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Your Gateway to Music and More from a Christian Perspective Slow down as you approach the gate, and have your change ready.... |
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Your Gateway to Music and More from a Christian Perspective Slow down as you approach the gate, and have your change ready.... |
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Christmas Extraordinaire Artist: Mannheim Steamroller Label: American Gramaphone Time: 12 tracks/45:12 min. This is Mannheim Steamroller's sixth Christmas CD (and my third). It's pretty safe to say that if you have and enjoy a MS Christmas disc, you'll enjoy this one as well. This is the first of their efforts to be released in Christian outlets, which is significant in that they're the top-selling Christmas artist of all time (25 million units worldwide). The selections are not noticeably more "Christian" in this outing -- previous albums included "Joy to the World," "O Little Town of Bethlehem," and "Stille Nacht," among other traditional favorites -- but one change this time around is vocals on a couple of tracks: Johnny Mathis guests with The University of Michigan Men's Glee Club on "O Tannenbaum," and there is a women's chorus featured in "White Christmas." Arrangements are similar to those of the past, including orchestral elements interwoven with synthesizers and drum sounds. Most are faithful interpretations of the originals, but a stunning departure is made in "Hallelujah." This, the first track, is supposed to be an arrangement quoting all parts of the original Hallelujah Chorus from Handel's "Messiah," but it falls woefully, criminally short of the original. Of three people I polled, only one recognized the song as the Hallelujah Chorus. Just as bad, this version replaces the exuberant, explosive joy of the original work with a mere touch of cheeriness -- not an acceptable substitute, not by a long shot. Aside from that one exception, the CD is quite enjoyable. Also covered are "Faeries," an adaptation of "Dance of the Sugar Plum Faries" from Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker Suite, as well as "Away in a Manger," "The First Noel," "Silver Bells," and "Winter Wonderland," among others. The disc ends fittingly with Auld Lang Syne, just as the Christmas season ends with the New Year. Any fan of previous MS Christmas
CDs will be quite pleased with this one. If you're not already a fan, have
a listen at your local store and see if it's your cup of tea (or wassail).
Lisa Reid 12/1/2001
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