Brass, Reeds, and Percussion: December 23, 2023

This edition of Brass, Reeds, and Percussion, features Christmas wind band music, both secular and religious. One of the featured tunes is “Greensleeves,” probably the oldest song that musicologists have been able to identify. You will also hear a Christmas song that holds the record for taking the longest for a recording to make it to the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100. But since it is still Advent, Brass, Reeds, and Percussion opens with two Advent hymns. The words for the first hymn, “Lo, He Comes in Clouds Descending,” were written by John Wesley, the founder of Methodism; the music was written by Martin Madan, a lawyer converted to Methodism upon hearing one of Wesley’s sermons.

1. Lo! He Comes With Clouds Descending (hymn tune Helmsley)
   Composer:  John Wesley (lyrics, 1703-1791) & Martin Madan (music, 1726-1790)
   Performer:  Choir of St. Paul's Cathedral & English Brass Ensemble
   Album:  Christmas Music from St. Paul's
     
2. Sleepers Awake (BWV 140)
   Composer:  Philipp Nicolai (1556-1608) & J.S. Bach (1685-1750)
   Performer:  Empire Brass
   Album:  Bach Festival for Brass and Organ
     
3. Once in Royal David's City
   Composer:  Henry Gauntlett (music, 1805-1876) & Cecil Frances Alexander (lyrics, 1818-1895)
   Performer:  Choir of St. Paul's Cathedral & English Brass Ensemble
   Album:  Christmas Music from St. Paul's
     
4. Wie will ich mich freuen (How I Will Rejoice)
   Composer:  Johan Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
   Performer:  Gabriel V Brass Ensemble
   Album:  Christmas in Brass
     
5. Noels Anciens (Old Christmas Songs)
   Composer:  Traditional arranged by Jean-Marie Cremer
   Performer:  Royal Belgian Navy Band
   Album:  Spanish Trilogy
     
6. Greensleeves
   Composer:  Traditional
   Performer:  Gabriel V Brass Ensemble
   Album:  Christmas in Brass
     
7. Christmas Song (1948) a.k.a. Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire
   Composer:  Robert Wells (1922-1998) & Mel Torme (1925-1999)
   Performer:  New Zealand Army Band
   Album:  Christmas
     
8. Walking in the Air
   Composer:  Howard Blake (1938- )
   Performer:  Bands of the Royal Marines (Britain)
   Album:  Christmas With Bands of the Royal Marines
     
9. March of the Toys
   Composer:  Victor Herbert (1859-1924)
   Performer:  U.S. Marine Band
   Album:  Washington Christmas
     
10. Parade of the Wooden Soldiers
    Composer:  Leon Jessell (1871-1942)
    Performer:  U.S. Marine Band
    Album:  Washington Christmas
      
11. We Wish You a Merry Christmas
    Composer:  Traditional English Carol
    Performer:  U.S. Marine Band
    Album:  Washington Christmas