An Instrumental Christmas

Track Listings

1. Christmas Medley

2. Mary's Little Boy Child

3. Mele Kalikimaka

4. Silver Bells

5. I Heard The Bells on Christmas Day

6. Angels We Have Heard On High

7. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas

8. Sleigh Ride

9. Winter Wonderland

10. Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire

11. Carol Of The Bells

12. We Three Kings

13. The First Noel

14. Pachelbel Kanon

15. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlmen

16. I'll Be Home For Christmas

17. Here Comes Santa Claus

18. Bring A Torch Jeannete Isabella

19. Silent Night

20. Silent Night Reprise

Editorial Reviews
About the Artist
Bio remains the same as that submitted with other releases.

Product Description
This wonderful 22 carol guitar "instrumental" Christmas CD is a mix of traditional and "island" arrangements. Steven's guitar is also enriched by flute, bass, saxaphone and percussion by Jason Culotta. Steven has added many lovely carols to this CD not previously released and is sure to enhance the spirit of the holidays. This CD offers something new, melow and refreshing and is a one of a kind for your personal collection. (1 hr. 5 min.)

An Instrumental Christmas,Steven Wiseman,Wiseman Productions

Tracks:

Thanksgiving
Jesus, Jesus, Rest Your Head
Joy
Prelude
Carol Of The Bells
Night-Part One: Snow
Night-Part Two: Midnight
Night-Part Three: Minstrels
Variations On The Kanon By Pachelbel
The Holly And The Ivy
Some Children See Him
Peace
A Christmas Song
Sleep Baby Mine

Amazon.com essential recording

December holds the distinction of single-handedly putting Windham Hill on the map and being the new age album most likely to find its way into music collections of all ilk. In spite of being relentlessly overplayed during the holidays, the solo piano recording has aged quite well. Winston shapes holiday war-horses and original compositions into a captivating contemporary statement. His spare, understated style captures the feel of the dark season, employing ample resonance to evoke a reflective spaciousness. The album's straightforward simplicity conveys both the celebration and quietude that characterize the best of the Yuletide spirit. --Richard Price

Amazon.com

A quintessential example of George Winston's "folk piano" style, December speaks to the spirit of the season. Mixing traditional carols, a couple of classical works, and his own originals, Winston drops notes with icy clarity into a winter silence, rippling through "Carol of Bells" and coaxing dark, introspective moods from his own suite, "Night." The pianist's liner notes are also a trip as he cites the numerous sources for his music. Who would've thought that the gentle melodies of "Peace" were inspired by the soundtrack to TV's The Outer Limits? This 20th anniversary edition, which includes two bonus tracks, is a vast sonic improvement over previous releases. --John Diliberto

Customer Reviews:

Twenty Years later... Still Excellent!.......2007-05-28

December, Piano Solos: 20th Anniversary Edition, by George Winston is about as close to perfect as you can get. Winston phenomenal interpretations and originals form a masterpeice. Classified as a Holiday album, I agree with many of the other reviewers that this is an album to enjoy all through the year. Although each selection here is very good, Variations On The Kanon By Pachelbel is simply a wonderful piece. I did have the pleasure of seeing George Winston in concert and I would receommend that any fan try to experience the music live with introductions by the pianist.

An outstanding 5 star CD.

a must have for a musical library.......2007-03-26

this cd album is extremely moving and has value because of the evocative power of some of the pieces it contains.

George Winston's December.......2007-03-09

I have a copy of the vinyl since it was released. Though I love the quality of the vinyl, I want to bring December with me wherever I go. The two additional cuts in the anniversary issue are lovely, but I would have been equally happy with the original.

Love this CD.......2007-03-08

Perfect for the holidays (but I listen to it all year)! Anything by George Winston is fabulous.

Multi-mood music.......2007-01-29

I love this CD! The best part about this music is that I can listen to it regardles of what mood I'm in and the music fits perfectly. The Sheet music for "Variations of the Kanon by Pachelbel" is a great bonus.

Average customer rating:

Different, But Still Very High Quality
the Realm of Existentialism
not what I expected
Very Good
Beethoven's Last Night

Beethoven's Last Night
Trans-Siberian Orchestra
Manufacturer: Lava
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Rock | Styles | Music

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The Lost Christmas Eve
The Christmas Attic
Christmas Trilogy
Christmas Eve and Other Stories
Trans-Siberian Orchestra - The Ghost Of Christmas Eve

ASIN: B00004S7LI
Release Date: 2000-04-11

Tracks:

Overture
Midnight
Fate
What Good This Deafness
Mephistopheles
What Is Eternal
The Moment
Vienna
Mozart/Figaro
The Dreams Of Candlelight
Requiem (The Fifth)
I'll Keep Your Secrets
The Dark
Fur Elise
After The Fall
A Last Illusion
This Is Who You Are
Beethoven
Mephistopheles' Return
Misery
Who Is This Child
A Final Dream

