The liner notes to A Mandolin Christmas, Vol. 2 read aloud by mandolinist Karen Mal

Karen and I are thrilled to present to you the 3rd in our series of acoustic holiday albums

A Mandolin Christmas, Vol. 2  

Buy it at AMandolinChristmas.com
Read episode notes here:
https://christmassongsmusicandcarols.blogspot.com/2018/11/bring-torch-from-new-mandolin-christmas.html

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We’d like to invite you to let our record shine its light in your holiday atmosphere.  It’s a great accompaniment to preparing holiday meals, visiting with friends and family.
Here are the links to do that:

Want to help us get the word out and get this music playing everywhere we can this season?

For every 1 paragraph or more positive review of our new album, we will donate $1 to Strings Attached Cares up to $1000.00

Want to match us and make this more fun and effective?

Post your review on any of the digital outlets, your social media, or email us at [email protected]

Include the amount you'd like to match for other reviews, and your limit, and you’re all set.

 For example: “I'll donate $5 to Strings Attached Cares for every review submitted to Will a [email protected] , up to $500

Let’s raise $$$ for Strings Attached cares and help promote A Mandolin Christmas at the same time..

Liner notes

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Christmas and Holiday Music from Karen Mal & Will Taylor

Read about,  listen to and support our music below.

You listened to it free, but it wasn't free to make this music...so in this new world of the "free music, want to help out, do your part to support our continued creation of great acoustic music?

Read below or just signup to get all of our music as a patron of Strings Attached
See more about it here....


"Joy to the World" is a popular Christmas carol. The words are by English hymn writer Isaac Watts, based on Psalm 98, 96:11-12 and Genesis 3:17-18, in the Bible. The song was first published in 1719 in Watts' collection; The Psalms of David: Imitated in the language of the New Testament, and applied to the Christian state and worship. "The paraphrase is Watts' Christological interpretation. - From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia






Buy the CD with any credit card ITUNES MP3'S or WAV files direct from the artist Call 512-589-8749 to order by phone. Call me and I'll write a note and send it to them personally! ​SPOTIFY - Coming so Free Pick of the Week Or buy it in AUSTIN texas at Waterloo Records

• Buy the CD with any credit card
• ITUNES
• MP3'S or WAV files direct from the artist
• Call 512-589-8749 to order by phone.
• Call me and I'll write a note and send it to them personally! 
• ​SPOTIFY
• AMAZON

The story behind Austin for Christmas
All of the songs in this collection were favorites of my mother.  She loved filling the house with Christmas decorations, smells of  many varieties of cookies baking, which she'd arrange in spectacular colorful gift trays, and of course Christmas music draped over the top of everything. She'd play the vinyl records on our massive stereo which was as long as our dining room table,.and she'd be as happy as we'd ever see her all year. Her happiness in itself was the best part of the season. It was contagious and it was fleeting. In our household, Christmas music represented the hope of another year, maybe a better year, and a momentary suspension of all things worrisome or sorrowful.     "Yuletide by the fireside and joyful memories there." We chose the songs with an underlying theme of togetherness. No matter where you fall on the religious/ spiritual spectrum, holidays are a time of connection.  Of reunion and reflection and gratitude. And being together as the bustling world mercifully grinds to a halt, creating a glow in the darkness of the long nights of winter.  - KAREN MAL
The story behind A Mandolin Christmas
A jazz musician, a folk artist, 20 fingers pulling 14 strings & 19 ancient melodies that time has polished.

A Mandolin Christmas 

      Deep in the throes of the hottest summer on record in Austin,  TX, Karen Mal and Will Taylor decided to make a Christmas album. It was a 112-degree "Silent Night" in their un-airconditioned recording studio in August. Even the cat was sweating.      The couple had collaborated on many musical projects; his, hers, and their ensemble's, but a "Mandolin Christmas" is purely a duet in every sense of the word.  It's a dance between two partners: the mandolin and the classical guitar.  And that's it.  Karen and Will are perhaps better-known as vocalist and violinist, respectively, but as the tracks blossomed, the two instruments just didn't seem to want any company. There's a simple elegance in the combination that makes for a classic record.      "A Mandolin Christmas" is also a duet between traditional folk music and jazz.  The music includes pristine old-style classical arrangements, and also subtle and playful jazz harmonizations, weaving around familiar melodies that sound like home.   You can practically smell the sugar cookies coming out of the oven, see the kitchen windows steaming up.       Even the packaging is a duet. Karen staged the shots in their vegetable garden. That's a real Calabacita squash with the bow on it. (we ate it for Thanksgiving) Will took the photos and fit everything into the artwork templates.      If you like Christmas music even a little, you're going to love this album. You're going to love it again when you dig it out next year, and again and again, every holiday season.





