Song List: A Mighty Fortress Is Our God Amazing Grace America, the Beautiful Ave Maria Away in a Manger Be Still, My Soul Be Thou My Vision Children of the Heavenly Father Christ the Lord Is Risen Today Come, Thou Almighty King Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing Crown Him with Many Crowns Down to the River to Pray Every Time I Feel the Spirit Fairest Lord Jesus Faith of Our Fathers For All the Saints For the Beauty of the Earth Good King Wenceslas Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken Great Is Thy Faithfulness He's Got the Whole World in His Hands His Eye Is on the Sparrow How Great Thou Art I Am a Poor Wayfaring Stranger Jesus Walked This Lonesome Valley Joy to the World! Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee Let All Things Now Living Let Us Break Bread Together Let Us Talents and Tongues Employ Lift High the Cross Lord of the Dance Love Divine, All Loves Excelling Morning Has Broken My Country, 'Tis of Thee My Jesus, I Love Thee Nearer, My God, to Thee O Little Town of Bethlehem O Perfect Love O Sacred Head, Now Wounded Peace Like a River Praise to the Lord, the Almighty Put Peace into Each Other's hands Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us Silent Night Softly and Tenderly Sweet Hour of Prayer Swing Low, Sweet Chariot The Gift of Love The Solid Rock To God Be the Glory We Gather Together Were You There We Shall Overcome We Three Kings What Child Is This What a Friend We Have in Jesus What Wondrous Love Is This When the Saints Go Marching In

Souvenir de Porto Rico, Op. 31, is a musical composition for piano by American composer Louis Moreau Gottschalk written from 1857 during a tour in Puerto Rico. Dedicated to the Dutch piano virtuoso and salon music composer Ernest Henry Lubeck, and published in Mainz circa 1860 with the subtitle of Marche des Gibaros, it is based on the Christmas folk song 'Si me dan pasteles, denmelos calientes', performed by local peasants known as Jíbaros.

The piece makes use of Latin-American and Afro-American melodies and rhythms almost fifty years before early ragtime and jazz would popularize its use.Souvenir de Porto Rico was written in the last trimester of 1857, when of Gottschalk's stay at the sugar plantation of English-born Mr. Cornelius Cartwright, in Plazuela. At the time, Gottschalk was on vacation with singer Adelina Patti and her father. He would decide not to leave Puerto Rico, but instead remain there for weeks. During this period he composed a number of additional pieces after the local musical styles.Gottschalk would say about the setting where he composed the piece: "[I was] perched upon the edge of a crater, [and] my cabin overlooked the whole country. Every evening I moved my piano out upon the terrace, and played for myself alone, everything that the scene opened up before me inspired. It was there that I composed 'Marche des Gibaros.'.

The Stars and Stripes Forever, patriotic march written by John Philip Sousa is a must for every 4th of July celebration! This arrangement is for intermediate level piano solo but follows the same style as the original 1897 version. The key has been changed to the key of C Major for easier playing. It is simplified a bit by eliminating the octaves and 4-note chords, but maintaining a satisfying blend of melody and accompaniment. Lots of helpful fingering, and expression marks. Great for patriotic events and recitals. Arranged by Amy J. Snyder. Visit Amy at https://www.facebook.com/amyjsnyder7. If you enjoy this piece, you may also enjoy Amy's intermediate arrangement of America the Beautiful , and slightly more challenging advanced intermediate arrangements of Yankee Doodle Dandy, God Bless the U.S.A., God Bless America, You're a Grand Old Flag, My Country 'Tis of Thee/America the Beautiful, The Battle Hymn of the Republic, O Say Can You See, America the Beautiful, and The Washington Post.

Contains:
"Greensleeves 2012"
- taken from the Isadar solo piano collection, "O Christmas" (also available on SMP)

Sounds like: Vince Guaraldi's "A Charlie Brown Christmas," Liz Story's "The Gift," George Winston's "December," legacy Windham Hill solo piano artists, "A Winter's Solstice" compilations.