Amazon.com

Trans-Siberian Orchestra's first two recordings, a pair of late-'90s Christmas albums, hinted that some day TSO might evolve into a latter-day ELO or even an ELP. Instead, this overwrought concept album shares more common ground with ALW (Andrew Lloyd Webber) or Meat Loaf. TSO, in fact, aims to retrace a path once traveled by producer Jim Steinman, the mastermind behind the theatrical, over-the-top rock opuses that briefly transformed Mr. Loaf and Bonnie Tyler ("Total Eclipse of the Heart") into mass-audience favorites. TSO ringmaster Paul O'Neill (once a guitarist in Broadway productions of Jesus Christ Superstar and Hair) here ditches the holiday themes and instead scores a simple-minded fairy tale (whose text spans a 32-page CD booklet) that involves Beethoven's soul, the devil, and an imaginary Symphony No. 10. Too often, the music is the servant of the project's thin plot, and the rock-classical instrumental bravura that initially attracted public attention to TSO (at times, the group sounds like a symphonic Boston) is obscured by overheated vocal rantings. Meanwhile, the guitar-driven rendering of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony ("Requiem") is mundane. Yet, one vocal track, "After the Fall" with singer Patti Russo, jumps off the record as a Tyler-esque knockout, raging with emotion and melodic luster. It doesn't save the album, but it helps. --Terry Wood

Customer Reviews:

Different, But Still Very High Quality.......2007-06-29

Beethoven's Last Night is TSO's first non-Christmas album, and as such, I expected to not like it as much as their other albums. However, it ended up becoming my favorite, tied with Christmas Eve and Other Stories. It's very different from TSO's other albums, but yet it has a magic all its own. The musical quality is just as good, but it has the best vocals in all of their albums. The reason for this is that Beethoven's Last Night tells much more of the story through its songs, and actually has a cast and characters. Some of the voices are very odd, but incredibly fun to hear. Some examples of this are in the songs "What Good This Deafness", "Misery", and "Midnight". The album isn't all vocals, however. It has some great instrumentals too, such as "A Last Illusion" (I know it has some chanting in the background at one point, but I still consider it an instrumental), "Beethoven", and "Mozart/Figaro". One more song worthy of mention all by itself is "Mephistopheles' Return", which contains a simply awing passage at the end where four different verses are sung at the same time. TSO did this before in "A Star To Follow", however it is done even better in "Mephistopheles' Return". In the end, after listening to Beethoven's Last Night, I was left with a feeling that I had experienced something very unique, but at the same time similar to TSO's other albums. It may be the weirdest of all their albums, but that doesn't stop it from being one of the best.

the Realm of Existentialism.......2007-06-25

Trans-Siberian Orchestra: Beethoven's Last Night

-- Powerful, explosive, highly-addictive. --Katharena Eiermann, 2007, the Realm of Existentialism -- Presidential Hopeful

not what I expected.......2007-04-11

I have some of this music, really liked but this is not the one. It was okay nothing I would tell others to buy.
Mary Lynn

Very Good.......2007-04-10

The CD is not as good as their Christmas CD - but it is nice to listen to Trans-Siberian Orchestra throughout the year.

Beethoven's Last Night.......2007-03-18

Awesome CD! The story is terrific, and the music is everything TSO stands for!

Pytor Illych Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker - Complete Ballet

Average customer rating:

The Nutcracker - Complete Ballet
Crisp Recording
Julia Abakaeva
A rockin' good time!
Don't Let The Word Kirov Fool You!!!

Pytor Illych Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker - Complete Ballet
Valery Gergiev , Kirov Orchestra and Choir , and Tchaikovsky
Manufacturer: Philips
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Ballets | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

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Similar Items:

Tchaikovsky: Swan Lake (complete ballet); Wolfgang Sawallisch; Philadelphia Orchestra
George Balanchine's The Nutcracker
Tchaikovsky: The Sleeping Beauty
Messiah (George Frederick Handel) London Philharmonic Orchestra
Swan Lake

ASIN: B00000A1GL
Release Date: 1998-10-20

Tracks:

The Nutcracker - Overture
The Nutcracker - 1 The Christmas Tree
The Nutcracker - 2 March
The Nutcracker - 3 Galop and Dance of the Parents
The Nutcracker - 4 Dance Scene - The Presents of Drosselmeyer
The Nutcracker - 5 Scene - Grandfather Dance
The Nutcracker - 6 Clara and the Nutcracker
The Nutcracker - 7 The Nutcracker battles against the Army of the Mouse King - He wins and is transformed into Prince Charming
The Nutcracker - 8 In the Christmas tree
The Nutcracker - 9 Scene and Waltz of the Snowflakes
The Nutcracker - 10 The Magic Castle on the Mountain of Sweets
The Nutcracker - 11 Clara and Prince Charming
The Nutcracker - 12a Character Dances (Divertissement): Chocolate (Spanisch Dance)
The Nutcracker - 12b Character Dances (Divertissement): Coffe (Arabian Dance)
The Nutcracker - 12c Character Dances (Divertissement): Tea (Chinese Dance)
The Nutcracker - 12d Character Dances (Divertissement): Trk (Russian Dance)
The Nutcracker - 12e Character Dances (Divertissement): Dance of the Reed Pipes
The Nutcracker - 12f Character Dances (Divertissement): Polichinelle (The Clown)
The Nutcracker - 13 Waltz of the Flowers
The Nutcracker - 14a Pas de deux: Intrada
The Nutcracker - 14b Pas de deux: Variation I (Tarantella)
The Nutcracker - 14c Pas de deux: Variation II (Dance of the Sugar-Plum Fairy)
The Nutcracker - 14d Pas de deux: Coda
The Nutcracker - 15 Closing Waltz - Grand Finale

Amazon.com

Although Gergiev is highly experienced in the theater, and he is leading an opera-ballet orchestra, this is definitely a concert Nutcracker. Tempos are brisk, textures streamlined, and dancers might have a good deal of difficulty keeping up with the music. For us home listeners, though, this is a superb way to hear Tchaikovsky's complete score and to remind ourselves of how much good music isn't included in the familiar suite. Gergiev justifies his reputation as an interpreter and as an orchestra leader, getting amazingly precise playing from the ensemble. Best of all, Philips has somehow crammed more than 81 minutes of superb sound onto this disc, making it a remarkable bargain. Very highly recommended! --Leslie Gerber

Customer Reviews:

The Nutcracker - Complete Ballet.......2007-01-20

This was a gift to my Granddaughter. She is in College and she told me it was wonderful. She said she loved it.

