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From the Vault...
03/07/2010
#1193 |
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info
Mannheim Steamroller
"Christmas Extraordinaire"
© American Grammophone Records
Year of Release: 2001
Rating:
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track listing
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Hallelujah
White Christmas
Away In A Manger
Faeries
Do You Hear What I Hear
The First Noel
Silver Bells
Fum Fum Fum
Some Children See Him
Winter Wonderland
O Tannenbaum
Auld Lang Syne
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WSVNRadio Archives
Mannheim Steamroller related sites:
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Mannheim Steamroller
"Christmas Extraordinaire"
Ok, Spring is just right around the corner, and let's get all of our frustrations out with the cold, winter weather!
It's Christmas in March this week -- (With all the great Christmas albums out there, it's not really a bad idea now
and then to "spring in" an Xmas album here and there.) Mannheim Steamroller is truly one of the greatest instrumental
bands to emerge from the Jazz and Classical genres. Chip Davis is the brains behind this band, and for the "beautiful
music" fan, any of their releases (at whatever season it is), is truly entertaining, beautiful, and uplifting to
listen to. Mannheim Steamroller marks their second appearance on WSVNRadio; as one of their Fresh Aire albums
first appeared here in March of 2002.
Their Christmas CDs are phenomenal -- Christmas Extraordinaire (or some called it the Red Christmas Album)
was a #1 album on the Christian albums chart in early November, 2001, for eight weeks. (Easily seen and heard
throughout the 2001 Holiday season.) "Hallelujah" (from the Messiah) leads off this album, with an energetic
feel. "White Christmas," "Away In A Manger" are both beautiful, peaceful and soothing to relax by. The same
can be said for another Christmas favorite, "Do You Hear What I Hear." Tchaikovsky's "Faeries" (from
the Nutcracker) is a rocking, bouncing song.
Rick Wakeman comes to mind on "The First Noel, "Silver Bells" -- as both songs have a different approach
in musical styles of these traditional well-familiar Christmas songs. An experimental rock feel has "Fum, Fum,
Fum". The next song was interesting to read about in the liner notes: "Some Children Can See Him,"
written by Alfred Burt (1920-1954):
Alfred Burt's father, the Reverend Bates Gilbert Burt started writing original Christmas carols and
sending them as cards to family and parishoners in 1922 and continued the tradition until 1941.
Al graduated from the University of Michigan in 1942 with a Bachelor of Music degree. That was also the year that
Father Burt asked Al, for the first time, to write the music for the family Christmas card.
During WW II, Al played in the Army Air Force Band in San Antonio, Texas, but continued writing the music for the
family Christmas cards. (While at the U. of M. and while in the Army Band, Chip's parents, Louis and Betty, knew
and performed with Al.)
In 1949, Al's wife, Anne was home in Pontiac, MI to await the birth of their only child, Diane. It was at that
time that Al and Anne asked long-time family friend and church organist, Wihla Hutson, to write the poetry for the
family Christmas cards. Anne had talked with Wihla about the "new life" that she was carrying and asked Wihla to
write a lullaby for that year's Christmas card. Wihla wrote "Sleep, Baby Mine." She also wrote the text to
"Some Children See Him" which was used for the family's 1951 Christmas card.
On February 6, 1954 Al completed his last carol, "The Star Carol." The next afternoon Al lost his battle with
lung cancer at the young age of 33.
For further information on Alfred Burt, his family and Christmas Carols contact:
http://www.alfredburtcarols.com.
Johnny Mathis sings the lead vocal on "O Tannenbaum" This is not one of the best recorded versions,
as it its a little moody. Not to say it's bad, but it is nice to hear the traditional Christmas songs sounding in
a different way, as Chip Davis called it, "in a modern way... the Mannheim Steamroller way." Ending the album is
the song that ends the Christmas season, a beautiful, yet slower version of what we're familiar with -- "Auld
Lang Syne."
A different approach in sound, either way you look at it, Mannheim Steamroller's Christmas Extraordinaire
is truly exceptional. Peaceful, beautiful music, with some upbeat tempo songs, they're all equally entertaining
to enjoy during any Christmas Holiday Season. Chip Davis (just as Rick Wakeman) truly is a genius in creating
beautiful music such as this. Extraordinaire is the third Christmas album from his band. (Wakeman only
has one Christmas album, and it is a shame that he didn't create more.)
For the beautiful music mood, any Mannheim Steamroller album will be a great setting -- whether it be one of their
regular albums, or holiday albums.
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Review or any portion may not be reproduced
without written permission. Cover art is the
intellectual property of
American Grammophone Record
and is used for reference purposes only.
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