Chris Rea a réussi avec ce titre à transmettre à la perfection lambiance de Noël : cette chanson pop est tout de suite devenue un classique du genre !

Cest avec cette uvre facétieuse que nous vous présentons pour la première fois Chris Vandeweyer. La mélodie irréprochable est brusquement perturbée par les chaussures des musiciens qui se mettent à parlerCette uvre instillera une bonne dose dhumour à votre concert!

You will achieve an impressive effect with this rousing march for beginners. Ben Christon is the composer of this harmonious piece which includes an important part for percussion in the middle section.

Praise to Thee Jesus Christ-Gelobet seist du Jesu Christ (We Praise You Jesus Christ) is an old Christmas hymn dating from the 16th century which can still be found in many hymnbooks today. John Blanken has created a varied and imaginative arrangement on four verses of the hymn. After the introduction derived from the opening notes the hymn is first accompanied by an agile harmonisation. Next we hear the chorale in a four-part setting with a percussion accompaniment. Then follows a short prologue to the third verse and finally its time for fireworks as the arrangement takes a stylistic leap in time with the festive prelude to the fourth and last verse.

Rock My Soul is a gospel song that has a worldwide reputation. Ben Christon has added a new spirit to the composition. The solo in the beginning can be performed by various types of instruments.

The tradition of the Christmas tree in Western Europe dates back to a time long before any Christianization had taken place. During the severely cold winter nights so it was believed evil spirits tried to ?kill? nature. Needle-leaved trees were the only ones which kept their green colour throughout the year and therefore became symbols of immortality. These ?living? trees said to be the work of benign spirits were brought into people?s houses to ward off evil life-threatening powers. In the 14th century people first started to decorate Christmas trees. It was a pagan custom originated by the inhabitants of Alsace. This custom was taken over by the Church in thecourse of the 15th and 16th century. At first the decoration consisted mainly of edibles such as apples and wafers but later small presents were added. Legend has it that the reformer Martin Luther was the first person to decorate a Christmas tree with candles. The flickering candle flames were meant to create the image of a starry sky in which Christ?s apparition could be recognized. The German organ-player Ernst Anschütz from Leipzig was the first person to notate the song ?O Tannenbaum? the melody being a well-known folk song. Next to ?Stille Nacht? ?O Tannenbaum? is the most famous German Christmas song now known throughout the world. In the United States of America the melody of ?O Tannenbaum? has even been used in four States (among which the State of Maryland) for their State song. In David Well?s arrangement the song is first heard as many of us know it. After this introduction however it is transformed into a solid rock version and the beat has been changed. In the second part the familiar three-four time is back but here the rhythm is different from the original. After the richly ornamented rock beat the basic theme can be heard once again and the composition is concluded in a festive manner.

En 1971 le chanteur britannique Tony Christie enregistre pour la première cette chanson de Neil Sedaka et Howard Greenfield. Le succès fut immédiat. Is This the Way to Amarillo est devenu indéniablement un grand classique. Avec cet arrangement bien ficelé Stefan Schwalgin met un peu de piment dans votre programme de concert.