Violinist, composer and Austin Music Award winner Will Taylor has performed with Pearl Jam, Grammy winner Shawn Colvin, P-Diddy, Willie Nelson, Ronny Cox (Deliverance) and many more. Will and his musical friends from Austin, Texas light up your house with inspiring acoustic music. WASHINGTON POST–“Imaginatively orchestrated… multi-faceted… darting lyricism, and occasionally pensive moods, Taylor makes the grade with his deft touch and improvisatory skills.”
ESQUIRE MAGAZINE–”As to the quality of the music and the professionalism, this production is far superior over the numerous recordings issued by the major record companies.”

Learn how you can have Karen Mal & Will Taylor in your home here.~!
Anywhere, not just where we live.

More fan comments...

Christmas and Holiday Music from Karen Mal & Will Taylor

Read about,  listen to and support our music below.

You listened to it free, but it wasn't free to make this music...so in this new world of the "free music, want to help out, do your part to support our continued creation of great acoustic music?

Read below or just signup to get all of our music as a patron of Strings Attached
See more about it here....


"In the Bleak Midwinter" is a Christmas carol based on a poem by the English poet Christina Rossetti. The poem was published, under the title "A Christmas Carol", in the January 1872 issue of Scribner's Monthly. - From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia





Buy the CD with any credit card ITUNES MP3'S or WAV files direct from the artist Call 512-589-8749 to order by phone. Call me and I'll write a note and send it to them personally! ​SPOTIFY - Coming so Free Pick of the Week Or buy it in AUSTIN texas at Waterloo Records

• Buy the CD with any credit card
• ITUNES
• MP3'S or WAV files direct from the artist
• Call 512-589-8749 to order by phone.
• Call me and I'll write a note and send it to them personally! 
• ​SPOTIFY
• AMAZON

The story behind Austin for Christmas
All of the songs in this collection were favorites of my mother.  She loved filling the house with Christmas decorations, smells of  many varieties of cookies baking, which she'd arrange in spectacular colorful gift trays, and of course Christmas music draped over the top of everything. She'd play the vinyl records on our massive stereo which was as long as our dining room table,.and she'd be as happy as we'd ever see her all year. Her happiness in itself was the best part of the season. It was contagious and it was fleeting. In our household, Christmas music represented the hope of another year, maybe a better year, and a momentary suspension of all things worrisome or sorrowful.     "Yuletide by the fireside and joyful memories there." We chose the songs with an underlying theme of togetherness. No matter where you fall on the religious/ spiritual spectrum, holidays are a time of connection.  Of reunion and reflection and gratitude. And being together as the bustling world mercifully grinds to a halt, creating a glow in the darkness of the long nights of winter.  - KAREN MAL
The story behind A Mandolin Christmas
A jazz musician, a folk artist, 20 fingers pulling 14 strings & 19 ancient melodies that time has polished.

A Mandolin Christmas 

      Deep in the throes of the hottest summer on record in Austin,  TX, Karen Mal and Will Taylor decided to make a Christmas album. It was a 112-degree "Silent Night" in their un-airconditioned recording studio in August. Even the cat was sweating.      The couple had collaborated on many musical projects; his, hers, and their ensemble's, but a "Mandolin Christmas" is purely a duet in every sense of the word.  It's a dance between two partners: the mandolin and the classical guitar.  And that's it.  Karen and Will are perhaps better-known as vocalist and violinist, respectively, but as the tracks blossomed, the two instruments just didn't seem to want any company. There's a simple elegance in the combination that makes for a classic record.      "A Mandolin Christmas" is also a duet between traditional folk music and jazz.  The music includes pristine old-style classical arrangements, and also subtle and playful jazz harmonizations, weaving around familiar melodies that sound like home.   You can practically smell the sugar cookies coming out of the oven, see the kitchen windows steaming up.       Even the packaging is a duet. Karen staged the shots in their vegetable garden. That's a real Calabacita squash with the bow on it. (we ate it for Thanksgiving) Will took the photos and fit everything into the artwork templates.      If you like Christmas music even a little, you're going to love this album. You're going to love it again when you dig it out next year, and again and again, every holiday season.





