Album Notes

MTSU Flute Choir’s new CD is perfect for holiday season! (December 9, 2011 By MTSU News and Media Relations)

If you’re scrambling for the perfect holiday gift, stop right here. The MTSU Flute Choir’s first CD, “The Silver Sounds of Christmas,” will be available for purchase beginning Thursday, Dec. 15.

“The group embarked on this project with an Instructional Development grant through MTSU to create the CD,” said Dr. Deanna Little, MTSU flute professor and director of the group.

“Our project has been a huge collaboration with the Lebanon First United Methodist Church singers and bell ringers.”

“African Noel,” “Angels We Have Heard on High,” “Breath of Heaven” and “Night of Silence” feature Lebanon FUMC’s full choir with the MTSU Flute Choir.

Several FUMC choir members also are spotlighted as soloists and in small groups with the flutes. Additional performances with vocals include “Away in a Manger,” “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” Labor of Love,” “Mary Did You Know?” and “There’s A Song in the Air.”

“The Lebanon FUMC Handbell choir also collaborated with the flutes in a wonderful arrangement of ‘Carol of the Bells,’” Little added.

The MTSU Flute Choir recorded several instrumental pieces as ensembles, small groups, solos and duets, including “A Christmas Overture,” “O Come O Come Emmanuel,” “Once in Royal David’s City,” “Let it Snow,” “Rudolph,” “Fantasy on Two Christmas Carols,” “Dance of the Reed Flutes,” “Greensleeves,” “Ginger Snap!” and “O Holy Night.”

The newest member of the flute family, the contrabass flute, is introduced on the CD as well.

“The ensemble utilized all sizes of the flute family in this project: piccolo, C flutes, alto flutes, bass flutes and the largest of them all, the contrabass flute,” Little explained.

Five of the recordings were arranged and/or adapted for the specific ensemble by MTSU flute students Melissa Keeling, Kallie Rogers, Lauren Jolley and Jessy Fine. “Other students contributed to the creative process by transposing and transcribing their own parts,” Little said.

“We are very excited to see the completion of our project,” the professor added. “The flute students have worked very hard and put an enormous amount of energy, creativity and dedication into this project. I am very proud of all the flute choir members.”