Crisp Recording.......2007-01-11

I
love the nutcracker ballet, especially the wizened hearthside warmth of the music. Gergiev has certainly fired up the Mariinsky for this one. Was there an other worldly intuition that inspired him to find and revel in a tight rousing theatre of the absurd that no one else has ever seen before in Pytor's composition, who knows but it is quite a nonsensical wash like this; not at all the pacing that is conducive to entering the atmosphere of enchanting mystery that makes the nutcracker a glorious ballet or any kind of enthralling experience, more like something delightful to put in the car's disc player fifteen minutes before rush hour if one is in a hurry to catch a plane. This is after all very detailed music but forget
about it Val is not letting you in with the whole orchestra in the van
late for another rehearsal or whatever really happens to be the case.

Julia Abakaeva.......2006-12-16

This not The Nutcracker-Complete Ballet!!! It's a recording of 6 pieces of Tchaikovsky's music that have nothing to do with The Nutckracker Ballet. Total number of tracks on the CD is 6 vs 24 promised in the booklet inside the CD.

A rockin' good time!.......2006-11-29

First let me say WOW!!!
This recording is about as good as cd quality will allow and the performance is alive and engaging. It is as near perfect as I imagine it could be. The orchestra plays as tight as a good quartet and thier enthusiasm shows thru in spades.
Even a non classical music fan will love it.

Don't Let The Word Kirov Fool You!!!.......2006-09-29

Anyone who thinks that this recording of "The Nutcracker" is on any level exceptional is out of their mind. There are a zillion recordings of "The Nutcracker", whether complete or of excerpts, and for ballet theatre many of these recordings are useless. Alot of famous symphonic conductors have had a hand at recording ballet music, and at least to ballet dancers (the people they were written for) mostly without success - for example Seiji Ozawa conducting "Swan Lake" is like Adam Sandler performing Shakespeare. What makes one a great conductor of symphonic music does not necessarily make one a good conductor of ballet music, and only a very small percentage of the conductors of any recording of "The Nutcracker" or any other ballet have ever conducted a live ballet . As far as I am concerned only a ballet conductor should conduct ballet music.

As a ballet dancer, historian, and a collector of 19th century ballet music, I must say that this is the most appalling recording I have ever heard of "The Nutcracker". Mind you, it is not because of the quality of performance from the orchestra, but of the way the music is handled by Gergiev when conducting so sacred an orchestra as the Kirov/Mariinsky. I find it interesting that Victor Fedotov, perhaps the greatest conductor of ballet music in modern times (who was still alive when this recording was produced) conductor of nearly every ballet performance at the Mariinsky Theatre for over 30 years, was not the one chosen to conduct this recording. Would it not make sense to have the ballet conductor conduct the ballet orchestra in a recording of the ballet music???

The fact that this ballet was all jam-packed onto one CD should be a dead give away as to how horribly raced through and edited the music. This recording has rushed, mathematically maintained tempi (the usual defect with recorded ballet music in the hands of a symphonic conductor), an over bearing brass section, edited passages (optional repeats) - the potential the music has that usually only a ballet conductor can give it is completely gone, as the music is in no way allowed to breathe.

One reviewer on this page says "Tchaikovsky is said to have written the work originaly in a faster tempo than is usualy performed. However, over the years, dancers complained about the brisk pace at which they were to perform. And so, the tempo is now played slower." This statement is horribly incorrect. "The Nutcracker" was written as all 19th century ballet was written - to order - Tchaikovsky was given instructions on what to write by Marius Petipa, and the original performance score does not specify tempo with words. For example "allegro moderato", etc. is nowhere to be found in the variations, as ballet music of the period was played at the preferred speed of the dancer.

Gergiev's recording of Tchaikovsky's original score for "The Sleeping Beauty" doesn't hold a candle to Victor Fedotov's recording of the Kirov Ballet performance score (with all of the proper modifications one only hears in performance).

Whatever Gergiev's strengths are as a conductor of opera or symphony, they are sorely lacking in his conducting of ballet music (Gergiev rarely conducts ballets at the Mariinsky, and it isnt his favorite thing to do) and this recording of "The Nutcracker", just like Gergiev's recording of "The Sleeping Beauty" shows this.

The best recording of "The Nutcracker" you can get is by Richard Bonynge with the National Philharmonic Orchestra. He conducts exactly as the music would be for the stage, and the recording is well balanced, without one section drowning out another. Also there is Sir Chalres Mackares's recording with the London Symphony for the Pacific Northwest Ballet's movie version of "The Nutcracker". Another is by Eugene Ormandy with the Philedelphia Orchestra, though only excerpts.

Average customer rating:

One of TSO's Best
Music from the Christmas light house
The Lost Christmas Eve CD review
This is the best music ever!
Mannheim Steamroller on steroids...

