‘Round The Christmas Tree
‘ROUND THE CHRISTMAS TREE: VINTAGE YULETIDE FAVORITES
(Rialto Records 6004):
Including:
- “Nutcracker Rag: A Sweet Travesty on Tchaikovsky” (1997), Rick Benjamin.
- “Variations on ‘Oh Tannenbaum'” (1906), Thomas V. Short.
- “Reindeer Rag” (1915), Joseph F. Lamb.
- “The Night Before Christmas” (Ballad, 1912), Ernest R. Ball.
- “Parade of the Wooden Soldiers” (1912), Leon Jessel.
- “Please Mr. Santa Claus (Don’t Forget Me)” (Parlor Song, 1887), Charles T. Ellis.
- “The Lily Queen Rag” (1907), Arthur Marshall.
- “Hallelujah (Chorus) Trombone” (One Step, 1920), Henry Fillmore.
- “Selections from Babes in Toyland” (1903), Victor Herbert.
- “The Tishomingo Blues” (Foxtrot,1918), Spencer Williams.
- “Please Let Me Sleep!” (Vaudeville Specialty, 1902), McPherson & Brymm.
- “The Snow Baby” (Song from the operetta The Bride Elect, 1897), John Philip Sousa.
- “Mrs. Hooligan’s Christmas Cake” (Music-Hall Song, 1883),C. Frank Horn.
- “‘Round the Christmas Tree: Grand Yuletide Fantasia” (1908), Theodore Moses Tobani.
- “Nutcracker Rag” (Reprise)
“…a satisfying alternative to one’s usual tree trimming accompaniment.”
– allmusic guide
This charming collection of American holiday music from the Victorian and Edwardian eras is stylishly performed by PRO from original orchestrations (i.e. orchestra sheet music) using antique instruments. The 65 minute disc features 15 Yuletide selections, including a number of first-ever recordings, such as “The Nutcracker Rag” (a travesty on Tchaikovsky’s famous ballet), and Theodore Moses-Tobani’s epic fantasia, “Round the Christmas Tree.” Several numbers feature vocalist Jody Dall’Armi, whose wide range of interpretive skills and historical insight takes you from the parlor to the Music Hall and back again. This Compact Disc was recorded at New York’s famed (and now vanished) Hotel Edison Studio. Listen to ‘Round the Christmas Tree with a mug of hot chocolate for an hour of Christmas delight, the old-fashioned way….