Poster Sleigh Ride
Sleigh Ride (ca. 1890) by Winslow Homer (1836-1910)
Bridgeman Art Library, via Wikimedia Commons
Performance Today®

Over the river...

The bells are jangling in rhythm with the trotting horses, the air is crisp and frosty, but we're warm and toasty in our winter gear. We have music for the season on today's show. Plus, Bruce Adolphe has this week's Piano Puzzler!

Episode Playlist

Hour 1

Jon Schmidt arr. Steven Sharp Nelson: Winter Wind
The Piano Guys
Album: The Piano Guys: A Family Christmas
Portrait 78022

Claude Thornhill: Snowfall
Boston Pops Orchestra | John Williams, conductor
Album: Swing, Swing, Swing
Philips 412626

Felix Bernard: Winter Wonderland
Guy Campion & Mario Vachon, pianos
Album: Noel Pianissimo
Analektra 9818

Karim Kamar: Ice Skaters
Karim Kamar, piano
Album: Winter Etudes - EP
Ostereo Limited

Alex Bigney: New Snow/Mittens for Christmas
Kirkmount
Album: Mittens for Christmas
Dorian 93236

Traditional, arr. Ola Gjeilo: Wintertide
Ola Gjeilo, piano | The Choir of Royal Holloway | Rupert Gough, conductor
Album: Winter Songs
Decca 4816326

Piano Puzzler
Contestant: Gus Silverson calling from New York, NY

Alan Silvestri: The Polar Express: Spirit of the Season
Original Soundtrack Recording | Alan Silvestri, conductor
Album: Polar Express OST
Warner 48897

Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov: Christmas Eve: Polonaise
BYU Philharmonic | Kory Katseanes, conductor
BYU School of Music, de Jong Concert Hall, Provo, Utah

Traditional, arr. Amy Rice-Young: Sing We Now of Christmas
The National Flute Choir | Amy Rice Blumenthal, conductor
Album: Here We Come a'FLUTING
ALRY 27

Adolphe Adam, arr. Mack Wilberg: O Holy Night
Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra | Mack Wilberg, conductor
Album: The Most Wonderful Time of the Year
Mormon Tabernacle Choir 1020

Hour 2

James Pierpont/Traditional, arr. Canadian Brass: Jingle Bells/O Come All Ye Faithful/Joy to the World
Canadian Brass
Album: Christmas Tradition
Opening Day 7345

Lee Mendelson and Vince Guaraldi, arr. Caleb Nei: Christmas Time is Here
Caleb Nei, piano
Album: Imagine Christmas
Sono Luminous DSL-92216

Vince Guaraldi, arr. Brandon Ridenour: Skating
Canadian Brass
Album: Christmas Time Is Here
Steinway & Sons 30027

Leroy Anderson, arr. Imani Winds: Sleigh Ride
Imani Winds
Album: Imani Winds: This Christmas
Koch 7748

Mark O'Connor: One Winter's Night
Mark O'Connor, violin | Chris Thile, mandolin | Bryan Sutton, guitar
Album: An Appalachian Christmas
OMAC 16

Giovanni Gabrieli: Magnificat á 12
Grand Teton Music Festival Chamber Ensemble
Grand Teton Music Festival, Walk Festival Hall, Jackson Hole, WY

Giacomo Carissimi: Quasi aquila provocans ad volandum
James Reese, tenor | Tempesta di Mare | Gwyn Roberts and Richard Stone, directors
Tempesta di Mare Philadelphia Concert Series, Episcopal Cathedral, Philadelphia,PA

Engelbert Humperdinck: Hansel and Gretel Overture (Live)
Deutsche Radio Philharmonie | Pietari Inkinen, conductor
Album: Festklange
SWR Music 19131

Englebert Humperdinck, arr. Kenneth Woods: Der Kleine Sandmann/Abendsegen (The Little Sandman/Evening Prayer) from Hansel and Gretel
April Fredrick, soprano | English Symphony Orchestra | Kenneth Woods, conductor
English Symphony Orchestra, Wyastone Concert Hall, Monmouth UK

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American Public Media’s Performance Today® is America’s most popular classical music radio program and a winner of the 2014 Gabriel Award for artistic achievement. The show is broadcast on hundreds of public radio stations across the country, including at 1 p.m. central weekdays on Minnesota Public Radio. More information about our stations can be found at APM Distribution.

Performance Today® features live concert recordings that can’t be heard anywhere else, highlights from new album releases, and in-studio performances and interviews. Performance Today® is based at the APM studios in St. Paul, Minnesota, but is frequently on the road, with special programs broadcast from festivals and public radio stations around the country. Also, each Wednesday, composer Bruce Adolphe joins host Fred Child for a classical musical game and listener favorite: the Piano Puzzler.

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