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RUSSIAN CHRISTMAS MUSIC
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I-Carol of the Little Russian Children, II-Antiphonal Chant, III-Village Song, IV-Cathedral Chorus. Written by Alfred Reed, 1944, to help improve Soviet-American relations. Performed by the USAF Golden West Band, Travis AFB, my 2nd year in the band.
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Contemporary band compositions, classical music arrangements, marches, jazz, symphonies, overtures. A collection from bands that I have played in throughout hi
Hello and welcome! "Symphonic Band Performances" is a compilation of recordings from several high school and college bands that I played in including the TMEA (Texas) All State Band, the TMEA Region X All Region Band, the Interlochen Arts Academy National Music Camp, the Cal Poly Tech Band, San Luis Obispo, the USAF Golden West Band, and recordings from my h.s. band, Beaumont H.S. and a few band recordings that were passed down to me. Also included are various All State groups and college and university bands. I participated and played in the large majority of these recordings. There are no professional recordings here and every recording is Public Domain. Most are available for free download. Each song has been converted from the original analog or digital source and edited with Audacity or Dak software. In the majority of these recordings, I play the tenor sax or alto sax, b flat or e flat clarinet, or directing. I was drum major for 2 years in high school, I have a BA from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, where I studied music ed, composition and theory. I had about 500 more recordings I was planning to digitize and upload, but this past Nov. 20th, my home was completely destroyed by fire, and all the contents, including all my music and instruments. So, this is it. Please feel free to post a comment here or on my member page. If you like, please become a fan by clicking "I'm a fan" below.
Song Info
Genre
Classical • Ensembles
Charts
Peak #1
Peak in subgenre #1
Author
Alfred Reed - 1944
Rights
public domain
Uploaded
December 10, 2009
Track Files
MP3
MP3 23.6 MB • 224 kbps • 14:42
Story behind the song
This was performed by the United States Air Force Band of the Golden West, stationed at Travis Air Force Base, California, conducted by Col. Lowell Graham. Col. Graham was conductor of the USAF Band but conducted this performance. Major Roger W. Sebby, was conductor of the USAF Band of the Golden West. In 1944, in an attempt to improve Soviet-American relations, a holiday symphonic concert was held in Denver, Colorado. The intention was to premiere new works by Soviet and American composers. Sixteen days before the concert, it was discovered that the Soviet music selected to be performed - Prolkofiev's March, Op. 99 - had already premiered in the United States. With only sixteen days, 23-year-old American Alfred Reed was assigned to write a new piece of "Russian music" to be performed at the concert. Thirteen days later, on December 12, 1944, on nationally broadcast NBC radio, "Russian Christmas Music" by Alfred Reed made its debut. Two days later, it was performed in concert in Denver. "Russian Christmas Music" was influenced by an authentic Russian Christmas song "Carol of the Little Russian Children" used as a theme for the introduction, and Reeds research of the liturgical music of the Eastern Orthodox Church, which is purely vocal and non-instrumental, for thematic ideas to complete the score. One critic wrote "Alfred Reed has captured the sonorities, rhythmic inflections, clarity, and flowing phrases of the human voice in his composition". The composition is one movement that can be divided into four distinct sections: The opening, "Carol of the Little Russian Children," is slow-paced and uses an instrumental of bells, tubas and clarinets for its melody. Voices join with the instruments, and the section ends (approximately 3 minutes). The "Antiphonal Chant" has a more upbeat tempo than the opening and uses an instrumental of trombones, horns, trumpets, and cornets to carry the melody, followed by a more frenzied sound when the woodwinds enter, escalating to a loud ending (approximately 2 minutes). The "Village Song" is still upbeat but mellower, features solos of the english horns and flutes, bounces between the woodwinds and the brass, softens and ends with a solo of the english horns (approximately 5 minutes). The "Cathedral Chorus" is quiet at first. It builds a crescendo with the trombones and percussion, softly pauses for sonorous chorale, brings in the rest of the instruments and ends with a climax that fills the concert hall with grandeur (approximately 5 minutes). Whether or not "Russian Christmas Music" had an impact on Soviet-American relations is unknown, but its impact on holiday music in America is evident. Many concert bands perform "Russian Christmas Music" frequently. It is one of the favorite and most highly performed pieces for concert bands in America. Although performed often it is difficult to find recordings of this music, perhaps because it is so popular.
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Studio J
Dec 28, 2010
Excellent performance here. Truly a moving piece...
erika maximo
Dec 12, 2010
A piece of HEAVEN?Thanks for the wonderful performance .I haven't seen the snow yet in my life but thanks through your music I felt a lil piece of Heaven's PEACE and I could even ski and feel the snow despite of the fact I cant even ski yet(lol).hehehe.See how wonderful music travels the world and lift up our souls!BRAVO. MERRY CHRISTMAS WELCOME IMMANUEL.
ALEXIS PATRICK
Mar 24, 2010
Oh Ivan, This is absolutely beautiful. Much work has gone into it and with much feeling. Bravo!!!!!
LaoZi
Dec 17, 2009
Fantastic music, fantastic performance! Wonderful from start to finish...
Jiri Hajek - composer
Dec 14, 2009
Wonderful christmas piece, Ivan, very expressive and brilant performed!! Jiri