The scores are clear, concise, and easy to read, and also include chord indications for improvisation or the use of instruments other than or in addition to the piano. Meticulously transcribed note-for-note by David Shenton of New York Music Publishing, the music is faithful to the recording in every way (except for the pianist - YOU!). In Search For the Meaning of Christmas is the companion songbook to Isadar?s 1999 solo piano release by the same name. This is an excellent collection of Christmas music, and I highly recommend it! George Winston?s ?December? is one of my all-time favorite holiday albums, and I feel In Search For the Meaning of Christmas holds up exceptionally well next to it. ?Silent Night? and ?It Came Upon a Midnight Clear? present us with a very cold, deep solitude - both feel like late night with moonlight reflecting off the snow. ?Carol of the Bells? and Isadar's take on Liz Story?s arrangement of ?Greensleeves? are energetic without losing all abandon. ?Star of Wonder (We Three Kings)?, ?What Child Is This?, ?The Coventry Carol?, and ?Sing We Now of Christmas? are all minor, somber, reverent pieces, and all four are given loving arrangements that keep the dark, mysterious nature of the songs and reflect Isadar?s own sensibilities.
?Bring a Torch?, ?The Holly and the Ivy?, and ?I Saw Three Ships? are given a lighthearted, joyful treatment. I have discovered a real wealth of great solo piano Christmas CDs this year! Isadar?s In Search For the Meaning of Christmas definitely falls into this category! Thoughtful, introspective, and a bit moody, Isadar?s arrangements are true to the carols (with some small melody changes in ?Bring a Torch? and ?Carol of the Bells? that bother me just a little) and still seem very personal. Sing We Now Of Christmas (No?l Nouvelet)Īlbum & Songbook review by: Kathy Parsons (): The Coventry Carol (Lully, Lulla, Lullay)ġ0. Three Ships (I Saw Three Ships, Come Sailing In)ĩ. Midnight (It Came Upon the Midnight Clear)Ĩ. Star Of Wonder (We Three Kings of Orient Are)ĥ. Children Go Where I Send Thee / The Holly & The Ivyģ. Bring A Torch (Bring A Torch, Jeanette, Isabella)Ģ. Transcribed by: David Shenton ( ) verbatim to the sound recordingġ. Sounds like: Keith Jarrett, Bill Evans, Vince Guaraldi, Liz Story's "The Gift", George Winston's "December", early Windham Hill solo piano artists, and "A Winter's Solstice" compilations.