German pianist Martin Stadtfeld recorded a special Christmas album featuring well-known Christmas melodies such as "Stille Nacht" (Silent night), "In the bleak midwinter" and "Maria durch ein Dornwald ging" and "Vom Himmel hoch" which are newly arranged by Martin Stadtfeld himself for "Christmas Piano". In addition, Stadtfeld contributed to "Christmas Piano" his own pieces, especially the eleven-part contemplative piano cycle "Christmas Time", two variations after Praetorius' "Es ist ein Ros' entsprungen" and two intermezzi after Praetorius' "Vom Himmel hoch". Already at the end of 2020, when no concerts could take place due to the pandemic, Stadtfeld had sent short musical Advent greetings to his audience via social media channels to cheer them up. The experience of this sharing and the positive response to his music gave him the idea for his new album. Right at the beginning, Stadtfeld's "Christmas Time" sounds, consisting of 11 atmospheric miniatures. Titles like "Happy Time", "Wish List" or "Anticipation" conjure up images of joyful anticipation and shining children's eyes during Christmas times. Just as in his own piano cycle, Martin Stadtfeld let's listeners participate in his Christmas imagination in his arrangements of traditional carols and pieces by classical composers. "Christmas Piano" also includes "Canonische VerÃ¤nderungen Ã¼ber Vom Himmel hoch" (Canonical Changes on High Heaven) by Johann Sebastian Bach arranged for piano and trumpet, in which Martin Stadtfeld's brother Stephan also makes a guest appearance on the trumpet.

Tracklist:

GlÃ¼ckliche Zeit (Happy Time)
Intermezzo After "Vom Himmel Hoch"
Traum (Dream)
Wunschzettel (Wishlist)
Glocken (Bells)
Nachdenkerei I (Thoughtfulness)
Vorfreude (Anticipation)
Nachdenkerei Ii
Schlaflos (Sleepless)
Nachdenkerei Iii
In Der Kirche (In The Church)
GlÃ¼ck Ist Nie Genug (Happiness Is Never Enough)
Gustav Holst - In The Bleak Midwinter
Stille Nacht, Heilige Nacht
Maria Durch Ein Dornwald Ging
Two Variations After Praetorius` "Es Ist Ein Ros Entsprungen"
Michael Praetorius - Vom Himmel Hoch
Pietro Yon - GesÃ¹ Bambino
Johann Sebastian Bach - Canon I After "Vom Himmel Hoch"
Intermezzo After "Vom Himmel Hoch"
Johann Sebastian Bach - Canon II After "Vom Himmel Hoch"

UPC: 194399119228
Label: Sony Classical Imp
Release Date: 11.5.21
Format: CD

Martin Stadtfeld - Christmas Piano (CD)