Album Notes

A magical winter mosaic from various corners of the world, this CD features both the familiar and the rare, from calming slumber songs and ancient carols rooted in dance form, to popular themes from a beloved childhood ballet. A dream-like tone is set with the title track "Lullaby for a Snowy Night" by Jean Coulthard, one of Canada's most celebrated composers, and continues in a Romantic spirit with works by Reger and Brahms as well as selections from Liszt's "The Christmas Tree." The next segment features rare carols from France, Romania, Ukraine and England, before the path takes a turn toward well-known festive favourites, such as "The Nutcracker" ballet and "Sleigh Ride." Travelling through Italy, listeners encounter the recurrent theme of bagpipers, or "pifferari," who descend into Rome from the surrounding hills in the days preceding Christmas. The nocturnal journey fittingly concludes on a peaceful note with Bach's "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring," transcribed for piano by Dame Myra Hess.