The Christmas Connection
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While thoughts of Christmas music usually turn to carols and choirs, many original instrumental works have been written for the season—including one that spawned a carol of its own.
In this hour we’ll explore some of the most interesting, from the Baroque to the present day, including works by Corelli, Mendelssohn, Rimsky-Korsakov, Tchaikovsky, Grainger, and Bartok.
FEATURED RECORDINGS
| Title |
Group/Artist |
Catalog # |
UPC |
| Tchaikovsky: Nutcracker |
St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, Leonard Slatkin |
RCA Red Seal RCD2-7005 |
078635700527 |
| Simphonies Des Noëls |
Violons du Roy, Bernard Labadie |
Dorian DOR-90180 |
053479018021 |
| Mendelssohn: Piano Works, Vol. 2 |
Benjamin Frith |
Naxos 8.550940 |
730099594028 |
| Rimsky-Korsakov : Overtures and Suites from the Operas |
Scottish National Orchestra, Neeme Järvi |
Chandos 10369(2) |
095115136928 |
| Youthful Rapture: The Chamber Music of Percy Grainger |
Joel Smirnoff, Stephen Drury |
Northeastern NR 228-CD |
096678022826 |
| Ireland : Orchestral & Choral Works |
London Symphony Orchestra, Richard Hickox |
Chandos CHAN 8879 |
095115887929 |
| Bartok Piano Music |
Geoffrey Tozer |
Chandos CHAN 9761 |
095115976128 |
| A Dickens Christmas |
Ed Sweeney |
Valmark 01899184 |
723723095626 |
| Finzi-Parry-Bridge |
English String Orchestra, William Boughton |
Nimbus NI 5366 |
710357536625 |
| Vaughan Williams: Fantasia on Christmas Carols – The First Nowell – On Christmas Night |
City of London Sinfonia, Richard Hickox |
Chandos CHAN 10385 |
095115138526 |
