On Sale Now for $15 – Payments Accepted Through PayPal

1. Bring a Torch, Jeanette, Isabella -arr. Roupen Shakarian
2. Sussex Carol  -arr. Roupen Shakarian
3. The Virgin’s Slumber Song -Max Reger
4. Angels We Have Heard on High, O Come, O Come, Emmanuel -arr. John F. Wilson
5. A Christmas Trilogy No. 2 How Brightly Beams the Morning Star, As with Gladness, Men of Old, What Child Is This? -arr. Howard Tappan
6. The Holly and the Ivy -arr. Chip Davis
7. Bist du bei mir -J.S. Bach
8. Cradle Song -Johannes Brahms
9. Mary, Did you know? -Buddy Green
10. We Three Kings of Orient Are -Traditional
11. Joy to the World -Traditional
12. A Christmas Trilogy No. 1 Angels We Have Heard on High, While Shepherds Watch Their Flocks, Away in a Manger -arr. Howard Tappan
13. Still, Still, Still -arr. Chip Davis
14. Infant Holy -arr. Roupen Shakarian
15. Bring a Torch, Jeanette, Isabella -arr. Roupen Shakarian
16. Sussex Carol -arr. Roupen Shakarian
17. O Holy Night -arr. Christine Yoshikawa

Donna Wissinger, Flute
Christine Yoshikawa, Piano
Stephen Mattingly, Guitar
Mary Brigid Roman, Harp
Micol Christopher, Bells
Daniel Powell, Saxophone

“A Chipola Family Christmas” is played in celebration of people who work quietly and steadfastly to make a
difference in their communities.

---

On Sale Now for $15 – Payments Accepted Through PayPal

Amazing Grace, An American Tapestry

1. Aaron Copland (arr.): Simple Gifts
2. Aaron Copland: Duo for Flute and Piano
3. Peter Schickele: Two Pleasant Songs
4. Samuel Barber: Canzone
5. Stella Sung: Three Dances for Flute and Piano
6. Ernest Bloch: Suite Modale for Flute and Piano
7. Ned Rorem: Whales Weep Not!
8. Leonard Bernstein: Somewhere
9. Paul Knopf: Polka and Can-Can
10. Stella Sung: Orange and Blue Rag
11. Stephen Foster: The Old Folks at Home
12. Stephen Foster: Oh Boys, Carry Me ‘long
13. William Grant Still: Bayou Home
14. Amazing Grace (arranged by Howard Tappan)
15. A Simple Gift (arranged by Howard Tappan)

Amazing Grace: An American Tapestry is a tribute to the multi-faceted American identity and the grace that freedom affords a people and their art. Sister Ann Lee, founder of the American Shakers is reputed to have said, “Every force evolves a form.” The force of the varied and awe-inspiring landscape of the United States, and the passions, beliefs, concerns, and free will of the people have formed American music.

Also available for purchase from Erioca.com

Reviews of the CD
Amazing Grace: An American Tapestry
Eroica Classical Recordings: www.eroica.com

MUSESMUSE.com
Review by Ben Ohmart
Amazing Grace: An American Tapestry
Donna Wissinger, flute     Jon Klibonoff, piano

The light sounds coming from flutist Donna Wissinger do indeed give special meaning to some of the quaint and important American anthems that show up on the 65 minute, 23 track CD.

Helped by gifted pianist Jon Klibonoff, the Tapestry weaves with soft skill among the fabric of many composers who have defined this land of ours. There are even some surprises. One might expect Aaron Copland to head the pack with his sweet ‘Simple Gifts’, measured beautifully, breath for breath, by Ms. Wissinger; and of course Copland’s ‘Duo for Flute and Piano’ needs to be here if only from sheer definition of the course offered. A dramatic piece with plenty of room for flute solos.

Some of this I have never heard before. Truly, the 2 tracks by Peter Schickele, a.k.a. P. D. Q. Bach, are probably worth the cover charge alone. Known for taking the air out of opera and classical works, it is actually a rather sublime pleasure to hear ‘Pleasant Song No. 1 & 2′ out of any comic context. Who would’ve thought such lovely ballads would’ve come from the pen of that wacky master! Of course, it IS the way Donna plays them.

Barber’s ‘Canzone’ is equally gentle, 3 minutes of dislocated harmony brought into check through accomplished collaboration between wind and keys. I wish this one could go on for half an hour.

Luckily there is something for everyone on this release, from the famed Bernstein ‘Somewhere’ set to the fans of original or not well known compositions like ‘Orange and Blue Rag’ by Stella Sung, based on the University of Florida tune. Football fight songs were never like this: breezy, flavored, simply frolicsome.

Ending on a stirringly poignant ‘Amazing Grace’ and ‘A Simple Gift’ to round out the package, who am I to contradict The New York Times who calls Donna Wissinger’s ambiance ‘a flutist of rare gifts’? It is music so fresh, you can smell the ink on the arrangements.