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CD reviews

Majesty and Wonder

Phil Keaggy & London Festiva - Majesty and Wonder Audio CD

A fair review of the Phil Keaggy & London Festiva "Majesty and Wonder" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all Phil Keaggy & London Festiva reviews here, or go back to the Phil Keaggy & London Festiva tabs.

Band: Phil Keaggy & London Festiva
Title: Majesty and Wonder
Rating:

Release Date: 1999-08-31
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: What Child Is This? 2: J�su, Joy of Man's Desiring 3: Good Christian Men Rejoice 4: Silent Night 5: Coventry Carol 6: O Come, O Come, Emmanuel 7: For Hearth and Home 8: Do You Hear What I Hear? 9: First Noel 10: Nativity Suite: Visitation 11: Nativity Suite: Shepherds' Song 12: Nativity Suite: Flight into Egypt 13: O Holy Night

Unique Christmas sounds; a mixture of heraldic and ordinary
There is fresh, beautiful music a-plenty here and a range of styles to suite the tastes of most. I agree heartily with the global impressions of this album given by the other reviewers. On the other hand, I'd like to offer a few minor criticisms, just to remind the would-be buyer that Mr. Keaggy has his flatter moments as well as many peaks of virtuosity. For example, I've noticed that on some of Phil's instrumentals of late, he has a tendency to repeat himself rather tediously. At times when one would expect a second verse to build momentum over the first, he may start over with virtually the same line and no new enhancement from either guitar overdubs or rhythm section. The clearest example of this phenomenon on Majesty and Wonder is "For Hearth and Home," which benefits from the silver tones of the handbells but fails to build to full Yuletide brilliance, instead settling mostly for bland repetitions of rather mundane lines in the bells and electric guitar.

Another minor qualm is that Keaggy is not always as rhythmically tight as one would desire, or he fails to provide enough intensity in the foundational picking patterns. On the first cut, "What Child Is This," at times Phil seems unsure of what pace he wants to set, and the bridge, while delightful, wants more drive from the rhythm guitar. This lack of drive is also felt in the verses of "For Hearth and Home. " On Bach's "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring" Keaggy's timing is not as impeccable nor his tone as flawless as in the recording made by classical guitarist Christopher Parkening. Of course, Phil is not classically trained.

Placing an orchestra behind Phil is like having Thomas Kincaid daub brilliant oil colors and textures over a well-composed watercolor. The orchestration here is quite tasteful and lovely. However, "Do You Hear What I Hear" seems to be over-orchestrated. I wonder if this piece wouldn't have been better left alone-just the earthy tones of Phil's hammered rhythm guitar and his bluesy slide electric leads with the rhythm section turned up. Well, maybe I'm being too picky-I'll admit that the orchestra enhances much of the piece, but there are passages where strings, harp, and flute seem too "nice" to complement Keaggy's raw energy on this one.

Okay, I'm finished nitpicking. Praises are in order for this Christmas album. Many of the pieces are uniquely ranged, and on some the interplay of acoustic guitar and Phil's signature electric guitar volume swells provides a musical treat you'll be hard pressed to find elsewhere. A prime example of both unique arrangement and ravishing volume swells is "O Holy Night. " I agree with another reviewer that the three-part Nativity Suite is a highlight, and its apex-indeed, the apex of the whole CD-is "Flight into Egypt. " Here, strains of "Carol of the Bells" are transformed into a driving acoustic riff while Keaggy's electric guitar and a penny whistle together in unison cry out the central Celtic motif with a plaintive urgency. In the chorus, the lead guitar breaks into two-part harmony chorus, following with a haunting descant topped with scales that cascade upon the ear like iced lightning! The bridge weaves together fast acoustic leads with variations of the electric descant and culminates in a final chorus. The orchestra only piles on the energy and urgency throughout this masterful instrumental. After this, you're wiped out by the adrenalin surge and ready to call it a day. "O Holy Night" then lullabies you into sweet dreams of starlight, angels, a Savior in a humble manger, and "Peace on earth, good will to men. ".

A solemn statement of beauty from a true virtuoso.
The man combines amazing technical command of the instrument with sublime taste no matter what style he plays. The only reason Phil Keaggy is not as common a name as Eddie Van Halen or Eric Clapton is because he chooses to write and record Christian music. This is an excellent Christmas album and mainly shows the fingerpicking side of Phil, although there are more than enough burning picked runs here to satisfy any guitarist. My favorite cuts are the majestic Do You Hear What I Hear? (my all-time favorite Christmas song), and the somber, jazzy arrangement of Silent Night. Rest assured, however, because every single cut here is truly excellent. An album you'll cherish year after year.

Great for Christmas

The Christmas songs chosen here may be more familiar to an American ear but are seasonal and plesant all the same. Got it, like it. I am a guitarist myself so would have liked the guitar raised a bit in the largely orchestral mix but this is a Christmas album not a Keaggymas album. In spite of his talent Phil is mature enough to share the sound with other musisians and that is one reason we like him so.
Get it to play in the background to put you in the right mood as you cook the Turkey this Christmas.

Beautiful and Moving
More than any other compilation of seasonal music, this set of musical endeavors coaxed me to sit down, listen and contemplate the meaning of Christmas. This album was a wonderful addition to my small collection of Christmas music.

While many may know Phil for his skillful guitar playing, the thing that stood out most for me with this album was the beautiful way in which the music was arranged and presented. In many of the works, I found myself floating among the various instrumental colors as they painted the canvas of the soul.

I would strongly recommend this album for anyone looking for something that will carry them beyond the commercialism that has infiltrated the season. If there is a cure of the sense of frantic, hectic rush that so often descends on each of us at the end of the year, this album is certainly a part of it.

Keaggy's exquisite guitar work in a proper setting.
Like much classical music, I found this album best enjoyed with headphones to take it all in. If you've ever thought Keaggy's mastery of the guitar exceeded the usual music forms, this album will scratch that itch! The album is wonderfully arranged and is a delight to the ears.

You can see a complete list of all Phil Keaggy & London Festiva discography, or go back to the Phil Keaggy & London Festiva tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.