Mannheim Steamroller Christmas Celebration

Mannheim Steamroller

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 12, 2004)
• Original Release Date: October 12, 2004
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: American Gramaphone
• ASIN: B000641ZNQ
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (53 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #968 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #6 in	Music > Rock > Progressive > Electronic
  #27 in	Music > New Age
  #75 in	Music > Miscellaneous > Holiday > Opera & Vocal

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Prog rock lives! This fusion of rock, jazz, and classical, driven by synthesizers, excess, and dry-ice fog, was once the domain of '70s groups like Yes and Emerson, Lake & Palmer. But Mannheim Steamroller has kept prog rock's intoxicated spirit and bright spectacle alive, mainly through 20 years of Christmas albums and concerts, and Christmas Celebration won't disappoint their many worldwide fans. With its overblown arrangements of standards and readily accessible new pieces, it combines a variety of styles with a heavy mix of instruments and voices. Noteworthy are the choirs and soloists featured on various tracks, including the Cambridge Singers and Johnny Mathis on "O Tannenbaum" as well as lesser-knowns like Germany's Bielefelder Kinderchor and the University of Michigan Glee Club. All told, it's a full, pretty-paper assault, an aural smorgasbord laid out with bold strokes and many a glittering bauble. --Martin Keller

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Concurrence with TPaw's review, December 2, 2004

By	rodboomboom (Dearborn, Michigan United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)

Tpaw has it right-- it's advertised as 20 year compilation. So if you're either fond of MS stuff and want a nice compilation with some new choral additions by J. Matthis and UofM men's chorus, and few new tracks or don't have all the 20 year great Christmas stuff, this is great additon.

If you're not above, this is not disc for you.

I enjoy this and play it often in and out of season. Good King Wencelas track knocks me out.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A True Celebration of a Musical Tradition, November 30, 2005

By	Joneane Loria (Kansas) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Upon hearing the news that A new CD was coming out of Mannheim Steamroller to celebrate 20 years since the first
Steamroller Christmas Album was released, I was a bit cynical about a "collection" of past hits. Thinking this was like the "Live" CD...a money maker with no new material,
I was dead wrong. The selections included on this CD are well thought out and the addition of lyrics and lovely vocals to Mr. Davis's own composition "Traditions of Christmas" added more depth and sincerity to the piece and the CD on the whole. It's a great Seasonal CD with all the favorites which means one doesn't have to hunt through all the CD's for individual favorites...especially while driving. It was no. 1 on the indie billboard charts, and it deserved to be. When expectations are not met, disappointment can occur. In this case the CD exceeds expectations of the listener, fans and new audiences as well.

ALSO RECOMMENDED: Christmas Treasures by Mehdi...A True Gem !

17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Celebration of A Christmas Tradition!, November 8, 2004

By	D. A. Hevia, Ph. D. "Musical adventurer" (USA) - See all my reviews

If you are a Steamroller fan, and if you are the type to skip certain pieces to get to the really energized ones, (hard to do while driving)-then this is a great CD in the order of Material.

To celebrate 20 years since the release of their first Christmas recording, American Gramaphone released this CD. There is some new material, one orchestral piece to kick off the CD. Titled "CELEBRATION", the piece is
an easy piece to analyze. It's educational for music teachers to see if students can identify the themes of Christmas Carols introduced briefly during the piece. The piece has a foundation of repitition in the bass and lower instruments, moving and syncopated. Next strings are added in intervalic leaps, almost like chiming bells. (I never would have thought to utilize strings in that way, but it works) So, with the foundation and the strings going consistently, Chip uses a method of composition called "quotation". The listener will hear the famous first lines of Christmas Carols...The first theme is reapeated, and following themes come together and overlap at the peak of the piece. One could speculate that the intro is just filling time, but upon further listening, it's challenges the listener to stay the course and be rewarded. No, it is not a medley.


The other new material is lyrics and vocals to Chip's own composition "TRADITIONS OF CHRISTMAS". The female vocalist has a warm tone quality, with a hint of clarity...and a lovely clear low register. I winced at a few notes which were interpreted a little too "pop/rockish", glaring and obvious as it's only done once or twice and contrasts with the rest of her performance. The lyrics can be hard to understand when the choir takes over in this piece...especially in a car, less so with headsets.

This is a great compilation for fans and a great introduction for those unfamiliar with Steamroller.

Sure, it's a "greatest hits" type CD, but the incredible talent of the preformers is obvious. Sure it's a great marketing idea...but I have been to American Gramaphone, seen the hard work that has been done, the detail and expertise. A re-release of material is surely warranted and justified, if nothing else for preservation matters alone. Trust me....I know how they work and the standards they strive to achieve, and always do.

In conclusion, go for it!!!