Christmas mornings are special, and that's why I am so pleased to offer you a few Musical Christmas Gifts under your tree at 8 a.m. Monday, Dec. 25 on Classical 101.
Franz Liszt wrote his Christmas Tree suite as a holiday/birthday gift for his daughter Cosima, and you'll hear it during my one-hour special Musical Christmas Gifts.
Our morning together will also feature musicians from two different hemispheres. The , based in a country with the cold weather we expect this time of year, is joined by the , which is likely to celebrate Christmas in Australia in short sleeves and shorts as summer sets in.
Together, they bring you A Symphony of Carols and a unique take on an old holiday favorite, Leroy Anderson's "Sleigh Ride."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDRFmn_KqfA
Another "Sleigh Ride," this one by Frederick Delius, was 鈥� literally 鈥� a Christmas gift. It was written for Edvard Grieg and his wife, who had invited Delius to spend time with them during the holidays.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4VLc7DYJ8Y
Of course, no holiday celebration is complete without Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker. His "Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy" is performed by and features a sublime arrangement for bass clarinet as well as pizzicato strings.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wz_f9B4pPtg
I'll wrap up my holiday special with one of my longtime favorite recordings. and his ensemble made what I consider a holiday classic when they recorded Mannheim Steamroller Christmas. The program closes with the Christmas Sweet from their first holiday recording.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTSkS0Abas4
No matter how you celebrate, I hope you have a wonderful holiday season 鈥� and that the music on Classical 101 adds a special touch to your Christmas morning.
Join Boyce Lancaster for his Musical Christmas Gifts special, 8 a.m. Monday, Dec. 25 on Classical 101.