The Lost Christmas Eve
Trans-Siberian Orchestra
Manufacturer: Lava
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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The Christmas Attic
Christmas Eve and Other Stories
Beethoven's Last Night
Trans-Siberian Orchestra - The Ghost Of Christmas Eve
Mannheim Steamroller Christmas Celebration

ASIN: B0002ZDVGS
Release Date: 2004-10-12

Tracks:

Faith Noel
The Lost Christmas Eve
Christmas Dreams
Wizard in Winter
Remember
Anno Domini
Christmas Concerto
Queen of the Winter Night
Christmas NIghts in Blue
Christmas Jazz
Christmas Jam
Siberian Sleigh Ride
What is Christmas?
For the Sake of Our Brother
The Wisdom of Snow
Wish Liszt (Toy Shop Madness)
Back to a Reason (Part II)
Christmas Bells, Carousels and Time
What Child is This?
O'Come All Ye Faithful
Christmas Canon Rock
Different Wings
Midnight Clear

Amazon.com

If you're looking for something out of the ordinary for the season, The Lost Christmas Eve is for you. This final entry in the Trans-Siberian Orchestra's rock opera trilogy is perhaps their most ambitious and complex in the series. Like its predecessors, The Lost Christmas Eve tells the story of heaven's youngest angel called back to earth to continue Jesus' unfinished work. This time he lands in New York City to help redeem not only Christmas, but the soul of humankind itself with a story line that rivals anything Frank Capra ever dreamt up for the big screen. Conceived and composed by Aerosmith and Savatage producer Paul O'Neill, most of the song were penned O'Neill, Robert Kinkle, and Savatage founder and keyboardist Jon Oliva, and features the rest of the seminal Florida metal band on the record. While not as bombastic as Savatage's fourteen rock epics which touch on topics as diverse as the Russian Revolution, the 15th century explorer Ferdinand Magellan's descendants, and Beethoven's last night, the record still has a grandiose, almost over-arching baroque feel, with its prog-rock organ swells and electronic alchemy. The best moments are during the soaring instrumentals, on tracks like the "Wisdom of Snow," "Wish Litz," "Christmas Bells, Carousels & Time," and the majestic rendering of "O Come All Ye Faithful." --Jaan Uhelszki

Album Description

Trans-Siberian Orchestra (TSO) is back with third and final volume of their Christmas trilogy, The Lost Christmas. The long awaited follow up to the double platinum "The Christmas Attic," features their trademark symphonic rock," which fuses elements of hard rock, Broadway, R&B, and classical music into a unique and distinctive blend of original compositions, symphony excerpts and holiday standards.

Customer Reviews:

One of TSO's Best.......2007-06-29

The Lost Christmas Eve is the final installment in TSO's christmas trilogy. It may be the last, but that doesn't mean the sound is getting old. An excellent comeback from the slightly dissapointing Christmas Attic, The Lost Christmas Eve starts off with a bang, and doesn't let up until the final notes of the last song. The vocals on the album are some of TSO's best, second only to the ones on Beethoven's Last Night. They are best heard on such tracks as "The Lost Christmas Eve", "Christmas Dreams", and "What is Christmas?". The instrumentals are definitely the best TSO has ever done, and none feel repetitive like the ones on The Christmas Attic. They are without a doubt the high points of the album, with such songs as "Wizards in Winter", "Queen of the Winter Night", "Christmas Jam", and "Siberian Sleigh Ride" being the best of them all. However, my personal favorite song and instrumental on the album is the amazing "Wish Liszt (Toy Shop Madness)", which is Franz Liszt's "Hungarian Rhapsody", but with electric guitars and incredibly fast keyboards. Also of note is "The Wisdom of Snow", a beautiful piano solo coming in at 2:01. Overall, The Lost Christmas Eve, while maybe not being as moving and meaningful as albums like Christmas Eve and Other Stories, is certainly just as powerful, and is definitely the most fun to listen to.

Music from the Christmas light house.......2007-05-27

I bought this CD after seeing the house with the Christmas lights, synchronized to a song on this CD. It was all over You Tube a couple of Christmas' ago. Anyway, great takes on some old Christmas favorites. My wife and I still listen to it from time to time.

The Lost Christmas Eve CD review.......2007-05-20

Thoroughly enjoyed this genre. Had not heard of them before this. As music teacher, really appreciated the musical arrangements of well-known Christmas Carols.
The service was excellent arrived in the mail precisely when advised.

This is the best music ever!.......2007-05-12

Just loved the sound of this, it's my new favorite Christmas music! It rocks!

Mannheim Steamroller on steroids..........2007-05-08

hard rocking Christmas ballads...my wife had seen Trans-Siberian Orchestra on a morning show a few months back and all she wanted for Christmas(but not all she got) was a cd of Trans-Siberia...I was constantly borrowing it and just couldn't get enough of this cd..wonderful music..reverant, different, beautiful..there is a real beauty to this non-traditional Christmas music..

Average customer rating:

Soothing, moving, delightful!
Great sound!!
A Welcoming Journey Through the Holiday Season
A Jazzy Christmas Album
Smooth Jazz

December
Chris Botti
Manufacturer: Columbia
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Jazz | Styles | Music

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When I Fall In Love
James Taylor at Christmas
To Love Again
Chris Botti - Live - With Orchestra & Special Guests
The Very Best of Chris Botti

ASIN: B000I0QKD8
Release Date: 2006-10-10

Tracks:

The Christmas Song
Ave Maria
Winter Wonderland
The First Noel
Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!
Hallelujah
I Really Don't Want Much For Christmas
Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
Silent Night
Little Drummer Boy
O Little Town Of Bethlehem
I'll Be Home For Christmas

Customer Reviews:

Soothing, moving, delightful!.......2007-06-26

I am not the trumpet enthusiast my husband is, so when I requested this CD to please his palate, I was dubious about how much I would enjoy adding it to the holiday CD rotation. It is fabulous! It feels both fresh and familiar at the same time, soothing, yet festive. Particularly impressive is the beautiful arrangement of Ave Maria. A wonderful, (for the most part) instrumental holiday collection I would recommend to all - no jazz experience required!

