Christmas Brass

Discover this collection of sacred music by the American composer Dan Locklair, much of it based on ancient and treasured texts, poems and hymn words. The recording includes Locklair’s Brief Mass, a simple yet deeply symbolic setting of the words of the liturgy.

The Knabenchor Hannover embarks on a fascinating journey through the history of music, together with the brass players from London Brass. The programme of traditional Advent and Christmas carols has been written specifically for this musical collaboration by renowned arrangers. The selection stands out for its stylistic diversity and, already with the first notes, immerses the listener in a festive Christmas mood.

Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky was the author of some of the most popular themes in all of classical music. He founded no school, struck out no new paths or compositional methods, and sought few innovations in his works. Yet the power and communicative sweep of his best music elevates it to classic status, even if it lacks the formal boldness and harmonic sophistication heard in the compositions of his contemporaries, Wagner and Bruckner. It was Tchaikovsky's unique melodic charm that could, whether in his Piano Concerto No. 1 or in his ballet The Nutcracker or in his tragic last symphony, make the music sound familiar on first hearing.

"Christmas Around the World" ist bereits das zweite gemeinsame Album des Knabenchors Hannover und des Blechbläserensembles London Brass, mit vielen vertrauten Advents- und Weihnachtsliedern in neuem Gewand.

"What a Wonderful Christmas" is an album by Canadian artist Anne Murray. It was released by Straightway Records on October 9, 2001. The album peaked at #4 on the Billboard Christian Albums chart, #6 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart and #83 on the Billboard 200.

Marking an incredible 30 years since his first holiday album Christmas Present, Rick Braun’s new seasonal recording It’s Christmas is a high spirited, genre-transcendent collection that finds him exploring an expansive range of styles, starting with the opening, Steely Dan meets the Saturday Night Live horns jam band explosion of “Deck those Halls” and including what he calls the “Disney Fireworks” crescendo on “Do You Hear The Angels” (a colorful, clever mood swinging mashup of “Joy to the World,” “Do You Hear What I Hear,” “Angels We Have Heard On High” and “O Come All Ye Faithful”). Along the way, he includes straight ahead jazz trio takes on Mel Torme’s timeless “The Christmas Song” and “The Santa Clause,” a clever, swinging spin on “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town” which begins with Braun whistling. Other highlights include the dynamic five-piece Pinot Noir Brass (Dickson, Braun, trumpeter Jeff Bunnell, trombonist Nick Lane and tuba player Doug Tornquist) on “God Rest Ye Merry Gents”; and two Braun originals, the lush, intimate, string caressed “Christmas Eve Waltz” (featuring Braun self-duetting on flugelhorn and piano) and the title track “It’s Christmas,” a charming, romantic vocal tune. Braun’s previous holiday recordings include appearing on and producing A Peter White Christmas (2007); the vocal/big band themed Swingin’ In The Snow (2012); and the traditional Pinot Noir Brass Christmas (2023), featuring Braun and four veteran horn player friends.

Marking an incredible 30 years since his first holiday album Christmas Present, Rick Braun’s new seasonal recording It’s Christmas is a high spirited, genre-transcendent collection that finds him exploring an expansive range of styles, starting with the opening, Steely Dan meets the Saturday Night Live horns jam band explosion of “Deck those Halls” and including what he calls the “Disney Fireworks” crescendo on “Do You Hear The Angels” (a colorful, clever mood swinging mashup of “Joy to the World,” “Do You Hear What I Hear,” “Angels We Have Heard On High” and “O Come All Ye Faithful”). Along the way, he includes straight ahead jazz trio takes on Mel Torme’s timeless “The Christmas Song” and “The Santa Clause,” a clever, swinging spin on “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town” which begins with Braun whistling. Other highlights include the dynamic five-piece Pinot Noir Brass (Dickson, Braun, trumpeter Jeff Bunnell, trombonist Nick Lane and tuba player Doug Tornquist) on “God Rest Ye Merry Gents”; and two Braun originals, the lush, intimate, string caressed “Christmas Eve Waltz” (featuring Braun self-duetting on flugelhorn and piano) and the title track “It’s Christmas,” a charming, romantic vocal tune. Braun’s previous holiday recordings include appearing on and producing A Peter White Christmas (2007); the vocal/big band themed Swingin’ In The Snow (2012); and the traditional Pinot Noir Brass Christmas (2023), featuring Braun and four veteran horn player friends.