Search - Nox Arcana :: Winter's Knight

One word: Extraordinary!

John Rossi | Somers Point, NJ United States | 09/21/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Unto darkest regal domicile christened "Darklore Manor" has thou been led. Not long after that wast thou given guidance into the very pages of the tome of shadow known as the "Necronomicon". Hearken ye now, oh most valorous listeners. Pay ye now rapt heed once again unto the gentle yet compelling call of the night's most masterful minstrels. Close thine eyes.... make open thine hearts, and allow thine senses to be enveloped in the tragic yet beautiful tale of "Winter's Knight", woven in a tapestry of melody unlike any which thou hast ever heard before.....



1. Vigil- Thus do we begin our tale, with the gentle blowing of softest frigid breeze of eventime. Into the mournful sound of wind is soon mixed the somber tolling of a solitary vesper, mated with an utterly beautiful and wistful choral melody. The star of this part of the tale is the voice of co-composer Joseph Vargo. Here, he waxes poetic with a tone of voice that is quite soothing, and carries a tone that is akin to reverence as the tale is begun with the following narration:



"Alone at tranquil twilight, a distant church bell tolls. The wind forms a ghostly choir to summon lost and wayward souls. Snow drifts down from the heavens like ghosts lost in the night, and ice crystals cling to trees to set the woods aglow with light. Along a forgotten forest path, there stands an arch of ancient stone, and amidst the hallowed ruins, a solemn figure stands alone. Snow comes to rest on raven's wings, covering black quills in ivory white, and peace settles upon the earth beneath the ebon shroud of Winter's Knight."



2. Ghosts Of Christmas Past- Here we are treated to a very poignant tune. The feeling imparted is one of being transported through a veil of mist, into the realm of your own memory Somber, yet beautiful, the honors are done with a lovely melody comprised of tolling bells, very nice piano work, and a touch of choral mastery floating at times underneath it (in the case of the lower pitched male chorals) and at times above it(as with the higher pitched female vocal harmonies. The blending of the two to complete this tune turns the song into a somber but a sublime experience.



3. Ebonshire- This is by far my favorite tune on this disc.Upon first hearing, it literally made me cry in awe at it's sheer beauty. It is begun by a gentle and lovely classical guitar melody that swirls into your mind and heart, as if inviting you to walk into a dream. The guitar riff is combined with some of the most enthralling harpsichord/keyboard work I have ever listened to in my life. It is augmented by a rapturous melodic line comprised of tenderly drifting keyboards and absolutely ethereal choral work. The dream it invites you to is one in which you are guided to a comforting and captivating haven. Ebonshire... a place so compelling, that only in the most beatiful of dreams could you visit it.



4. Solitude- Here, once again, we are treated to a tune of somber reflection. Piano and splendid chorals are the main contributors, along with lovely keyboards and strings.The melody is beautiful, and tugs insistently upon the heart. To me, it is akin to standing alone amongst gently falling snow.... to witnessing the awesome God-wrought beauty of a winter's eve, but being melancholy in your heart, because you have no one to share the wondrous vistas with. Beautiful... and poignant.



5. Crystal Forest- This time, we are gifted with a somewhat gentler opus. It is comprised of a very beautiful undercurrent provided by the harp. That is overlaid with soft xylophone-like bell tones.... tenderly floating chorals and a layer of entrancing harpsichord. The feeling I get is one of pure loveliness... of traversing through a realm so beautiful it leaves you bereft of breath.



6. First Snow - This is commenced with a tender and majestic blend of keyboards, strings and very soft choir. The harpischord very soon begins to flutter ever so gently over it. Tolling bells make a nice appearance and add a somber yet, to me, a fitting and comforting touch, to make the tune "whole" if you like.It is a whole, and a compelling picture. This is a beautiful musical "portrait" of the visual image suggested by the title. It is the first glorious snowfall of the winter season. Close your eyes, and listen. Open your heart, and your mind, you will be able both to feel it, and to see it.



7. Evening Star- Gentle piano is once again our introduction to this piece. Beautiful strings, tolling bells, and regal, majestic chorals overlay it. To me, this is a musical painting of the journey of the shepherds, as they are visited of angels and told to go and see the just-born Christ child. The entire piece is extremely lovely, but in particular, the utter majesty of the choir completes the piece wonderfully.



8. Reflections Of Long Ago- To me, this is the 'softest' piece on the disc, up to this point, and maybe overall. It is much more... tender than most, which is not to say the others are lacking in any way. All are beuatiful, and so is this . Gentle bell-like tones are every so-softly mated with wistful, celestial floating choral melodies. This is a tune of pure awe, leaving you awash in the sheer beauty that God has wrought with every winter's evening. "Reflections Of Long Ago" is just that, a nostalgic reflection of childhood innocence, conveyed by a melody that warms the heart.



9. December Winds - Here, we dance once again with the harpsichord. A low and somber keyboard melody carries its tones, as beautiful chorals drift over the top. The tune, though lovely, is a touch bittersweet and... to me, it conveys perfectly through music the feeling of being relentlessly buffetted by the title's namesake, the frigid winds of a glacial December eve. It is an ethereal tune, that leaves you longing for warmth and fine company.



10. Phantom Toccata- I love this tune. A beautiful, majestic soaring tempestuous pipe organ melody dances through our ears. Reminiscent of Bach's Toccata And Fugue in D Minor, yet to me it is more... compelling. It is a 'dark' tune but does not cross the line into "scary" in the sense of being "monster" music. It expertly walks the line between darkness and light to weave a short but captivating musical tapestry that I can best describe as darkly "royal" and noble.



