Christmas Music from Phil Keaggy!

This feature is divided up into three sections, a review of A Christmas Gift, a review of Majesty and Wonder and a review of some of Phil's other Christmas projects.

A Christmas Gift
by Andy Luddy

It is amazing to listen to this album in the knowledge that everything except percussion is done with a guitar. OK, so a lot of it Phil did with his Guitar Synth, but still…

I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus - This one is a hoot! Phil says in the credits that Neal insisted that he include it; Thanks, Neal. The guitar style sounds just like the old jazz recordings from the 30’s, and goes nicely with the fake trumpet (or is it supposed to be a sax) and clarinet. But I almost fell out of my chair the first time I heard the passage that sounds like tap-dancing. Phil clearly had fun with this one.

Jingle Bells - This arrangement almost makes me think it was written on a piano. The bass part is a simple style repetition (even when it shifts in key), which makes it easy to play with your left hand while you pay attention to what your right hand is doing. But no, I don't think Phil played the bass with one hand while he played the guitar with his right hand. Though that'd be neat to watch.

For Hearth and Home* - This is a nice song, and the amazing thing (mentioned in the credits) is that Phil wrote it the night before mastering the project! The guitar synth parts sound more guitar-ish, which might make sense if they were plugged in on only a few takes.

Good Christian Men Rejoice* - An interestingly spacey version of a carol that usually gets the more bombastic arrangements. The synth generally sounds like a synth, rather than a specific instrument.

Greensleeves* - The opening chimes are a bit too jangly, especially with headphones, but after that this is a beautiful, traditional rendition of this song.

O Come O Come Emmanuel* - This is a very good arrangement. The opening sounds new to me; I don't know if its from some other source, or if Phil wrote it. The instrumentation is kept to a minimum and Phil's beautiful playing (two guitars (probably not at the same time)) shines.

Do You Hear What I Hear* - This sounds like traditional Phil-on-a-guitar music. Think of that march sound in Rise Up O Men of God. Actually, come to think about it, what it sounds like is that version of We Three Kings Phil recorded for a Sparrow Christmas album from some years back.

The First Noel* - This sounds very much like The Wind & the Wheat to me. Like O Come, O Come, Emmanuel, the instrumentation (basically just two guitar parts) is kept to a minimum.

Coventry Carol* - This is my introduction to this traditional song, and Phil does it very well. I find myself looking forward to playing the Majesty & Wonder version to see if using a real flute improves this as much as I think it will. Phil's acoustic guitar is so simple but beautiful that the synth flute seems a shame.

Silent Night* - I understand that Stille Nacht was originally written for solo guitar with vocal accompaniment (according to legend, because church's organ was broken). I could have wished for that here. The soft cymbals are OK, but the bell like tones don't really add much. On the plus side, when he improvises on acoustic over the melody, it's very nice. Kind of like what he does in concert sometimes. And the soft scat vocals at the end are nice. I wonder if Phil was trying to avoid the overly reverential treatment this song is sometimes given? It has a smooth jazz sort of feel IMO.

O Holy Night* - I'm not quite sure what I think of this rendition.

God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen - This is either the actual instrumental tracks for the version of the song from the Our Christmas CD (sans vocals by Phil and Kim Hill), or an amazingly faithful rendition. I keep expecting the vocals to kick in. I like the vocal version so much, I think it hurts my appreciation for this version, though it does sound very good as a stand-alone.

(A Christmas Gift) - This is the Christmas card song from the Keaggy family to yours. Cute touch. I take it that all those goofball voices at the end are Phil?

* also on Majesty and Wonder

Find out more about A Christmas Gift.

Return to the Introduction
Go to the review of Majesty and Wonder
Go to the review of various Keaggy Christmas projects

Page Last Updated: December 15, 2001