Christmas Solitude is a music CD of traditional Christmas songs played by Steve Sensenig, an excellent pianist with a history of playing with contemporary Christian music artists. The CD includes sixteen songs, ranging in length from a minute and half to as long as six and a half minutes each. The songs include many popular favorites, including “O Holy Night,” “Away in a Manger,” “What Child Is This?,” and, of course, “Silent Night.” An additional favorite, “O Come, All Ye Faithful,” is combined with “Here I Am to Worship” in a beautiful piece that closes the CD in excellence. All songs are predominantly piano, with support instruments as needed, and one song includes vocals: “I Will Never Be the Same.” The included vocalist is Christy Sensenig, Steve Sensenig’s wife, and author of the words and music for the piece, “I Will Never Be the Same.” The songs were compiled in an effort to focus on either telling the story of Christ’s birth or to meditate on a particular aspect of it. All offer wonderful listening opportunities throughout the Christmas season.

This will be a short review, as my encouragement is that every family should run out and get this CD! Christmas Solitude is perfect for holiday parties, background music for studying, or the perfect music to wrap gifts and bake cookies while it plays. With no vocals on the majority of the songs, simply recalling the words in your mind while listening is incredibly comforting, while singing along offers an excellent opportunity for worship. Listening made me anxious for the holidays and the celebration of the birth of my savior, Jesus Christ. The music is beautiful, presentation is excellent, and quality of the audio itself is awesome!! Steve Sensenig has a gift from God in playing the piano and I imagine worshiping angels could not play better. As you listen, you will be drawn to the very foot of the throne. Steve’s heart is revealed in the insert of the CD, as it offers reflection on his growth over the years as Christmas has become much more important than any gift giving or shallow shopping adventures. Christmas is the celebration of Christ’s birth, the heart of our salvation, and should be celebrated and enjoyed as such. Christmas Solitude will bring hours and hours of enjoyment in a multitude of ways, as you listen alone in rest, with family and friends in fellowship, or while singing to the Lord your praises for the best gift ever given, God’s son. Don’t miss this CD, Steve Sensenig is a gifted pianist, enjoy listening!

Product review by Donna Campos, Senior Product Reviewer, The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine, LLC, September 2008