In the Heart of Winter

RELEASE
1995
LABEL
North Star Music
GENRES
New Age, Adult Alternative, Christmas, Chamber Jazz, Contemporary Instrumental, Holidays

Album Review

Pianist and composer Robin Spielberg has arranged traditional Christmas carols and four original holiday tunes with both sparkling originality and sublime innocence. "Jolly Old St. Nicholas" springs alive with sleighbells, while the whispering voice and subtle synth strings on the Spielberg's title track captures the stillness and peace of a moonlit snowfield. "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" and "God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen" (usually performed with gusto) each receive a gentle, starlit performance, while "Christmas Day in the Morning" and "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" prance and stomp with Medieval gaity. "Amazing Grace/Silent Night" is introduced a Celtic framework, then Spielberg presents the two classics with amazing simplicity. If you pay attention, you'll notice how few notes populate most of Spielberg's arrangements; it takes a special artist to give a commanding presence to just the essence. Spielberg can do it. This album should be a lovely addition to your holiday music collection.
Carol Wright, Rovi

Track Listing

  1. Jolly Old St. Nicholas (American)
  2. In the Heart of Winter, carol for piano
  3. Hark! the Herald Angels Sing (adapted by W. H. Cummings from Mendelssoh
  4. Christmas Day in da Mornin'
  5. God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen (English)
  6. Solstice Celebration, for piano
  7. Amazing Grace / Silent Night (Early American)
  8. A Change of Season, for piano
  9. We Wish You a Merry Christmas (English)
  10. Away in a Manger
  11. St. Basil's hymn
  12. First Night, for piano
  13. What Child Is This? (Greensleeves)
  14. Bring a Torch, Jeanette, Isabella ("Un flambeau, Jeanette, Isabelle")
  15. Still, Still, Still (Stille, stille, stille) (Austrian)