Seattle Symphony’s first holiday album embraces works composed specifically for Christmas as well as other pieces that convey a universal message of peace, love and hope—the essence of humanity’s highest aspirations. Music Director Gerard Schwarz asked two composers, the Symphony’s Composer in Residence Samuel Jones and Seattle Symphony Principal Oboe Ben Hausmann, to “make the music their own” by scoring several of the pieces to retain the unaffected simplicity of these well-known Christmas and concert works. Schwarz joined them in this task, arranging or editing several of the pieces, with the resulting works celebrating the remarkable artistry of the musicians of the Orchestra. In these new settings, recorded entirely in Benaroya Hall, the music emerges with honest, untarnished beauty.
1 The Nutcracker Suite, Op. 71A: I. Miniature Overture 00:03:12
2 Stille Nacht (Silent Night) (Arr. G. Schwarz) 00:06:21
3 Water Music: Suite No. 1 in F Major, HWV 348: III. Allegro (Edited G. Schwarz for Orchestra) 00:02:36
4 Variations on Greensleeves 00:04:33
5 The Nutcracker Suite, Op. 71A: II. March 00:02:35
6 Canon and Gigue in D Major: Canon 00:05:11
7 O Little Town of Bethlehem (Arr. S. Jones for Orchestra) 00:03:42
8 Water Music: Suite No. 1 in F Major, HWV 348: VIII. Bourree (Edited G. Schwarz for Orchestra) 00:02:12
9 III. Dance of the Sugar - Plum Fairy 00:01:45
10 IV. Russian Dance, "Trepak" 00:01:07
11 Water Music: Suite No. 1 in F Major, HWV 348: VI. Air (Edited G. Schwarz for Orchestra) 00:03:39
12 Gesu Bambino (Arr. B. Hausmann for Orchestra) 00:05:21
13 Water Music: Suite No. 1 in F Major, HWV 348: IX. Hornpipe (Edited G. Schwarz for Orchestra) 00:02:32
14 Coventry Carol (Arr. B. Hausmann for Orchestra) 00:04:28
15 The Nutcracker Suite, Op. 71A: VIII. Waltz of the Flowers 00:07:21
16 We Three Kings of Orient Are - We Wish You a Merry Christmas (Arr. G. Schwarz for Orchestra)
Seattle Symphony’s first holiday album embraces works composed specifically for Christmas as well as other pieces that convey a universal message of peace, love and hope—the essence of humanity’s highest aspirations. Music Director Gerard Schwarz asked two composers, the Symphony’s Composer in Residence Samuel Jones and Seattle Symphony Principal Oboe Ben Hausmann, to “make the music their own” by scoring several of the pieces to retain the unaffected simplicity of these well-known Christmas and concert works. Schwarz joined them in this task, arranging or editing several of the pieces, with the resulting works celebrating the remarkable artistry of the musicians of the Orchestra. In these new settings, recorded entirely in Benaroya Hall, the music emerges with honest, untarnished beauty.
