Every year, at some point while gathering pieces for this feature, I go to Google and type in “[nationality] Christmas music”, which usually turn up something interesting. This year I searched “Russian Christmas Music”, and I found a piece actually titled Russian Christmas Music. It’s a work for wind band (or wind ensemble, or concert band, whatever) by Alfred Reed.
The piece is apparently crafted to reflect the sound of liturgical choral music of the Eastern Orthodox Church, and thus is highly lyrical with a singing quality throughout. Four distinct sections are heard: “Carol of the Little Russian Children”, “Antiphonal Chant”, “Village Song”, and “Cathedral Chorus”. From what I can tell, the piece is very popular and is performed often by advanced concert bands and wind ensembles. To my knowledge, I had never heard it before this. And what a find it is!
