The Night Before...A Celtic Christmas

AMG Review of The Night Before...A Celtic Christmas

Dave Sleger
All Music Guide

From County Galway, Dordan is comprised of Mary Bergin on whistles and flute, Dearbhaill Standun on fiddle, Kathleen Loughnane on harp, and vocalist/guitarist Martina Goggin. The Night Before possesses a reverent tone, and rightly so, as many of its songs like "Draiocht na bOiche," "Oiche Nollag" and "Don Oiche Ud i mBeithil" center around the events of Christmas Eve. Most of this album's selections are of Irish origin either via tradition or Dordan originals. Clever arrangements and unusual twists are applied to the few standards included here, like the Gaelic intro to "Silent Night," "Polly in the Holly"'s clever juxtaposition of "Deuxieme Sonate" with "Holly in the Ivy," and "Auld Lang Syne" performed as a jig. This is a can't-miss for lovers of Irish and Christmas music alike.