This Endris Night Niles MI

This Endris Night

Heather Dale

Amphisbaena Music, 2002

REVIEW BY: Duke Egbert

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED: 12/24/2003

Canadian songstress Heather Dale has a couple of really nice CDsunder her belt, so last year when she sent me her album of Yuletidesongs I was, of course, interested. Sad part was this; I receivedit after the holiday season, so it got packed with my other holidayCDs and was just recently unearthed and given a listen.

In a word: wow.

Dale, who I am an unabashed fan of, delivers again on This Endris Night, a compilation of twelve Medieval andRenaissance carols performed with simple, period accompaniments.This is a showcase for Dale's rich, expressive voice and herexquisite phrasing and song choice.

This isn't quite the Christmas music you're used to; there's adefinite dearth of Santa Claus and Rudolph here, and frankly that'sjust fine with yours truly on occasion. Instead, we have lovelypieces like "Ave Maria,""Coventry Carol," "Huron Carol," "Patapan"and "In Dulci Jubilo"; magnificent, old works that have survivedthe test of time.