Great sound!!.......2007-01-12

This cd is a must if you like holiday music and Chris Botti's sound. Have seen Mr. Botti a couple of times in concert. His music live and on cd are both wonderful. Encourage anyone who enjoys jazz to purchase this cd and others from Mr. Botti. You will be glad you did.

A Welcoming Journey Through the Holiday Season.......2007-01-11

Chris Botti's music for the holiday season delivers with the essence of peace, love and a level of spirituality so welcome at a time when, try as we might, chaos seems to reign in our lives. It's the middle of January and I am still listening to this inspiring CD. BRAVO.

A Jazzy Christmas Album.......2007-01-10

Finally a Christmas album that doesn't make me sick with the syrupy sweet, tired lyrics. I've heard it said that as entertainers achieve fame, they are compelled to do a Christmas album. Please make them stop! Chris Botti has a winner here and is a nice, jazzy take on the standards that is best enjoyed with a nice glass of Shiraz.

Smooth Jazz.......2007-01-03

Botti phrases like an accomplished singer. The melodies are mellow and sound effortless. Relaxing, romantic and beautiful. I've listened to it over and over.

Average customer rating:

An Excellent First Album
Great
Christmas Eve and Other Stories
Beautiful Music Indeed
Christmas Eve and Other Stories

Christmas Eve and Other Stories
Trans-Siberian Orchestra
Manufacturer: © 1996 Atlantic Recording Corp. / Lava Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Progressive Rock | Progressive | Rock | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

General Christmas | Holiday | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music

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General Christmas | Holiday Music | Special Features | Music

Pop Instrumental & Easy Listening | Holiday Music | Special Features | Music
Similar Items:

The Christmas Attic
The Lost Christmas Eve
Beethoven's Last Night
Trans-Siberian Orchestra - The Ghost Of Christmas Eve
Mannheim Steamroller Christmas Celebration

ASIN: B000002JX6
Release Date: 1996-10-15

Tracks:

An Angel Came Down
O Come All Ye Faithful/O Holy Night (Instrumental)
A Star To Follow
First Snow (Instrumental)
The Silent Nutcracker (Instrumental)
A Mad Russian's Christmas (Instrumental)
The Prince Of Peace
Christmas Eve/Sarajevo 12/24 (Instrumental)
Good King Joy
Ornament
The First Noel (Instrumental)
Old City Bar
Promises To Keep
This Christmas Day
An Angel Returned
O Holy Night
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen

Amazon.com

Is the Trans-Siberian Orchestra's Christmas Eve and Other Stories a holiday rock opera? Or perhaps just a holiday prog-rock disc? Or maybe it's New Age? Whatever the case may be, this isn't your typical Christmas album. Filled with electric guitar solos, plenty of synthesized keyboards, a children's choir, and lively drumming, Christmas Eve can only be compared to one other record, the Trans-Siberian Orchestra's other holiday disc, The Christmas Attic. On this CD, angelic vocal solos (on numbers such as "The Prince of Peace") are interspersed with driving instrumentals. Sentimental, occasionally bombastic, but as high-concept as holiday albums can be. --Jason Verlinde

Customer Reviews:

An Excellent First Album.......2007-06-29

In TSO's first album, they are at their best. Christmas Eve and Other Stories has everything. From fast-paced instrumentals to slow choirs, they excel at everything they try. Some high points are the instrumentals "Christmas Eve (Sarajevo 12/24)" and "A Mad Russian's Christmas", as well as "Ornament" and the moving "Old City Bar". "A Star To Follow" has an amazing segment where four choirs sing different verses all at the same time. Overall, TSO's first album is one of their best, containing a delighful mix of slow, powerful songs, and fast-paced songs that are simply a joy to listen to.

Great.......2007-05-09

Very good gutsy Christmas music! I lost my first copy of the CD, so I bought another one.

Christmas Eve and Other Stories.......2007-03-09

How do you describe the music of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra? Classical, rock, heavy metal, symphonic rock... You have to hear it. This is a wonderful example - but if you're expecting sweet Christmas carols move on. This is not for you. If you want music with impact grouped around a Christmas theme - give this a try.

Beautiful Music Indeed.......2007-03-08

This is one CD our family wants to listen to all the way through more than once! Awe-inspiring instrumentation blended nicely with a little more vocals than expected. Great addition to our collection for the holidays.

Christmas Eve and Other Stories.......2007-01-30

I had expected more orchestra and less vocals. Didn't have as much Trans-Siberian big sound as I had expected.

