A Winter's Solstice:

Silver Anniversary Edition

Various Artists

TRACKS:
  1.  Greensleeves

            Steve Erquiaga
  2.  When Earth's Last Picture

          Is Painted

            Richard Schonherz
  3.  The Gathering

            Tracy Silverman /

            Thea Suits
  4.  The Silver Swan

            Paul McCandless
  5.  Shades Of White

            Jim Brickman
  6.  Col Partir La Bella Clori

            Joan Jeanrenaud /

            Steve Erquiaga
  7.  Moon Lake

            W.G."Snuffy" Walden
  8.  Come All Ye Shepherds

            Barbara Higbie
  9.  Beneath The Trees

            William Ackerman /

            Philip Aaberg
10.  Down In Yon Forest

            Jeff Johnson /

            Brian Dunning
11.  Maiden Chant

            Liz Story
12.  When Comes December

            Tim Story
13.  Queen's Prayer

            Ozzie Katani
 

The Winter Solstice has been celebrated in cultures all over the world for thousands of years.  It is an observance of the start of the solar year - the rebirth of the sun.  When Windham Hill decided back in 1985 to release a "Christmas album", the goal was to create a very listenable instrumental album, which was really more evocative of the season and the solstice than of Christmas.  A Winter's Solstice was offered as a musical alternative to the commercialism of Christmas.  The repertoire included mainly original compositions, with the addition of some early hymns, and some baroque and classical repertoire arranged by the artists themselves. 

With A Winter's Solstice - Silver Anniversary Edition in honor of Windham Hill's 25th Anniversary, these new recordings are once again completely instrumental, and the collection includes largely original compositions, from violinist Tracy Silverman, keyboard players Richard Schönherz and Tim Story, pianists Jim Brickman and Liz Story, and guitarists Snuffy Walden, Ozzie Kotani and Will Ackerman.  There are also two renaissance pieces from oboist Paul McCandless and cellist Joan Jeanrenaud, a medieval tune, "Greensleeves", from Steve Erquiaga, and two carols, one from Barbara Higbie and the other by Jeff Johnson and Brian Dunning.