Violinist, composer and Austin Music Award winner Will Taylor has performed with Pearl Jam, Grammy winner Shawn Colvin, P-Diddy, Willie Nelson, Ronny Cox (Deliverance) and many more. Will and his musical friends from Austin, Texas light up your house with inspiring acoustic music. WASHINGTON POST–“Imaginatively orchestrated… multi-faceted… darting lyricism, and occasionally pensive moods, Taylor makes the grade with his deft touch and improvisatory skills.”
ESQUIRE MAGAZINE–”As to the quality of the music and the professionalism, this production is far superior over the numerous recordings issued by the major record companies.”

Learn how you can have Karen Mal & Will Taylor in your home here.~!
Anywhere, not just where we live.

More fan comments...

Christmas and Holiday Music from Karen Mal & Will Taylor

Read about,  listen to and support our music below.

You listened to it free, but it wasn't free to make this music...so in this new world of the "free music, want to help out, do your part to support our continued creation of great acoustic music?

Read below or just signup to get all of our music as a patron of Strings Attached
See more about it here....

"Away in a Manger" is a Christmas carol first published in the late nineteenth century and used widely throughout the English-speaking world. In Britain, it is one of the most popular carols; a 1996 Gallup Poll ranked it joint second. Although it was long claimed to be the work of German religious reformer Martin Luther, the carol is now thought to be wholly American in origin. - From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia





Buy the CD with any credit card ITUNES MP3'S or WAV files direct from the artist Call 512-589-8749 to order by phone. Call me and I'll write a note and send it to them personally! ​SPOTIFY - Coming so Free Pick of the Week Or buy it in AUSTIN texas at Waterloo Records

• Buy the CD with any credit card
• ITUNES
• MP3'S or WAV files direct from the artist
• Call 512-589-8749 to order by phone.
• Call me and I'll write a note and send it to them personally! 
• ​SPOTIFY
• AMAZON

The story behind Austin for Christmas
All of the songs in this collection were favorites of my mother.  She loved filling the house with Christmas decorations, smells of  many varieties of cookies baking, which she'd arrange in spectacular colorful gift trays, and of course Christmas music draped over the top of everything. She'd play the vinyl records on our massive stereo which was as long as our dining room table,.and she'd be as happy as we'd ever see her all year. Her happiness in itself was the best part of the season. It was contagious and it was fleeting. In our household, Christmas music represented the hope of another year, maybe a better year, and a momentary suspension of all things worrisome or sorrowful.     "Yuletide by the fireside and joyful memories there." We chose the songs with an underlying theme of togetherness. No matter where you fall on the religious/ spiritual spectrum, holidays are a time of connection.  Of reunion and reflection and gratitude. And being together as the bustling world mercifully grinds to a halt, creating a glow in the darkness of the long nights of winter.  - KAREN MAL
The story behind A Mandolin Christmas
A jazz musician, a folk artist, 20 fingers pulling 14 strings & 19 ancient melodies that time has polished.

A Mandolin Christmas 

      Deep in the throes of the hottest summer on record in Austin,  TX, Karen Mal and Will Taylor decided to make a Christmas album. It was a 112-degree "Silent Night" in their un-airconditioned recording studio in August. Even the cat was sweating.      The couple had collaborated on many musical projects; his, hers, and their ensemble's, but a "Mandolin Christmas" is purely a duet in every sense of the word.  It's a dance between two partners: the mandolin and the classical guitar.  And that's it.  Karen and Will are perhaps better-known as vocalist and violinist, respectively, but as the tracks blossomed, the two instruments just didn't seem to want any company. There's a simple elegance in the combination that makes for a classic record.      "A Mandolin Christmas" is also a duet between traditional folk music and jazz.  The music includes pristine old-style classical arrangements, and also subtle and playful jazz harmonizations, weaving around familiar melodies that sound like home.   You can practically smell the sugar cookies coming out of the oven, see the kitchen windows steaming up.       Even the packaging is a duet. Karen staged the shots in their vegetable garden. That's a real Calabacita squash with the bow on it. (we ate it for Thanksgiving) Will took the photos and fit everything into the artwork templates.      If you like Christmas music even a little, you're going to love this album. You're going to love it again when you dig it out next year, and again and again, every holiday season.





