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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Comments

[John R. Demarest]

Steve,

This is really cool. Thanks for the vinyl preservation!

John

[Eric J]

Hey Steve,

Thanks for posting this up. Somehow I've misplaced my copy over the years. It was great to hear that cut and share it with the kids.

Thanks again,

Eric

[Ellen Stendal Cromwell]

Hey Steve,

Been running into old friends and was just surfing when I found this. I still have this album and the one I did as a freshman ('74). What an experience it was. Mr. Austin did push us to achieve and be more than we were. I will pass on the site to everyone that I am in contact with. Take care and hope to hear from you.

-Ellen

[Gina "Vannucci"]

Hi, I sent an email to you but I'll post here a thanks for posting this. It was so nice to see the album and track listings.