Track Listing

1. White Christmas
2. We Three Kings
3. Jolly Old Saint Nicholas (Traditional American); Up on the ...
4. Joy to the World
5. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
6. Wassail Song
7. Bring a Torch
8. Christmas Song
9. Nutcracker Sketches (After Tchaikovsky)/Overture
10. Nutcracker Sketches (After Tchaikovsky)/March
11. Nutcracker Sketches (After Tchaikovsky)/Arabian Dance
12. Nutcracker Sketches (After Tchaikovsky)/Chinese Dance
13. Nutcracker Sketches (After Tchaikovsky)/Trepak
14. Nutcracker Sketches (After Tchaikovsky)/Dance of the Reed Pipes
15. Deck the Halls
16. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
17. O Christmas Tree (Traditional German); the First Noel
18. Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!
19. What Child Is This? (After a Traditional English Melody)
20. Coventry Carol
21. Good King Wenceslas
22. Little Drummer Boy
23. Carol of the Bells
24. Santa Claus Is Coming to Town
25. O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
26. Sheep May Safely Graze
27. Come Hear the Wonderful Tidings
28. Break Forth, O Beautious Heavenly Light
29. Away in the Manger (Traditional, American); Silent Night (Gruber)
30. We Wish You a Merry Christmas

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #150547 in Music
• Released on: 1994-10-26
• Number of discs: 1

Album Description
The principal trombone of the New York Philharmonic and a great supporting cast present a wonderfully elegant "trombone Christmas." After the success of Four of a Kind, there should be some serious interest in this lineup!

Customer Reviews

Spectacular Instrumental Xmas CD--not just for trombonists!
Admittedly, as a trombonist myself I am predisposed to love this CD. The playing is uncanny, with impeccable intonation and such gorgeous tone quality to bring tears to a trombonist's ears...um, eyes. M. Dee Stewart, formerly of the Philadelphia Orchestra and professor of trombone at Indiana University, brought together three of his star pupils for this recording: Joseph Alessi, principal trombonist of the New York Philharmonic and winner of the 2002 International Trombone Association Award; Mark H. Lawrence, principal trombonist of the San Francisco Symphony, and Carl Lenthe, formerly trombone solist with the Bavarian State Opera (!) and currently professor of trombone at Indiana University. Their playing is superb, and more than one high F comes out so easily and beautifully my jaw dropped.

And although every trombonist NEEDS this CD, there is also a wide appeal for non-trombonists. At its best it is very beautiful. Joy To The World and The Christmas Song are absolutely gorgeous. At its worst, Trombones Under the Tree is like really good Musak, listenable but a touch bland, but perfect for Christmas parties and tree-trimming. The CD contains 30 (!) tracks, ranging from traditional carols (We Three Kings, Deck the Halls, Silent Night, etc.) to Classical favorites (Sheep May Safely Graze, selections from the Nutcracker, etc.) to pop standards (White Christmas, Let It Snow, etc.). Most of the arrangements are terrific and show a similar variety--the majority are for trombone quartet alone, but some are arranged for quartet accompanied by rhythm section. We Three Kings gets a tongue-in-cheek treatment in 5/4 reminiscent of Dave Brubeck's Take Five. Nutcracker Sketches (arranged by Carl Lenthe) demonstrates stunning playing but may annoy purists who find the tempi too slow (no matter how good you are, a trombone just isn't a violin or clarinet!) and the concept inappropriate. The Arabian Dance, however, is absolutely terrific, and the whole is clearly deferential to the original.

Simply Awesome
How anyone could rate this CD under 5-Stars is a myestery to me!?! The playing and arrangements are AWESOME! Do yourself a favor, buy this CD as well as "The Hollywood Trombones - Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas." The Balboa Bachelors weren't disappointed and you won't be either!

Absolutely Amazing
I absolutely love this CD. The level of musicianship is phenomenal, as well as the arrangements of the pieces. It's so hard to find good arrangements of Christmas music - most are very bland. You HAVE to have this CD - especially if you play trombone.