In the Heart of Winter

by Carol WrightPianist and composer Robin Spielberg has arranged traditional Christmas carols and four original holiday tunes with both sparkling originality and sublime innocence. "Jolly Old St. Nicholas" springs alive with sleighbells, while the whispering voice and subtle synth strings on the Spielberg's title track captures the stillness and peace of a moonlit snowfield. "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" and "God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen" (usually performed with gusto) each receive a gentle, starlit performance, while "Christmas Day in the Morning" and "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" prance and stomp with Medieval gaity. "Amazing Grace/Silent Night" is introduced a Celtic framework, then Spielberg presents the two classics with amazing simplicity. If you pay attention, you'll notice how few notes populate most of Spielberg's arrangements; it takes a special artist to give a commanding presence to just the essence. Spielberg can do it. This album should be a lovely addition to your holiday music collection.