A Midwinter Night's Dream (2008) features 8 recordings by Loreena McKennitt inspired by seasonal favourites, blended with 5 songs from A Winter Garden (1995).

 

CD in digipak with a 12-page booklet containing lyrics for each song.

 

The holiday collection displays an array of the artist's wide musical influences, ranging from Celtic to classical to Middle Eastern. Her eclecticism shines through in the mysticism of 'The Holly and the Ivy,' the exotic Eastern arrangements of 'God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen’, the Latin-sung 'Emmanuel' and the North French/African rendering of Noel Nouvelet!, sung in Old French.

 

Loreena recorded the new material for A Midwinter Night's Dream at Peter Gabriel's Real World recording studio near Bath, England following a highly successful European tour. With McKennitt providing vocals as well as piano, accordion and harp accompaniment, she is supported by Brian Hughes on oud and guitar, Hugh Marsh on

violin, Caroline Lavelle on cello, Donald Quan on viola and percussion, Ben Grossman on hurdy gurdy and percussion, Simon Edwards on bass, Rick Lazar on percussion and Stratis Psaradellis on Greek lyra and Greek lute.