THE WINTER SOLSTICE IN STORY AND SONG
Reviewed by Tracy Nicholas
Diane Edgecomb’s The Winter Solstice in Story and Song is a delightfully eclectic journey through winter lore from a wide range of places and times. It is a carefully curated combination of music and folklore that draws out a variety of emotions. There is much room for reflection and turning inward as the colder months often encourage us to do, but there are also plenty of chances to laugh, cry, learn and root for the heroes of the stories that we get to know as they are brought to life in the telling. The character voices and accents used in the storytelling are wildly varied and fun and set just the right mood in each story. Edgecomb is a bit of a chameleon vocally, with an ability to flow from one character to the next, evoking a wide spectrum of personalities. The stories themselves provide a variety of lessons and come from various sources from Ancient Greece to Somerset to traditional Native American. You will learn about “How the Evergreens Came to Be”, “The Winter Rose”, Berchta and some very interesting background on wassailing, along with much more.
The musical selections are equally as diverse, both within the stories and in the tracks that are songs. There are beautiful calming instrumental pieces and otherworldly vocals. There are several songs that have a distinctly medieval feel to them, but there are others that feel out of time. Tom Megan and Margot Chamberlain join Edgecomb throughout the double-album, including a more modern feeling and delightfully quirky offering by Mr. Megan entitled “All Praise the Night”. As with the stories, the music offers space for reflection, but it also brings
with it celebration and joy.
All in all this diverse offering is fun, educational, moving and makes for an enjoyable listen whether you are curled up in front of a fire or enjoying a brisk walk and it should not be missed.
Find the album at:
https://dianeedgecomb.bandcamp.com/album/the-winter-solstice-in-story-and-song
Reviewed by Tracy Nicholas
Diane Edgecomb’s The Winter Solstice in Story and Song is a delightfully eclectic journey through winter lore from a wide range of places and times. It is a carefully curated combination of music and folklore that draws out a variety of emotions. There is much room for reflection and turning inward as the colder months often encourage us to do, but there are also plenty of chances to laugh, cry, learn and root for the heroes of the stories that we get to know as they are brought to life in the telling. The character voices and accents used in the storytelling are wildly varied and fun and set just the right mood in each story. Edgecomb is a bit of a chameleon vocally, with an ability to flow from one character to the next, evoking a wide spectrum of personalities. The stories themselves provide a variety of lessons and come from various sources from Ancient Greece to Somerset to traditional Native American. You will learn about “How the Evergreens Came to Be”, “The Winter Rose”, Berchta and some very interesting background on wassailing, along with much more.
The musical selections are equally as diverse, both within the stories and in the tracks that are songs. There are beautiful calming instrumental pieces and otherworldly vocals. There are several songs that have a distinctly medieval feel to them, but there are others that feel out of time. Tom Megan and Margot Chamberlain join Edgecomb throughout the double-album, including a more modern feeling and delightfully quirky offering by Mr. Megan entitled “All Praise the Night”. As with the stories, the music offers space for reflection, but it also brings
with it celebration and joy.
All in all this diverse offering is fun, educational, moving and makes for an enjoyable listen whether you are curled up in front of a fire or enjoying a brisk walk and it should not be missed.
Find the album at:
https://dianeedgecomb.bandcamp.com/album/the-winter-solstice-in-story-and-song