De Maistre Christmas Harp CD

The sound of the harp, one of the oldest musical instruments in the world, has always been associated with that of other worlds and of heavenly spheres, long assuring it a place in the list of instruments that are used to perform Christmas music. This explains why Xavier de Maistre has called his new solo album "Christmas Harp" and selected pieces from various areas of the repertory extending from large-scale orchestral works to famous Christmas carols all arranged for solo harp. Xavier recorded and arranged himself the famous "Dance of the Sugar-Plum Fairy" from The Nutcracker Suite by Pyotr Tchaikovsky (1840-93). To be heard from The Nutcracker is also "The Waltz of the Flowers" in a harp transcription by the young Russian harpist and composer Alexander Boldachev. "Christmas Harp" features beautiful harp transcriptions and concert variations of the Christmas Carols Jingle Bells, Carol of the Bells, O Tannenbaum (O Christmas Tree), Adeste fidelis, We three Kings of Orient are, It came upon the Midnight clear, Angels we have heard on High and O little Town of Bethlehem as well as a transcription of the Ave Maria by Franz Schubert (1797-1828). Most of these arrangements and variations for harp are written by Carlos Salzedo (1885-1961), who was one of the leading composers for the harp and one of the best harpists of 20th century. Besides the harp transcriptions of the famous Christmas songs by Salzedo, Xavier also recorded Salzedo's short fantasies based on Proven?al, Catalan, Basque and Neapolitan Christmas carols. Particularly delightful is Salzedo's concert variations on the carol O Tannenbaum, where he may be said to pull out all the stops in his desire to show how much music lies hidden in this number's apparently simple twelve bars.

1. Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893) Waltz of the Flowers from the Nutcracker, Op. 71 Arranged By Alexander Boldachev 2. Mykola Leontovych (1877-1921) Carol of the Bells Arranged By Alexander Boldachev 3. Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy from the Nutcracker Arranged By Xavier de Maistre 4. Alphonse Hasselmans (1845-1912) Conte de No?l 5. James Lord Pierpont (1822-1893) Jingle Bells Arranged By Carlos Salzedo 6. Carlos Salzedo (1885-1961) Short Fantasy on a No?l Provencal 7. Short Fantasy on a Neapolitan Carol 8. Short Fantasy on a Catalan Carol 9. Short Fantasy on a Basque Carol 10. Franz Schubert (1797-1828) Ave Maria Arranged By John Thomas 11. Carlos Salzedo Paraphrase on We Three Kings of Orient Are Paraphrase ber We Three Kings of Orient Are 12. Paraphrase on Greensleeves 13. Concert Variations on O Tannenbaum 14. Paraphrase on It Came Upon the Midnight Clear 15. Concert Variations on Adeste Fideles 16. Paraphrase on O Little Town of Bethlehem 17. Paraphrase on Angels We Have Heard on High