Average customer rating:

Another Excellent Album
Good overall
The Christmas Attic CD review
Great gift
More Greatness

The Christmas Attic
Trans-Siberian Orchestra
Manufacturer: Lava
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Progressive Rock | Progressive | Rock | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

General Christmas | Holiday | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music

Pop Instrumental & Easy Listening | Holiday | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music

General Christmas | Holiday Music | Special Features | Music

Pop Instrumental & Easy Listening | Holiday Music | Special Features | Music

Pop | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music

Rock | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music

All Blowout Music | Blowout Music | Stores | Music

More Titles at Least 25% Off | Blowout Music | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

The Lost Christmas Eve
Christmas Eve and Other Stories
Beethoven's Last Night
Trans-Siberian Orchestra - The Ghost Of Christmas Eve
Mannheim Steamroller Christmas Celebration

ASIN: B00000AEDW
Release Date: 1998-10-13

Tracks:

The Ghosts Of Christmas Eve
Boughs Of Holly
The World That She Sees
Midnight Christmas Eve
The March Of The Kings/Hark The Herald Angel
The Three Kings And I (What Really Happened)
Christmas Canon
Joy/Angels We Have Heard On High
Find Our Way Home
Appalachian Snowfall
The Music Box
The Snow Came Down
Christmas In The Air
Dream Child (A Christmas Dream)
An Angel's Share
Music Box Blues

Amazon.com

Fans of Andrew Lloyd Webber will discover he has a soul mate in one Paul O'Neill, the "conductor" of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. A dyed-in-the-wool sentimentalist, O'Neill presents this pop-rock tale from 1998 with all the glitz and glory of a Lloyd Webber Broadway show. Playing to the common themes of the season through a tale about a little angel sent to Earth to leave behind a gift, O'Neill creates a big-sounding production heavy on lead guitars and orchestral filigree. There are pieces of familiar Christmas carols and hymns and a handful of unembellished acoustic numbers to offset the brighter parts of the musical melodrama. While his singers and players are all professional sounding, O'Neill often mistakes sentiment as a grand gesture when it needs to be something less ambitious or noticeable. Nonetheless, there's a TV special or Broadway show wrapped up in this attic and it won't go away until it gets done. --Martin Keller

Customer Reviews:

Another Excellent Album.......2007-06-29

This was the last TSO album I bought, and as such, I wasn't quite as impressed when I listened to it as I could have been if I hadn't seen how amazing TSO can be in their other albums. Compared to their other albums, Christmas Attic is slightly harder to get through, mostly because it is slower and is a bit more repetitive than TSO's other albums. However, it is still a very worthy follow-up to the amazing Christmas Eve and Other Stories. My personal favorite song is "The Three Kings and I (What Really Happened)", because it is a style that TSO doesn't explore very often. I wish they would write more songs in the same vein. Another excellent song is "The March of the Kings/Hark! The Herald Angels Sing". It is a very up-tempo song and extremely fun to listen to. The album falls short on a couple of its instrumentals, which are occasionally a bit repetitive. However, overall, The Christmas Attic, while maybe being slightly less innovative than Christmas Eve and Other Stories, is still a delight to hear, and is consistent all the way through in that respect.

Good overall.......2007-06-10

I love the TSO, and this CD is no exception to the rule. I was a bit disappointed by some of the tracks (not their best work), but overall it is enjoyable. My favorite is the Ghost of Christmas Eve and there are about 5 other really solid songs on there. If you love the TSO, you'll love this CD.

The Christmas Attic CD review.......2007-05-20

After listening to The Lost Christmas Eve, was certainly not disappointed with this CD. Again, interesting arrangements in a delightful genre.

Great gift.......2007-02-10

We purchased this as a gift for Christmas - It is wonderful music !

More Greatness.......2007-01-29

This is one of the best of their CD's. I play it year round.

Average customer rating:

Rutter Christmas Album
Unique and Beautiful!
Johh Rutter Chirstmas Album
Liked it enough to go through a lot of trouble to give it a review.
John Rutter and Cambridge Singers

The John Rutter Christmas Album
Cambridge Singers , Rutter , and City of London Sinfon
Manufacturer: Collegium
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Be Thou My Vision

ASIN: B00006JJ4T
Release Date: 2002-09-24

Tracks:

Wexford Carol
Jesus Child
There Is a Flower
Donkey Carol
Wild Wood Carol
Angels' Carol
Nativity Carol
Mary's Lullaby
Star Carol
Candlelight Carol
Shepherd's Pipe Carol
Christmas Lullaby
Dormi, Jesu
Love Came Down at Christmas
Sans Day Carol
I Wonder as I Wander
What Sweeter Music
Joy to the World
I Saw Three Ships
Deck the Hall
Very Best Time of Year
We Wish You a Merry Christmas
Silent Night

Album Description

Top of the British Classical Charts for 10 Weeks! Billboard Top Ten Classical Recording - December 2002! This album gathers together most of the carols I have composed over the years, plus a sprinkling of my arrangements of traditional carols, grouped to form a program which narrates, reflects upon, and celebrates the Christmas story. I have always enjoyed carols ever since I first sang them as a member of my school choir, and it was not long before I began to write carols of my own-in fact my first two published compositions were the Nativity Carol and the Shepherd's Pipe Carol. For any musician involved in choral music, Christmas is an especially joyous time, and I am indeed happy that it has played a part in my musical life for so many years- JOHN RUTTER

Customer Reviews:

Rutter Christmas Album.......2007-05-14

Great selection of music, and well presented. This is however older recordings that do not match the quality of Rutter's latest recordings such as the Te Deum or the Gloria.

Unique and Beautiful!.......2007-03-09

John Rutter, and his beautiful music, is such a gift to the world. This unique Christmas CD is magnificent! Especially touching are two of Rutter's original carols, "Christmas Lullaby" and the joyful "Angels' Carol." The musical selections speak to the soul, helping the listener connect to emotions of joy, peace, faith, hope, and love. This is a worthy addition to your collection of Christmas CDs.

