White Christmas

More History: this time going way back to 1978, high school and my first full length album project, with the DeKalb High School Concert Choir directed by (my first real musical mentor) Neil Austin.   Neil Austin challenged me in many ways back in those days – and I challenged him right back.   Um,… does anyone remember the day I brought in and played “Close to the Edge” for class?

Beginning in my sophomore year, Neil Austin drove me to visualize and name quickly all of the seventh and ninth chords around the circle of fifths, while also leading his whole class through at least three years of daily Kodály Method solfege.  Music, among other things, is a language -- and Neil Austin is largely responsible for developing my early fluency and encouraging my understanding. 

Here is the just digitized White Christmas (3.7M mp3) from the vinyl-only album.   

If you squint your ears, you can just hear my tenor voice amongst the other young male voices in the choir.  

Tracks Include:

1. the First Noel
2. Carol of the Birds
3. White Christmas
4. Jingle Bells
5. Jesu Bambino
6. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
7. Fanfare for Christmas Day
8. Away in a Manger
9. Christmas Is
10. What Child is This?
11. Do you Hear What I Hear?
12. The Star Carol
13. We Wish You the Merriest

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