๐ ๐ Joy to my my soul!
Celtic Woman has come
And performed their Christmas show!
I am so happy
I'm all aglow!
'Cause these heavenly angels play and sing
These heavenly angels play and sing!
These heavenly angels to me joy bring! ๐ ๐
๐ ๐ They delight the world
With beauty and grace
And let the nations know
That through their music
Eternal love shall flow!
These heavenly angels play and sing
These heavenly angels play and sing
These heavenly angels to me joy bring! ๐ ๐
It was no different this past Friday the 13th, in the event center at Harrah's Cherokee where and when I was overjoyed to be sitting front row center for their Magic of Christmas/Symphony concert, accompanied by the Asheville Symphony Orchestra.
My first joy was that they performed to an nearly sold out arena. My second joy was that the two people who were supposed to be sitting to my right didn't show up, so that I was able to move one seat over, so as to have plenty of room and space for chair dancing, cheering, softly singing along and celebrating the spirit of the season. My tertiary joy was their second selection, Angels We Have Heard On High, which has long, if not forever been my thought to be the most joyous of all the Christmas carol standards. It was an astonishing arrangement and presentation.
My most joyous perhaps, was Tara's violin instrumental solos, so clean, so crisp and ever so Christmasy.
It has been a privilege and a pleasure to see and hear this young woman ever evolving artistically. She had huge shoes to fill when she moved from accompanying harpist to lead, out front violinist and fiddler. Though she has not been, is not now, nor ever may be Mairead Nesbitt, Mairead Nesbitt is no Tara McNeill. 
With her long, luxurious, bright red hair and alabaster complexion, Tara is probably the most Celtic of all of the women of Celtic Woman, at least since Lisa Lambe. ๐
Tara's violin virtuosity places her in the world class of others whom I've adored and admired over the decades, making her instrument sound as the voices of angels.
Yes, one might see, that for me, the musical mastery is but half of that that I admire and adore most in feminine instrumental artistry. Visual presentation is as aesthetic. As Tara matures, professionally and personally, I've no doubt that she shall be all that all can be.
As for the vocal virtuosas of Celtic Woman, I truly love these little women, as I have loved all of the women of Celtic Woman. The female human voice is the most uplifting and inspirational of all of musical instruments. In my most melancholy moods, the music of Celtic Woman has lifted me from depths of despair to heights of happiness. Though not particularly melancholy this past weekend, these ladies' Christmas caroling, even in an unknown language at times, lifted me out of my seat and my arms to Heaven.
Purely purest Mairead Carlin continues to become the showwoman I've always known her to be.
Songstress extraordinaire and composer astonishing, Eabha McMahon remains the most distinctive of all of the Celtic Woman voices and my absolute heroess.
Expressive and emotive newest sister in the Celtic Woman sisterhood, Megan Walsh lifts and breaks my heart with her most heartfelt renditions of such classics as Fields of Gold and Shenandoah, as well as her Christmas caroling.
As you all of us in the audience Friday, I extend to you now, my most heartfelt adieu
I am so eagerly anticipating celebrating twice with you next Spring, the fifteen years of Celtic Woman, from Chloe, Lisa, Orla, Maev and Mairead to Mairead, Eabha, Megan and Tara.
To touch a grumpy, sad old man's hardened heart the way you have and do, is truly magical.