Johh Rutter Chirstmas Album.......2007-02-19

If I were to choose only one Christmas album to ever own, this would be the one. John Rutter is an exceptional composer of religious music, with unusual harmonies. The music is difficult to sing, and because this is his own choir and he is directing it, the performance is flawless. Gives you goosebumps.

Liked it enough to go through a lot of trouble to give it a review........2007-02-07

Great music by John Rutter: Great performance!

John Rutter and Cambridge Singers.......2007-01-18

This is quintessential English cathedral music; beautifully sung. Reminds one of the English Christmas -- warm and serene -- that we've only experienced in our dreams!

Average customer rating:

Excellent CD
Good for any age
Absolutely Gorgeous! The Best Piano Solo Album Of All-Time.
It's Christmas in July
Catkin's reveiw

December
George Winston
Manufacturer: Windham Hill Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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All The Seasons Of George Winston: Piano Solos

ASIN: B000000NFI
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

Thanksgiving
Jesus, Jesus, Rest Your Head
Joy
Prelude
Carol of the Bells
Night: Part One: Snow
Night: Part Two: Midnight
Night: Part Three: Minstrels
Variations On The Kanon By Pachelbel
The Holly And The Ivy
Some Children See Him
Peace

Amazon.com essential recording

Customer Reviews:

Excellent CD.......2007-06-11

December by George Winston is about as close to perfect as you can get. Winston's phenomenal interpretations and originals form a masterpeice. Classified as a Holiday album, this is an album to enjoy all through the year. Although each selection here is very good, Variations On The Kanon By Pachelbel is simply a wonderful piece. I did have the pleasure of seeing George Winston in concert and I would receommend that any fan try to experience the music live with introductions by the pianist. I would also recommend December, Piano Solos: 20th Anniversary Edition which is an updated version of this excellent CD.

An outstanding 5 star CD.

Good for any age.......2007-04-09

There is something in this music which has been with ever since I listened to it first time back in 1987. Soundtrack of my life...

Absolutely Gorgeous! The Best Piano Solo Album Of All-Time........2005-12-30

I honestly don't feel it is even the slightest of exaggerations to label this recording as the Greatest Piano Solo Album Of All-Time. Even at nearly a quarter of a century old, it has only become better with age. I was first introduced to "December" at the mature age of 10, and I fell in love with it immediately. My mother would play it at Christmas, time and time again, and oddly enough I never tired of the haunting melodies. In the nearly twenty years since, I've found that while much of the music has a holiday theme, I enjoy listening to the tracks year-round. And in all that time I've found nothing that even comes close to matching the beauty, feeling or power of this exquisite creation. Winston pours such depth and feeling into each compilation that, if you're not careful, you find yourself begin to sway with the melody, much the same fashion as a teenager headbanging to a punk-rock band. But of course this is much more subtle and sophisticated. Truth be told, I credit Winston (and to some degree Chip Davis) with my desire to learn the piano. Fortunately my wife had the foresight this year to do what I could not bring myself to do, and presented me with piano lessons for Christmas. My one desire is to someday be good enough to eek out an intelligible semblance of this timeless album for family and friends at the holidays... but I won't hold my breath. Winston is a Master, and I don't believe I have either the time, nor the talent, to hold even the dimmest of candles to his "bright as noon-day" masterpiece. Enjoy!

It's Christmas in July.......2004-07-27

I am not really big on instrumental music. A lot of it reminds me of that cheeseball Yanni. My favorite instrumentalist is George Winston. I absolutely love his album "December". I have always loved this particular album for as long as I can remember. I remember borrowing my mom's cassette copy of this album several years ago and I still have it to this very day. It is truly one of my personal favorite albums in my entire (almost) 30 years of life. No matter what time of year it is, I can always throw it in and chill to the music. The music is so enchanting. I especially love "Jesus, Jesus, Rest Your Head". It is one of my personal favorite songs on the album. It truly moves me emotionally. George's piano playing is flawless. It flows like a running stream. I love the simplicity of the music which is just George's piano playing. I think having other instruments would have convoluted the music. I also adore the variations on Pachelbel's "Canon", my personal favorite baroque movement. George does a lovely job with his unique interpretation of the song. After eight hours at the office and listening to my goth/industrial/ebm/techno cds, it is nice to listen to more soothing music to relax too.

Catkin's reveiw.......2003-03-14

i think dat is a very good cd, especially for christmas and we put it on whenever we hav a family time.
Thank-you george!

Average customer rating:

LETTER PERFECT CLASS(ICAL) ACT!
Great Tracks -- Great Value -- Great Book, Who Can Complain?
At this price, how can one complain?

A to Z of Classical Music

Manufacturer: Naxos
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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A - Z of Opera (includes 762 page booklet)
Walden and Other Writings
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ASIN: B00004YYRT
Release Date: 2000-10-17

Tracks:

De Profundis - Nova Schola Gregoriana
Alleluia - O Virga Mediatrix - Oxford Camerata
Gloria - Oxford Camerata
Pavane - Red Byrd
Canon - Capella Istropolitana
Vivace - Grave - Capella Istropolitana
Prelude - Laurence Cummings
Allegro - Takako Nishizaki
Adagio - Miroslav Kejmar
Air On The G String - Capella Istropolitana
Hallelujah Chorus - Scholars Baroque Ensemble
Menuetto: Allegretto - Capella Istropolitana
Andante - Failoni Orchestra
Allegro - Capella Istropolitana
Adagio - Jeno Jando
Andante - Ernst Ottensamer
Quis Est Homo - Hungarian State Opera Chorus

