On Christmas Day, join us for a musical journey across the country. We'll go coast-to-coast, sampling musical highlights from concert halls, churches, and everything in between - including a movie theater.
Episode Playlist
Hour 1
Henri Pensis: Fantasy on Two Christmas Carols
Miramar Sinfonietta; Henri Pensis, conductor
Twentieth Century "Contrasts"
Albany 509
Steven Amundson: Ring Gladsome Bells
St. Olaf Orchestra; St. Olaf Handbell Choir; Steven Amundson, conductor
Skoglund Auditorium, St. Olaf College, Northfield, MN
Traditional English (arr. Joseph Jennings): O Come All Ye Faithful
Chanticleer; Jace Wittig, interim music director
Stanford Memorial Chapel, Stanford, CA
Nathan Hofheins: Christmas Fanfare
Brigham Young University Philharmonic; Kory Katseanes, conductor
de Jong Concert Hall, Harris Fine Arts Center, Provo, UT
Picardy: Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence
Ensemble Galilei; Carolyn Surrick, leader
National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC
Anders Norudde: Konfulsiionslaten
Ensemble Galilei; Carolyn Surrick, leader
National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC
Sue Richards: The Celt
Ensemble Galilei; Carolyn Surrick, leader
National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC
Traditional (Andre Thomas): African Noel (Liberian folk song)
William Arnold, percussion; Sedrick Spradling, percussion; Viking Chorus; Christopher Aspaas, conductor
St. Olaf Christmas Festival, Northfield, MN
Traditional (arr. Wilhousky): Carol of the Bells
National Lutheran Choir; David Cherwien, director
Basilica of St. Mary, Minneapolis, MN
Traditional Irish: Gloucestershire Wassail/The Wild Irishman
Magical Strings: Pam Boulding, hammered dulcimer; Philip Boulding, harp
Northwest Focus LIVE, Classical KING FM, Seattle, WA
Traditional: Dona Nobis Pacem/Auld Lang Syne
Yo-Yo Ma, cello; Chris Botti, trumpet
Yo Yo Ma & Friends - Songs of Joy and Peace
Sony 24414
Stephen Paulus: Pilgrims' Hymn
National Lutheran Choir; David Cherwien, director
Basilica of St. Mary, Minneapolis, MN
Steven Amundson: Angels' Dance
St. Olaf Orchestra; Steven Amundson, conductor
Skoglund Auditorium, St. Olaf College, Northfield, MN
Dan Forrest: Carol of Joy
BYU Combined Choirs and Orchestra; Ronald Staheli, conductor
deJong Concert Hall, Harris Fine Arts Center, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT
James Pierpont (arr. Gould): Jingle Bells
Dallas Winds; Peter Bay, conductor
Meyerson Symphony Center, Dallas, TX
Hour 2
Hector Berlioz: L'enfance du Christ (The Birth of Christ): The Shepherd's Chorus
Boston Pops Orchestra; Tanglewood Festival Chorus; Keith Lockhart, conductor
Holiday Pops
RCA 63252
Albert Hague (arr. Michael Chertock): You're A Mean One, Mr. Grinch
Michael Chertock, piano
Christmas at the Movies
Telarc 80485
Danny Elfman: Nightmare Before Christmas: Christmas Eve Montage
Music For A Darkened Theatre - Film and Television Music Volume Two
MCA 11550
Alan Silvestri: The Polar Express: Spirit of the Season
Original Soundtrack Recording; Alan Silvestri, conductor
Polar Express OST
Warner 48897
Gustav Holst: Second Suite in F, Op. 28, No. 2: 4. Fantasia on the Dargason
Dallas Winds; Peter Bay, conductor
Meyerson Symphony Center, Dallas, TX
Daniel Kallman: Messiah, Prince of Peace
St. Olaf Orchestra; Steven Amundson, conductor
Skoglund Auditorium, St. Olaf College, Northfield, MN
Dave Brubeck: La Fiesta De La Posada (The Festival of the Inn): Prelude; La Posada and Processional; Behold! The Holy One; La Pinata
St. Paul Chamber Orchestra; Dennis Russell Davies; The Dale Warland Singers; Edith Norberg's Carillion Choristers; Dave Brubeck; Richard Davis; Mel Lewis; Lee Arellano; Phyllis Bryn-Julson; Gene Tucke
La Fiesta De La Posada A Christmas Choral Pageant
Sony 64669
Traditional (arr. Arthur Harris): Deck the Halls
Dallas Winds: Jerry Junkin, conductor
Meyerson Symphony Center, Dallas, TX
Katherine K. Davis (arr. Paul Ferguson): The Little Drummer Boy
Burning River Brass
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Gustav Holst (arr. Michael Allen): Christmas Day: Choral Fantasy on Old Carols: 1. Good Christian Men Rejoice; 2. God Rest You Merry Gentlemen; 3. Come Ye Lofty, Come Ye Lowly; 4. The First Nowell
Burning River Brass
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
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About Performance Today®
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American Public Media’s Performance Today® is America’s most popular classical music radio program and a winner of the 2014 Gabriel Award for artistic achievement. The show is broadcast on hundreds of public radio stations across the country, including at 1 p.m. central weekdays on Minnesota Public Radio. More information about our stations can be found at APM Distribution.
Performance Today® features live concert recordings that can’t be heard anywhere else, highlights from new album releases, and in-studio performances and interviews. Performance Today® is based at the APM studios in St. Paul, Minnesota, but is frequently on the road, with special programs broadcast from festivals and public radio stations around the country. Also, each Wednesday, composer Bruce Adolphe joins host Fred Child for a classical musical game and listener favorite: the Piano Puzzler.
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