Violinist, composer and Austin Music Award winner Will Taylor has performed with Pearl Jam, Grammy winner Shawn Colvin, P-Diddy, Willie Nelson, Ronny Cox (Deliverance) and many more. Will and his musical friends from Austin, Texas light up your house with inspiring acoustic music. WASHINGTON POST–“Imaginatively orchestrated… multi-faceted… darting lyricism, and occasionally pensive moods, Taylor makes the grade with his deft touch and improvisatory skills.”
ESQUIRE MAGAZINE–”As to the quality of the music and the professionalism, this production is far superior over the numerous recordings issued by the major record companies.”

Learn how you can have Karen Mal & Will Taylor in your home here.~!
Anywhere, not just where we live.

More fan comments...

Christmas and Holiday Music from Karen Mal & Will Taylor

Read about,  listen to and support our music below. You listened to it free, but it wasn't free to make this music. Want to help out, do your part to support our continued creation of great acoustic music?

"What Child Is This?" is a Christmas carol whose lyrics were written by William Chatterton Dix, in 1865. At the time of composing the carol, Dix worked as an insurance company manager and had been struck by a severe illness. While recovering, he underwent a spiritual renewalthat led him to write several hymns, including lyrics to this carol that was subsequently set to the tune of "Greensleeves", a traditional English folk song. Although it was written in Great Britain, the carol is more popular in the United States than in its country of origin today.[1] - From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia








Buy the CD with any credit card ITUNES MP3'S or WAV files direct from the artist Call 512-589-8749 to order by phone. Call me and I'll write a note and send it to them personally! ​SPOTIFY - Coming so Free Pick of the Week Or buy it in AUSTIN texas at Waterloo Records

• Buy the CD with any credit card
• ITUNES
• MP3'S or WAV files direct from the artist
• Call 512-589-8749 to order by phone.
• Call me and I'll write a note and send it to them personally! 
• ​SPOTIFY
• AMAZON

The story behind Austin for Christmas
All of the songs in this collection were favorites of my mother.  She loved filling the house with Christmas decorations, smells of  many varieties of cookies baking, which she'd arrange in spectacular colorful gift trays, and of course Christmas music draped over the top of everything. She'd play the vinyl records on our massive stereo which was as long as our dining room table,.and she'd be as happy as we'd ever see her all year. Her happiness in itself was the best part of the season. It was contagious and it was fleeting. In our household, Christmas music represented the hope of another year, maybe a better year, and a momentary suspension of all things worrisome or sorrowful.     "Yuletide by the fireside and joyful memories there." We chose the songs with an underlying theme of togetherness. No matter where you fall on the religious/ spiritual spectrum, holidays are a time of connection.  Of reunion and reflection and gratitude. And being together as the bustling world mercifully grinds to a halt, creating a glow in the darkness of the long nights of winter.  - KAREN MAL
The story behind A Mandolin Christmas
A jazz musician, a folk artist, 20 fingers pulling 14 strings & 19 ancient melodies that time has polished.

A Mandolin Christmas 

      Deep in the throes of the hottest summer on record in Austin,  TX, Karen Mal and Will Taylor decided to make a Christmas album. It was a 112-degree "Silent Night" in their un-airconditioned recording studio in August. Even the cat was sweating.      The couple had collaborated on many musical projects; his, hers, and their ensemble's, but a "Mandolin Christmas" is purely a duet in every sense of the word.  It's a dance between two partners: the mandolin and the classical guitar.  And that's it.  Karen and Will are perhaps better-known as vocalist and violinist, respectively, but as the tracks blossomed, the two instruments just didn't seem to want any company. There's a simple elegance in the combination that makes for a classic record.      "A Mandolin Christmas" is also a duet between traditional folk music and jazz.  The music includes pristine old-style classical arrangements, and also subtle and playful jazz harmonizations, weaving around familiar melodies that sound like home.   You can practically smell the sugar cookies coming out of the oven, see the kitchen windows steaming up.       Even the packaging is a duet. Karen staged the shots in their vegetable garden. That's a real Calabacita squash with the bow on it. (we ate it for Thanksgiving) Will took the photos and fit everything into the artwork templates.      If you like Christmas music even a little, you're going to love this album. You're going to love it again when you dig it out next year, and again and again, every holiday season.

