When "grand" and "solemn" aren't contradictory terms...

Sometimes, you just have to hear the right version of a Christmas carol to truly appreciate it.  That's the case for me this year with "The Wexford Carol."  Although I've never disliked the carol, it took Alison Krauss's soaring vocals and Yo-Yo Ma's cello accompaniment to make me realize how well the lyrics capture the nativity's solemnity.  Krauss sings it beautifully, with a hard-to-pull-off combination of grandeur and intimacy.  Her voice is an ideal fit for the carol, and Ma's cello underscores her voice perfectly.  I've listened to their rendition of "The Wexford Carol" several times this month, and I'm sure I'll play it several more times.