Holiday Music Favorites (2008)
November 25, 2008
Every year I try to make at least one new arrangement of a holiday/Christmas song. This year the first new arrangement is of “In the Bleak Midwinter”, which has music by British composer Gustav Holst of “The Planets” fame. This year is the first time I became aware of this hymn, so it seemed an appropriate choice.
The style is based on my “Vintage Instrumentals” approach — a guitar, bass drums trio with a rockabilly guitar sound and something of a reggae feel.
Click to stream “In the Bleak Midwinter”
Click for MP3 of “In the Bleak Midwinter”
The second arrangement is a flat-out rockabilly version of “Angels We Have Heard on High”. Instrumentation is also guitar, bass drums trio.
Entry Filed under: Christmas, Guitar, Jazz, Music, Oldies, Smooth Jazz, Vintage Instrumentals. Tags: Christmas.
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1.
Iris Kaufman | December 10, 2008 at 10:07 pm
Richard dear,
I listened to both “In the Bleak Midwinter” and “Angels We Have Heard on High.” Both are marvelous! I especially enjoyed the last third of “Midwinter” where the guitar was solo – so good!
I’m glad I found this way to hear your creations. Great you’re making such good music.
Love, Iris
2.
ava rosenblum | December 31, 2008 at 6:30 pm
Dear Richard,
Such beautiful music you are making!
I absolutely love the way you blend the rockabiilly style (Do I hear a hint of Richie Valens?!
) with the traditional Christmas Carol melody in “Angels we Have Heard on High.” Brilliant.
So glad I got to hear these tunes.
Happy New Year to you and Cecily,
Love, Ava