Search - Dean Shostak :: Crystal Carols

Haunting sounds of Christmas!

Chess Heart | Canton, OH | 11/03/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The Glass Armonica is a little known instrument made of a series of tuned glass or crystal bowls mounted on a spindle. A foot pedal spins these bowls, and a person plays it by putting wet fingers on the edge of the bowls-much like one makes a crystal wineglass "sing" by running their finger around the edge. Invented by Ben Franklin (who said "Of all my inventions, the glass armonica has given me the greatest personal satisfaction"), there are only a few artists who actually play one. Of those who do, Dean Shostak is certainly a gifted master of the instrument.The sound of a glass armonica is difficult to describe because it's unlike any instrument we're familiar with. It has a delicate, almost haunting pitch to it that resonates with the ear and, dare I say, with the soul as well. Mr. Shostak has taken some of the most well-known Christmas carols (most of them traditional English ones) and adapted them so that the armonica is the lead instrument, accompanied with violin, piano and harp. The overall feeling of this music is one that my spouse has called Early American Christmas; that is, she says she can just see Ben Franklin himself at the instrument, playing various tunes like "Bring A Torch, Jeannette, Isabella" and "The First Noel" in a huge, colonial house decorated for the holiday season. Having given me that vision, I too now feel that I've gone back in time to a more simple and elegant period of our history when I listen to Mr. Shotak play.The album was originally released in 1994, but apparently not to a wide audience. I first stumbled across this and other albums by Mr. Shostak when I was browsing the shelves of a folk music store in Cleveland, one that specialized in traditional folk instruments and folk music ("The Cure" and "The Blue Oyster Cult" were, not surprisingly, nowhere to be found, nor did the store manager even pretend to know who these bands were). I immediately fell in love with the unique and clear sound of the glass armonica, and press the album on everyone I know at Christmastime. Everyone who's heard it loves it immediately for it's unusual and delicate sound, though some friends have said that one run through of the album is all they can handle as the pitch of the instrument itself-- like a singing wineglass-- can sometimes be quite high and intense.Anyone who enjoys traditional music, or anyone who is simply sick of hearing "Frosty the Snowman" ten thousand times on the radio will certainly enjoy the masterful performance of Mr. Shostak. Highly, HIGHLY recommended!!"

Peaceful - beautiful - haunting

jennjt | Orlando, FL | 12/21/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I first heard Dean play the glass armonica at a candlelight concert at Colonial Williamsburg. It was the most beautiful thing I have ever heard - especially with the acoustics provided by the intimate setting of the chamber in the Capitol building. When he announced at the end of the concert that he was releasing a Christmas CD, I went to the Colonial Williamsburg gift shop to see if I could order it by mail when it came out. (There was no online shopping in 1994). I ordered a CD for myself and a few extra to give as gifts that year.



This CD still continues to be one of my favorite Christmas CDs. There are no vocals - just beautiful melodies created by the glass armonica, accompanied occasionally by a harp, violin or piano."

Wonderful and different

Timothy Franklin | 06/02/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"As a collector of Christmas music I purchase 3 or 4 new recordings every year. I knew about the "glass armonica" and that it was invented by Ben Franklin. I've heard the instrument in classical pieces,"Music for Glass Armonica",and loved it. Thinking the sound would compliment many Christmas carols I purchased this recording. Recommended highly!"