Christmas and Holiday Music from Karen Mal & Will Taylor

Read about,  listen to and support our music below.

You listened to it free, but it wasn't free to make this music...so in this new world of the "free music, want to help out, do your part to support our continued creation of great acoustic music?

Read below or just signup to get all of our music as a patron of Strings Attached
See more about it here....


"Joy to the World" is a popular Christmas carol. The words are by English hymn writer Isaac Watts, based on Psalm 98, 96:11-12 and Genesis 3:17-18, in the Bible. The song was first published in 1719 in Watts' collection; The Psalms of David: Imitated in the language of the New Testament, and applied to the Christian state and worship. "The paraphrase is Watts' Christological interpretation. - From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia






Buy the CD with any credit card ITUNES MP3'S or WAV files direct from the artist Call 512-589-8749 to order by phone. Call me and I'll write a note and send it to them personally! ​SPOTIFY - Coming so Free Pick of the Week Or buy it in AUSTIN texas at Waterloo Records

• Buy the CD with any credit card
• ITUNES
• MP3'S or WAV files direct from the artist
• Call 512-589-8749 to order by phone.
• Call me and I'll write a note and send it to them personally! 
• ​SPOTIFY
• AMAZON

The story behind Austin for Christmas
All of the songs in this collection were favorites of my mother.  She loved filling the house with Christmas decorations, smells of  many varieties of cookies baking, which she'd arrange in spectacular colorful gift trays, and of course Christmas music draped over the top of everything. She'd play the vinyl records on our massive stereo which was as long as our dining room table,.and she'd be as happy as we'd ever see her all year. Her happiness in itself was the best part of the season. It was contagious and it was fleeting. In our household, Christmas music represented the hope of another year, maybe a better year, and a momentary suspension of all things worrisome or sorrowful.     "Yuletide by the fireside and joyful memories there." We chose the songs with an underlying theme of togetherness. No matter where you fall on the religious/ spiritual spectrum, holidays are a time of connection.  Of reunion and reflection and gratitude. And being together as the bustling world mercifully grinds to a halt, creating a glow in the darkness of the long nights of winter.  - KAREN MAL
The story behind A Mandolin Christmas
A jazz musician, a folk artist, 20 fingers pulling 14 strings & 19 ancient melodies that time has polished.

A Mandolin Christmas 

      Deep in the throes of the hottest summer on record in Austin,  TX, Karen Mal and Will Taylor decided to make a Christmas album. It was a 112-degree "Silent Night" in their un-airconditioned recording studio in August. Even the cat was sweating.      The couple had collaborated on many musical projects; his, hers, and their ensemble's, but a "Mandolin Christmas" is purely a duet in every sense of the word.  It's a dance between two partners: the mandolin and the classical guitar.  And that's it.  Karen and Will are perhaps better-known as vocalist and violinist, respectively, but as the tracks blossomed, the two instruments just didn't seem to want any company. There's a simple elegance in the combination that makes for a classic record.      "A Mandolin Christmas" is also a duet between traditional folk music and jazz.  The music includes pristine old-style classical arrangements, and also subtle and playful jazz harmonizations, weaving around familiar melodies that sound like home.   You can practically smell the sugar cookies coming out of the oven, see the kitchen windows steaming up.       Even the packaging is a duet. Karen staged the shots in their vegetable garden. That's a real Calabacita squash with the bow on it. (we ate it for Thanksgiving) Will took the photos and fit everything into the artwork templates.      If you like Christmas music even a little, you're going to love this album. You're going to love it again when you dig it out next year, and again and again, every holiday season.





Violinist, composer and Austin Music Award winner Will Taylor has performed with Pearl Jam, Grammy winner Shawn Colvin, P-Diddy, Willie Nelson, Ronny Cox (Deliverance) and many more. Will and his musical friends from Austin, Texas light up your house with inspiring acoustic music. WASHINGTON POST–“Imaginatively orchestrated… multi-faceted… darting lyricism, and occasionally pensive moods, Taylor makes the grade with his deft touch and improvisatory skills.”
ESQUIRE MAGAZINE–”As to the quality of the music and the professionalism, this production is far superior over the numerous recordings issued by the major record companies.”

Learn how you can have Karen Mal & Will Taylor in your home here.~!
Anywhere, not just where we live.

More fan comments...