Mannheim Steamroller Christmas Celebration

I thought I had heard some collections of Christmas music that were varied, but "Christmas Celebration" by Mannheim Steamroller really takes the (fruit) cake! Not only are the arrangements radically different from track to track, so is the instrumentation. Everything in their arsenal of sounds from soft acoustic instruments (Lute, Dulcimer, Violin) to Synthesizers and boisterous percussion instruments is represented here. You get a whole range of musical emotions, from the unbridled joy of "Deck the Halls" and "Good King Wenceslas", to the quieter and more introspective "Veni Veni" and "Away in a Manager". Two tracks in this collection stand out from the others in my mind. The first, their rendition of "Carol of the Bells", for which they sampled the sounds of handbells then fed them into a synthesizer and used them in suprising new ways. The second track is the closing number "Stille Nacht (Silent Night)". The simple elegance of a violin carrying the melody, a chorus singing softly in the background and finally the sound of a child's toy piano. The track (and the CD) ends with the whoosh of synthesizer (falling snow perhaps?) and the sound of sleigh bells jingling as the sound fades out slowly. A well done collection of songs done as only Mannheim Steamroller could. You will want this CD for your collection. It's worth the money.

The Streamroller is back in this economical Christmas album with the emphasis on bouncy Christmas favorites like "Deck the Halls" and "God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen." Check your collection to make sure you don't have prior or similar versions of these songs first, then go ahead and indulge.

I bought this years ago but somehow the disk got misplaced. So I bought this one to replace it. I love MS holiday music and have the full collection.

The music sounds like Jesus and love in music: breathtakingly beautiful, pure, absolutely exquisite, and unique making my heart full (especially the songs Veni Veni, Greensleeves and Fum Fum Fum).

Another awesome Christmas CD from Mannheim Steamroller! It's a must have for any afficianado's collection.

No problems.

Our Down Syndrome son listens to Christmas music year round. Manheim Steamroller is our favorite and it never gets old.

Great music!

I bought this CD to replace a copy I once had. Through moving it was lost. So that just shows it is a great CD to have. I wanted to replace it so this coming Christmas I will be ready to listen to it.

Wer einen Weihnachtsradiosender übers Internet hört, wird früher oder später auf diese Band stoßen. Mittlerweile haben die US-Amerikaner bei uns eine wahre Mannheim-Steamroller-Manie ausgelöst. Wir haben bereits etliche CDs von ihnen erworben.

This is a beautiful CD and a must have for fans of Manheim Steamroller and the CD arrived earlier than expected. Thank you!

Already had a lot of these songs from other albums

Great music thanks Amazon.