High Flutin’ Christmas

Christmas and music are inseparable for me largely because of the annual Christmas Eve sing which my parents hosted each year. With Mother at the piano, Daddy as the MC, a piñata waiting to be broken into, and 50 or more friends and neighbors packed into our living room, we sang the songs and felt the goosebumps every December 24th. These priceless memories are strengthened now by the One we sing about, whose birth reaches far beyond one holiday and touches every day and every season. Sing along, if you’re so inclined, feel the goosebumps, and experience those same wondrous feelings we call “the Christmas spirit.”

Of The Father’s Love Begotten – 13th century plainsong & traditional English carol. Arranged by Linda Metz, performed on penny whistle, silver flute, & synth. Download here.

A Fantasia on “Ein ‘Feste Burg Ist Unser Gott” & “Angels From The Realms Of Glory.” Arranged by Linda Metz, a dovetailing of two great hymns, declaring the message, even without words, “Worship Christ, the newborn King … His Kingdom is forever!” Amen. The playful rhythms of “Ein ‘Feste Burg” are Martin Luther’s original rhythms, with my own slight variations in places. Download here.

Halleluhu / Sing We Now Of Christmas – Traditional Jewish song & traditional French melody, arranged by Linda Metz, performed on silver flute & synth. The “hand & glove” fit of these 2 songs is symbolic to me of the connection my Christian faith has with its Jewish roots, a reality I celebrate through the Jewish music I love so much. Musicians will notice the interplay between major/minor in this arrangement, also the “modified” Picardy 3rd at the end. Not a fan of Picardy 3rds, I approached it covertly, hoping to remove the shock effect. Download here.

O Jesu So Meek – A song of contemplation from 1623, by Valentin Thilo. Arranged by Linda Metz, with silver flute & vocals. For my friend Alisa Bair. Download here.

O Holy Night / I Wonder As I Wander – Adolphe Adam & traditional Appalachian carol. Arranged by Linda Metz, performed on silver flute, native American flute, and synth. Download here.

In The Bleak Midwinter – by Gustav Holst, arranged by Linda Metz, performed on silver flute and synth. Download here.

Snow Falling Gently – words & music by Linda Metz, conceived as I was driving to church one Sunday morning, navigating an unusually heavy snow for the South. It was so beautiful and clean, shimmering in the air and glistening on the trees, well over a foot, which is a lot for a Southerner. It was the perfect moment for discovering this lyric and melody. Download here.

Silent Night – Franz Gruber, arranged by Linda Metz, performed on native American flute, silver flute, synth. Download here.

Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree / plus a surprise Christmas chorus! Song by Johnny Marks, UBP. Arranged by Linda Metz, w/ Linda on whistling, silver flute, synth; Russ Townsley on guitar; Jerry Key on percussion. As for combining secular and sacred, all I can say is that God gave the arrangement and he knows how to have a good time. Download here.

Hark On High – Hark The Herald Angels Sing (Felix Mendelssohn) & Angels We Have Heard On High (traditional French melody). Arranged by Linda Metz, performed on silver flute & synth. An exuberant & joyful celebration of the angelic reality of that first Christmas! Download here.

“A High Flutin’ Christmas” produced by Linda Metz and Jerry Kee. Recorded, mixed, remixed and edited by Jerry Kee at Duck-Kee Studio #8, Mebane NC. Mastered (& mix/edit on “Hark On High”) by Ian Schreier at Osceola Recording Studios, Raleigh NC. Art direction and design by Stan Elder/Elder & Associates. Photography by Bryan Taylor/Taylor Images.

All instrumental parts (silver flute, native American flutes, penny whistle, synth), vocals & whistling arranged and performed by Linda Metz, except: acoustic guitar, “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree” arranged and performed by Russ Townsley; cymbal crashes/roll on “A Fantasia” by Jerry Kee; percussion on “Rockin Around The Christmas Tree” by Jerry Kee.