LEE SPEARS AND DONNA MICHAEL: Winterfall

Lee Spears and Donna Michael

Winterfall

© 1987 Thistlegate Productions (044801105021)

CD IN STOCK. ORDER NOW. Will ship immediately.

Timeless interpretations of Christmas songs through hammered dulcimer, acoustic piano, acoustic guitar, English horn and more. Quiet improvisational reflections and celebrations of Christmas.

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WINTERFALL DESCRIPTION
“Winterfall” renders the crystal-quiet feeling of standing in a snow-covered forest. The original title composition is based on a melodic line from Vivaldi's "Winter," and is described by fans as “a breath of fresh air. “Lee Spears hammered dulcimer work dances delicately inside Donna Michael’s emotive acoustic piano strokes. Both artists play acoustic guitar and the album features additional accompaniment on cello, stringed bass and English horn.

Described by fans as “soothing and life-affirming,” these exquisite arrangements use musical pauses in a way that honors the gift of silence.

"We Three Kings" evokes a journey of mystical introspection while "Midnight Clear" presents "an intensely beautiful mélange built upon a complex and fragile structure." The closing selection, "Angels Sing," is a medley of some of the best-known seasonal carols, elaborately woven into a musical tapestry that builds to joyful celebration. For a NEW review of this album:
http://www.christmasreviews.com/xleespears.shtml

ABOUT LEE SPEARS
Lee Spears gave his first musical performance in fifth grade, playing an instrument he built in the family garage. The brown-eyed boy stood on stage playing “Oh Susanna” on his handmade electrified ukulele with a glued-on microphone and a tape recorder hanging from his belt', simultaneously playing the harmonica.

As a boy he made many visits to the local Radio Shack until he had rigged an FM transmitter module to his handmade guitar to amplify the sound. Since that time, he has made his career as a musician and luthier, building over 2100 hammered dulcimers and recording music.

His recording company, Thistlegate Productions, bears the fruit of Spears’ hard-core perfectionism. Spears’ music is flawless and his albums are meticulously recorded. Many fans say “Winterfall” is hands-down the best Christmas CD they have ever heard. Both "Winterfall" and “Brighter Side of Night” are completely unique in the depths of their musical insights and sensitivity.

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  • My Favorite Instrumental Christmas CD
    author: Jeannine Hong

    I have been listening to this Cd for many years and have given it as a gift to countless friends and family members. Everyone fall in love with this CD. The music is peaceful and beautiful. It's the kind you put on when you turn off all the lights and just have your Christmas tree lights on. One of the best ever!!

  • author: David Knight

    At a time in my life when I needed a lift; someone gave us a cassette tape of "Winterfall." As my wife and I sat in front of a Christmas tree with our hot chocolate, the soothing music made us both realize how blessed we are. It causes you to take a deep breath and relax. The tape was worn out long ago. When I found this site I paid extra to get it overnight.

  • Couldn't be more thrilled!
    author: Susan DeMoura

    Was lucky enough to have purchased the cassette many years ago and enjoyed it long before AND after the Christmas holidays each year. Technology advanced, but for whatever reason, I didn't think that this wonderful work had done the same, so I never thought to look for it on CD! After years of looking at the cassette packed snugly in with my other Christmas essentials, but never being able to listen, it dawned on me that I should try to find it in CD version. CD Baby, you're the greatest!!! Thanks for having such a wonderfully special Christmas album available to your customers. Enjoy, everyone. It's a treasured find to pass down through the generations! Merry Christmas!

  • A Musicians Perspective
    author: Bob Quadra, Celtic New Age Musician

    I am hard pressed to think of or recommend any album (much less a Christmas Album) with as much beauty, vitality and longevity as Winterfall. Spears and Michael team up in an unlikely combination of (Hammered) piano and hammered dulcimer to produce a surprising work of creativity. There is a gentle electricity that works it's way through all the tracks - leaving me awestruck. It is a fresh as the new-fallen snow!

  • Maaaaaahhhh-velous!!!
    author: Marsha

    What a blessing to have Winterfall back!! Our family's most favorite Christmas cassette broke mid-December after countless years of enjoyment while decorating the tree, opening presents, all our major Christmas happenings . . . Prayerfully, our new CD will last for many years to come!!

  • Excellent!
    author: Chantelle Pinder

    I bought the cassette tape version of this around 12 years ago. I wore out the tape and was afraid I would never hear it again. I did a Google search, and lo and behold, it is still available and in CD format. What a relief! The music is so perfect for the holidays which can be so full of hussle and bussle. This music brings you back to peace and serenity for the season.

  • This CD represents the quiet inspiration of the season beautifully.
    author: D. Menconi

    I received mine as a gift and have treasured it for several seasons. I played it for a gathering of friends and wound up buying 2 more because several of them wanted one of their very own!

  • Christmas in our family isn't the same without this music!
    author: E. Davis

    Had originally purchased this on casette at a fair 15 years ago...finally upgraded to CD after finding your website. Christmas and the holiday season is not the same in our family without this music. We look forward to listening to it more than any other event of the season!

  • Wonderful. I have loved this cd for years. It is my favorite Christmas cd.
    author: Kathy

    I bought a cassette of Winterfall years ago. Finally wore it out. Then a few years ago I found a cd at a shop in the NC mountains. I was so happy to find it available on CDBaby. I ordered a cd for my best friend. She loved it.

  • Wonderful!!!
    author: Alice

    I purchased a cassette version of this years ago and wore it out. So I came here to get a CD. I highly recommend it!

  • Great find!
    author: Lise Winne

    This is a wonderfully creative, fresh and fun approach to old standards. I am a musician and bought this as a gift for a professional hammered dulcimer player without knowing or hearing the artists beforehand. We were both enchanted by the artistry.

  • author: CD Baby

    At this time of year at CD Baby, there is no shortage of Christmas albums. Why, in fact, you can find albums in genres from Punk and Metal to tinkly lullabies. But few albums register as something quite unusual and creative. Starting off with a folky approach, highlighting the dulcimer, then bringing in guitar and piano in such a way that we feel the songs expand and grow, Lee Spears and Donna Michael have a real knack for delightful instrumentation and a way of using instrumental color to dress up old tunes in a fresh, grabbing new way. It's quite unusual to be able to hear a Christmas carol for the umteenth time and still be drawn in- that is something "Winterfall" excels at.

  • author: ESP Magazine

    Infinite clarity of sound in joy and gentleness, the music gathers strength and warmth in crystalline fashion...the room fills with a chorus of instrumentation.

  • Hands-down the best Christmas album ever
    author: Sheridan Hill

    Although the songs are recognizably of the Christmas season, their arrangement is so unique and delicate that this CD can be played over and over again and still manages to sound fresh each time.

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