by Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Album Title: CHRISTMAS CLARINETS
Recording: University of Florida Clarinet Ensemble (and friends!)
Conductor: Mitchell Estrin
Publisher: MARK 53294-MCD Purchase CD
If stores can push their Christmas wares ahead of time so can I. Regular readers of MusiClips know I am quite fond of this ensemble and their fourth release is another winner. The repertoire is familiar to all but the settings are truly imaginative, fresh and creative. Plenty of Leroy Anderson is featured including Matt Johnston’s spectacular take on A Christmas Festival. Among the other gems are excerpts from the Nutcracker Suite, Overture to Hansel and Gretel (Humperdinck) and more. MARK also has Christmas ensemble recordings for other instrumental families; be sure to check their catalog. Christmas Clarinets is the ultimate Christmas ornament and you don’t have to be a clarinetist to appreciate the magnificent University of Florida Clarinet Ensemble…and that includes me!
