Track Listing

A CANADIAN BRASS CHRISTMAS:
1. Ding Dong! Merrily On High
2. God Rest You Merry Gentlemen
3. Sussex Carol
4. Here We Come A-Wassailing
5. I Saw Three Ships
6. Good Christian Men Rejoice
7. Bring A Torch, Jeanette, Isabella
8. Huron Carol, The
9. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
10. Rudolph, The Red-Nosed Reindeer
11. Little Drummer Boy, The
12. Silver Bells
13. White Christmas
14. Christmas Song, The
15. Winter Wonderland
16. Go Tell It On The Mountain
17. Frosty The Snowman

Canadian Brass playing songs from Canada... Is there anything more Canadian? To be covered by Canadian Brass means a song has to be able to transcend their lyrics and be easily recognised and enjoyable to the ear as instrumental covers. Aptly named Canadiana, the collection features songs by Shawn Mendes, k.d. lang, Joni Mitchell, Drake, Deadmau5 and of course Rush, done in true Canadian Brass style. As the most celebrated and enduring brass quintet in history, known for their skill and precision in performing both classical music and their own arrangements of modern songs, they have sold well over 2-million albums and have held Billboard chart positions in every decade of the group's existence.

The name Canadian Brass long ago reached legendary status in the musical world. Along with their engaging stage presence and ground-breaking style, it has been their serious and meticulous attention to musical detail that helped define them as one of the great chamber ensembles as well as setting the standard for brass performance. This is a unique album of all new recordings from the worlds most famous Brass ensemble.

Non-keyboardists increasingly lay claim to Bach's Goldberg Variations on disc, from string trios and cimbalom duos, to guitar renditions and synthesizer blowouts. The challenge to both performers and arrangers is to render Bach's keyboard-specific textures with results that are technically plausible and musically convincing. A brass quintet arrangement by Arthur Frackenpohl, newly recorded by the Canadian Brass, succeeds on both counts--for the most part. The slower variations acquire an attractive ceremonial dimension in this medium, benefiting from a brass player's ability to change dynamics on a single note (which of course you can't do on piano or harpsichord). I also like how the double keyboard cross-handed variations are deployed to splendid antiphonal effect although the neccesarily slower tempos weaken Bach's original bravura intentions. Repeats are observed in each half of the opening Aria and a few select "A" sections elsewhere. "A" and "B" section da capos are respectively assigned to higher and lower instruments. The Canadian Brass achieve a blend that's akin to the dark smoothness of aged Scotch whisky, purring out rounded legato lines in which no breath seems to transpire. An electric blanket of resonance reinforces the ensemble's slick perfectionism, which probably will appeal more to brass fanciers than Bach lovers.

--Jed Distler, ClassicsToday.com