Tracks:

Ave Maria - Ingrid Kertesi
Un Bal - Pinchas Steinberg
Wedding March - Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra
Minute Waltz - Idil Biret
Larghetto - Alexander Rahbari
Ride Of The Valkyries - Uwe Mund
Prelude - Alexander Rahbari
Hungarian Dance No.3 - Budapest Symphony
Scene - Ondrej Lenard
Slavonic Dance No.1 - Balazs Szokolay
Nimrod - Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra
Clair De Lune - Keith Clark
Also Sprach Zarathustra (Opening) - Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra
Prelude In C Sharp Minor - Idil Biret
Fountain Of The Villa Medici At Sunset - Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Overture - Bournemouth Sinfonietta
O Fortuna - Slovak Philharmonic Chorus
Playful Pizzicato - Bournemouth Sinfonietta
Violin Concerto - Adele Anthony

Amazon.com

Is it a two-CD set with a particularly thick booklet, or a 562-page book with a compilation album attached? Either way, the unpretentious text by Keith Anderson offers an introduction to the lives and works of dozens of composers, together with recommended recordings from the Naxos and Marco Polo catalogs. Anderson includes a useful 59-page glossary of musical terms and an extensive listing of classical pieces used in films. The odd thing about the 36 extracts and complete pieces on the CDs is that they do not form an A-to-Z at all. Rather, they are arranged chronologically, from 1,000-year-old Gregorian chant to the opening movement of contemporary composer Philip Glass's Violin Concerto. Between these two points is the early music of Palestrina and Byrd; the Baroque glories of Vivaldi and Bach; the 19th-century Romantic masters, from Beethoven to Tchaikovsky; and such 20th-century greats as Rachmaninov and Stravinsky. Opera, song, and chamber music are barely represented, but only so much can fit into 151 minutes. Essentially a deluxe sampler of the vast Naxos catalogue, the discs offer a good introduction to some of the most famous and melodic music ever composed, while the book will be very useful to newcomers to the potentially confusing world of classical music. --Gary S. Dalkin

Album Description

A-Z of Classical Music is a remarkable 562-page, illustrated bok, detailing the lives of all the great composers as well as many less known, but equally fascinating, musical masters. Like the Naxos range of recording itself, A-Z of Classical Music is a rich source of inspiration for anyone either just embarking on a lifetime of musical enjoyment or for whom classical music has long been a way of life. Included within is an extensive glossary of musical terms plus a unique guide to classical music used in acclaimed films. Two-and-a-half hours of the finest music from across the centuries are contained in the accompanying CDs.

Customer Reviews:

LETTER PERFECT CLASS(ICAL) ACT!.......2003-01-19

It's only natural we sometimes hit the high seas....make that Cs. This is one box set about which we sing praises. This set features more than two hours of the finest music from across the centuries by such composers as Schubert, Chopin, Mozart, Handel, Stravinsky and Glass. The set also comes with a 562-page illustrated book, detailing the lives of hundreds of composers, a
glossary of musical terms and a unique guide to the classical music used in 360 top films.

Great Tracks -- Great Value -- Great Book, Who Can Complain?.......2002-08-30

Naxos is a fabulous label -- you will not get samples of the best classical music through the ages at no better price. These tracks are as good as any of the over-priced major orchestras and in some cases better. This is a great starter set for a beginner or anyone who just wants to "taste" the classics. If you prefer Opera I would suggest the A to Z of Opera -- most of the tracks on A to Z Classical are orchestral. I was so impressed with this collection that I purchased the Discover the Classics Vol's 1-3 which will give you a more detailed look at the great classics. Take a look at the Naxos web site at NAXOSUSA.COM -- what you will see will blow your mind -- there are literally thousands of pieces that you could listen too!

At this price, how can one complain?.......2001-09-30

This is pretty much a CD version of a mini-Naxos and Marco Polo catalog. All the pieces and extracts are ordered chronologically on the 2 CDs and are of very acceptable quality, but don't expect excellence in every track. Personally, I was particularly disappointed with one of my favourite Pachelbel pieces. The Naxos Canon & Gigue lacks all the emotion of my favourite versions.

Still, any possible weaker performances are of little importance after you get your hands on the fat booklet with over 500 pages. The booklet offers a short intro about the great composers, a glossary of musical terms, a list of works used in films and dozens of illustrations of several composers.

Overall, at this price, this is a must-have pack for any beginner, and might be useful for the occasion "quick check" of the work of many composers. Do not expect many detail, nor references to all the works of some composers; I often got frustrated with the lack of detail in some cases, but in general, the booklet is very effective for a quick reference.
You will need more titles that offer more complete information, and you won't truly learn to love classical music just by reading it, but it is small and compact.

It really puzzles me why Naxos did not include a full index of composers, a serious omission. To find a particular composer you will have to look for it yourself in over 500 pages. Also, the separation of the text is not so good, making the search even a bit slower. The lack of the index is truly annoying and I am sure it will be corrected in future editions.

Even with a few weaker pieces and the lack of the index, at this price, there isn't much to argue about. This is truly a bargain that you should not miss. I would also recommend the A-Z of Opera, which offers a bigger booklet with over 700 pages, focusing on opera works and mentioning several composers that are absent from the A-Z of Classical. That other booklet has a very complete index, and much clearer text layout and separation, that's the way both booklets should have been designed.

The two sets complement each other very well. Highly recommended.

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