, baroque guitar), John Smith (voice, guitar), Stile Antico (Choir), Alison Balsom (trumpet), Olov Johannson (nyckelharapa), Simone Collavechi (lute & renaissance guitar), Deirdre O’Leary (bass clarinet), Mel Mercier (percussion), and John Hearne (bassoon).

Caitríona O’Leary’s fascination with the carols led to a long period of research and investigation during which time she discovered many of the lost melodies. This recording introduces another eleven of these most beautiful carols (including a reprise of The Enniscorthy Carol and a different version of The Darkest Midnight) that expand the living tradition.

Private Soundcloud Link to Strange Wonders, The Wexford Carols, Vol. II

https://soundcloud.com/heresy-records/sets/strange-wonders-the-wexford-carols-vol-ii/s-o1MTYn5UW7u

TRACK LISTING

1.Ye Sons of Men - 4.42

2.The Darkest Midnight in December - 7.39

3.This Great Mysterie - 2.56

4.On Christmas Night All Christians Sing - 3.56

5.The Night of the Nativity - 3.08

6. Saint Stephen had an Angel’s Face - 2.12

7.On St. Stephen’s Day - 2.56

8.A Carol for St. John’s Day - 10.11

9.Hail ye Flow’rs of Martyrs - 8.04

10.This Feast of St. Sylvester – 3.49

11.The Enniscorthy Christmas Carol - 5.05