Note: ?Greensleeves 2012? is a revisited and evolved arrangement which like my earlier version, was inspired by ? and also pays ?homage? to ? Liz Story?s brilliant take on this timeless piece.

Transcribed by: David Shenton ( https://www.shentonmusic.com/ ) verbatim to the sound recording

Album review by: Michael Diamond (http://michaeldiamondmusic.com):

Fresh on the heels of his highly acclaimed chart-topping CD, Reconstructed, Isadar gifts us with a sparkling new album of holiday-themed instrumental music for solo piano, entitled ?O Christmas.? Given the proximity to his recent release, one might assume that this one was quickly produced, but in reality O Christmas has been 7 years in the making. Various circumstances including other recording projects, a segue into the field of video production, and a cross country move from NYC to the west coast and later back again, created delays with the completion of the album. But as they say, ?good things come to those who wait.?
One of the most interesting things about this album is the fact that the selections are traditional Christmas songs, yet some were chosen because they are less well known, or ?off the beaten path? as Isadar characterizes them. This follows the pattern set by his 1999 Christmas album ?In Search For The Meaning Of Christmas,? yet this new CD mines even deeper in its quest for interesting and unusual choices.

The album begins with a track called ?Good Christian Men.? Steeped in history, the song dates back to 14th century Germany and its Latin title was originally ?In Dulci Jubilo? before it was translated into English in the 1800?s. Isadar?s interpretation creates a lively and festive air that makes a perfect portal to the recording. The high-spirited mood continues on the next song, ?Teddy Bears Picnic,? which although not technically a Christmas song, has been interwoven by Isadar with ?March Of The Toys? to tie it in with the holidays ? a clever arrangement of these intriguing melodies. One of the more well-known carols on the album is ?O Christmas Tree? and is sure to have listeners humming along with it?s familiar refrain.

A track entitled ?Still? is an innovative rendition of the classic ?Still, Still, Still? which Isadar has put his own spin on, or as he jokingly puts it ?jazzed up shamelessly.? No such liberties were taken on the classic ?O Come, O Come, Emmanuel,? however. This song provides a showcase for Isadar?s accomplished grand piano work, featuring lush left hand arpeggios creating a strong foundation for his more delicate right hand melodies to dance upon ? a powerful and moving combination. Another of the less well known, yet equally inspiring tunes is a Puerto Rican carol entitled ?Song Of The Wise Men.? It has been said that: ?Christmas is, above all, a children?s holiday, and many hymns are addressed to children, reminding them that the real reason for the sugarplums and Christmas trees is the celebration of the birth of the Christ Child.? This theme is well reflected in Isadar?s choice of ?O Come Little Children,? based on a carol from the 1800?s.

Among my favorite tracks on the album are the wistful strains of ?Greensleeves 2012,? which Isadar interprets with elegance and grandeur and also pays ?homage? to Liz Story?s brilliant take on this enduring composition. This is followed by a rendition of ?Masters In This Hall,? which can best be described as, well? ?masterful.? The song dates back to the sixteenth century, and is another of the less well-known tunes that Isadar has chosen to feature. The album draws to a close with Isadar invoking artistic license on what is perhaps one of the most unique and liberal versions of a classic carol heard here yet. Based on ?We Wish You A Merry Christmas,? Isadar characterizes it as ?an uninhibited melancholy arrangement.? While I don?t know if ?melancholy? is the word I would use to describe it, it does have a pensive quality and is presented more as a nocturne than usual lively carol it is known as. I really liked the interpretation and respect Isadar?s creativity and distinctive rendering of the song.

?O Christmas? is an exceptional holiday collection, not only for Isadar?s elegant grand piano artistry, but as well for the interesting and sometimes unexpected repertoire contained within. Like ornaments on a tree, the songs adorn the album, enhancing its beauty with their diversity, individuality, and timelessness. Given the well-deserved accolades and popularity of Isadar?s distinctive piano style, I?m sure that fans will want to include ?O Christmas? in their collection and make it a part of their holiday tradition.