This recording is a near minimalist, neo-classical reflection on the cold, winter nights of Christmas. I tried to capture the quiet, ambient mood using the Spitfire Audio Gwilym Simcock Felt Piano, Native Instruments' Una Corda, The Grandeur, and The Maverick pianos, and (on Away in a Manger) my old upright piano with felt taped across the strings. A toy piano was also incorporated into the tonal landscape (Manger), as well as virtual instruments from Spitfire Audio and Wide Blue Sound (The First Noel). Some info about the songs: "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear": The melody is from "Carol" by Richard Storrs Willis, written in the mid-1800s. "Silent Night": The music for this Christmas carol was written in 1818 by Franz Gruber. "O Little Town of Bethlehem": The tune for this traditional Christmas carol is "St. Louis", by Lewis Redner, written in 1868. "Away in a Manger": The tune for this version of Away in a Manger is "Mueller", written by James R. Murray in 1887. "The First Noel": Traditional; the tune dates back possibly to the 13th century. "Christmas Night": and original by me, written in 2015. I am a composer, performer and recording artist residing in the Washington, DC area, and a product trainer for Casio Music Gear. I've scored documentaries for Voice of America, among which are "A Single Step", featuring Sally Field, and "AIDS: Living in the Shadows", featuring Sir Elton John. I scored segments featured in the Emmy-winning PBS program, "Internet Safety 101" (won in the Instructional/Informational Program/Special category), political ads for various consultant firms, promos for Desiring God, Zynga, and the United Football League, and have been nominated for "best score/short film" at the Idyllwild International Festival of Cinema in January 2012 for “The Cosmonaut”, and for best score at the Machinima Festival 2006 in NYC for the EA Gameplay Trailer for “Battlefield 2142". I envision music as color; it is a deep, rich world to explore. All arrangements © 2015 except "The First Noel" © 2016.