11. Hallowed Ruins - With this piece, as with all others they write, Nox Arcana proves their facility and skill at painting musical 'pictures' Somber, and yet VERY pretty, this tune mates pipe organ, lovely choral passages and tolling bells to take you through the ruins of a haunted cathedral as no other artists could convey that image. Well done, gentlemen. Well done indeed.



12. Requiem - Here, we are treated to a lovely and yet somber eulogy. Beautiful male choir and tolling vespers are the stars. It brings to mind a fond and loving yet bittersweet farewell being said to a beloved king in times of yore.



13. Spirit Of The Season - Here, once again, Nox Arcana does a perfect balancing act. Their expertise and combining beauty and heart-wrenching melancholy poignancy is truly unparalleled. Wistful piano and lovely choral melodies once again are here instructed to do a beautiful dance, and they dance divinely together.



14. Coventry Carol - This is my first exposure to this song, and what a beautiful song it is. Nox Arcana here weaves a lovely tapestry of gentle guitar, keyboards, harpsichord, strings, tolling bells and pipe organ. Over it all, the poignant vocals of guest singer Jeff Endemann gift us with a heartbreaking ballad in memory of the Israelite children massacred by the order of King Herod. This tune is heartbreaking, yet one of the most beautiful songs that I have ever heard.



15. Lullabye - Once again in the case of this piece, Nox Arcana treats us very gently. Bell-like tones are mated with very tender, ethereally floating choral work. The mental image I get from this is that of a parent kneeling or sitting at the bedside of their little child... perhaps singing a song to them or saying their prayers with them before bedtime. A fire crackles warmly in the hearth as a gentle winter's evening gifts the world with a pristine soft ivory blanket of snow.



16. Winter's Knight - With this, the title track, we are returned once again unto the somber. Mournful piano brings to mind a gentle falling snow, in which a solitary figure stands, silently weeping tears of eternal regret, lamenting the death of all his hopes and dreams. The choral melody that combines with it makes this piece a heartbreaking one, but it is still majestically beautiful.



17. Past Time With Good Company- Here, we are gifted with a STUNNINGLY beautiful rendition of a carol originally composed by England's King Henry VIII. It is often done as a "festive" and frollicking number. Here, Nox Arcana slow it down and turn it into a warm and elegant anthem. A lovely dance of guitar and harpsichord provide a graceful backdrop. The real star of the piece is the purely angelic operatic voice of guest vocalist Michelle Belanger. Backed up perfectly by the warm and gentle singing of poet Eric Gustafson, she truly is given a moment to shine... and verily, shine she does. This brings to mind time spent in the company and warmth of good food and even better friends. It's pure and utter bliss.



18. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen- A much beloved carol...this anthem of the arrival of Jesus on Earth is given a distinct and beautiful treatment by Nox Arcana here. Pipe organ, tolling bells, percussion and stellar choral work do a beautiful job of commemorating God's gift to the world of Himself, as both God and man, come to bring salvation, comfort and joy, to lift and comfort dejected hearts and spirits. Bravo, gentlemen. Bravo.



19. Veni Veni Emmanuel - Here, Nox Arcana proves that sometimes the greatest beauty is to be found amidst simplicity. Another rendition of a much loved Christmas carol, this tune sparkles with somber yet regal reverence for its subject. Comprised of heartbeat-like percussion, beautiful male and female choral work, tolling bells and pipe organ... this piece is awash in majesty. It is sure to tug at the strings of your heart, if you will but listen.



20. Redemption- Gentle choral work mates here with harpsichord, keyboards, and strings. The feeling conveyed to me is that of getting close to the end of a journey of hope. A dream long sought after is about to be realized. Despite the somber quality of the piece's beginning, it is transformed into an opus of regal joy. Redemption has been found.



21. Carol Of The Bells- This stellar CD is closed with this tune. It is a beautiful re-working of yet a fourth much-beloved Christmas carol. Tolling bells, swirling strings, and majestic choir do the honors. Hints of percussion make a nice appearance as well. In the end, we are encouraged by the following, gentle narration, underscored by the whispering sound of a winter breeze, mated with the tones of the xylophone, reminiscent of bells. In an almost tender whisper, we are told: "Come with us. Dream now. Rembember... Come back.... Redeem us... Save us... Repent... Have faith... Believe...."



In closing, this CD makes me love Nox Arcana even more than I already do. Why? One word: Versatility. It shows their skill at painting diverse musical portraits of various moods and emotions that are beautiful to explore They prove their ability to gracefully and perfectly dance between the haunting and the horrific... the ghastly, and the gorgeous... Heartbreaking sorrow and rapturous ecstasy. It's all here... and it makes Nox Arcana's "Winter's Knight" one of the most beloved CDs I own. You owe it to yourself to pick it up if you are fan of Nox Arcana. If you are not a fan yet, one listen to this, and you just may become a fan right quickly. Happy listening, and God bless you."

Not by any means your ordinary Christmas cd

R. Wynieski | 10/27/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This Nox Arcana's best work yet. And just because it's titled Winter's Knight, does not mean it isn't dark. Hold on to your seats because you will be blown away by the haunting vocals and almost lullabye music of the track titled Coventry Carol. The whimsical bittersweet sounds of Crystal Forest. And the lavishly dark Veni, Veni, Emmanuel. It's A Christmas Carol & The Nightmare Before Christmas all rolled into one, but much more darker. Truly a great buy and a masterpiece."

Christmas Music with a twist

Laura Rhoades-stovall | Swansea, IL United States | 01/02/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Now this is the CD for those of you who are sick to the gills with the traditional christmas music you hear in department stores and want music with depth. This is a wonderful album that brings an edge of darkness to the Christmas night and to all your other nights. Definately worth purchasing."