Blackmore's Night 'Winter Carols' album

Ritchie Blackmore is one of the very few great guitarists who display musical genius, individuality and integrity in equally large parts. Within his bands Deep Purple and Rainbow, he frequently displayed his liking for medieval music, expertly combining medieval inflections with hard rock and thus developing a guitar style that is truly unique. In the mid-1990s, Blackmore took a musical step which seemed perfectly logical to his countless fans: he founded the “renaissance rock” band, Blackmore’s Night, together with his partner, the vocalist Candice Night. This seven piece band, surely, is the ultimate expression of Ritchie’s unique musical ability and his fascination for medieval music. Together with Candice Night, whose ethereal voice enchants every listener and whose stage presence is nothing short of captivating, Ritchie Blackmore has found the perfect vehicle for his musical vision.

In 1997, their debut album, ‘Shadow Of The Moon’, was released to global acclaim, going gold in Japan and charting throughout Europe, with no less than 17 weeks on the German album charts. Two years later, Blackmore’s Night released their second album, ‘Under A Violet Moon’, which reached no. 20 on the German album charts and no. 12 in Japan. In the USA, the album won the ‘Vocal Album of the Year Award’. Their 2001 release, ‘Fires At Midnight’ went gold in Europe (charting at no. 9 in Germany and no.2 in Japan) and 2003’s ‘Ghost Of A Rose’ went gold in Europe, won the NOVA award in Czech Republic and once again won the ‘Vocal Album of the Year Award’ in the USA. Their eagerly awaited double DVD, ‘Castles And Dreams’, was released in 2005, lavishing almost 4 hours playing time upon their fans, and spawned a Christmas single that charted on the AC Billboard Charts in the USA.

The DVD is currently aired on public broadcasting television systems throughout the USA in 2006 and 2007. In early 2006, their last album release, ‘The Village Lanterne’, entered the charts in Germany and Japan, riding high for several months.

Now, Candice Night and Ritchie Blackmore are turning another of their dreams into reality: they are releasing their first and long-awaited Holiday album. Candice and Ritchie have always loved the spirit of winter: the brisk clean air on a frosty eve when you can feel all your senses alive with the season. The earth seems to be blanketed in innocence and purity. With its memories of good friends and families sitting around the fireplace, and the spirit of the holidays, the world seems to be a more forgiving gentle one, and people join with those they love. It evokes festivities and bright candlelight, and music that was sung and performed for hundreds of years by minstrels of the Middle Ages – many of these songs still emerge today during the winter season. This is Candice and Ritchie’s interpretation of many favourite carols, shared, performed and enjoyed for the past 400 years.

Candice: “The holiday season has always embodied joy, love, peace, togetherness. We are entranced by the magic of the Season. The sentiments of the holidays are what we try to express in our music year round – so this CD is a natural progression. All the music we craft and create has always been about love, unity and friendship. These songs as a whole are beautiful unifying carols – feel the warmth of friendship. Everyone can join in!”

Ritchie: “The origin of the word carol means ‘dance’ back in the mid 1500s. Most of the Christmas Carols are from the 1400s, 1500s, 1600s. I am naturally attracted to these melodies. As a kid, I would go from house to house during the holiday time and sing them just to earn some money. As an adult, I thought I could play them and make more money. The melodies were originally played by peasants in the Middle Ages. The Church tried to stop the peasants from singing and playing these melodies, because they were considered evil (the music revolved around drinking, having fun and debauchery in general). The peasants continued to sing and play them. So reluctantly the Church came up with the idea to change the lyrics and make them religious, hence the lyrics of modern day carols.”

Now you too can enjoy the music of the Holidays that Candice and Ritchie have been sharing with their inner circle of friends and family for years. Their friends begged them to put the music on to a CD so they could enjoy it year around.

Welcome to the inner circle of Blackmore’s Night!

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Tracklisting

Blackmore's Night - Winter Carols