Visions of Christmas Past

Wrapped In White is a vision of Christmas that has been lovingly handed down through the melodies of carols and hymns. This endearing collection of seasonal favorites tells timeless stories without words using dozens of century old instruments including the harp guitar, classical banjo, harmonium, tremblelin, mandolin harp, and ukelin, woven together with violins and cellos into a tapestry of good tidings that will warm your holiday season for many years to come. The liner notes describe the sources and stories behind each piece, and the wonderful old instruments on which they're played.

It is always a joy for me to hear the songs of Christmas past. They speak of tradition, wonder, love, good will, and the desire to help our fellow man. You will hear the melodies that others heard before us on the very instruments they once held in their arms. Some of instruments have rough edges and are little more than toys designed for child's play or a moment's diversion from life's struggles, while others are fine-crafted works of art meant to express the highest of musical thought. This recording is not about such distinctions, but rather about their commonality, how they reflect our humanness and our wonder about the life experience. I see this simple music as part of a living folk tradition handed down and enjoyed from generation to generation, music that transcends the barriers that often divide us. I welcome you all to share with me this mixture of old and new as a tribute to Christmases of long ago. Journey back through each melody to imagine scenes unfold, a vision of a lone infant, wrapped in white, nestled in a manger, and heralded by angels as "the light of the world."