n o i s y n o i s e | John MacNeill Christmas

10 Years of John MacNeill Christmas
What started 10 years ago as a few cassettes of a couple of songs has turned into a full-blown production. To mark the anniversary I have compiled the best songs from past years and added a new track "We Wish You a Merry Christmas."

Christmas Card 2002 (CD, 2002)
Stream this album

[01] Christmas is Coming (3.1 Mb)
V. Guaraldi, 2000 (4:01)
The soundtrack of "A Charlie Brown Christmas" is perhaps my favorite holiday music. This arrangement includes part of Vince’s "Thanksgiving Theme" which fits in quite appropriately.

[02] Deck the Halls (3.3 Mb)
Welsh, 1996 (4:17)
This represents the first recording in our new house, also home to jmac studios.

[03] Greensleeves (2.2 Mb)
English, 1993/2002 remix (4:29)
This was actually recorded around Christmas 1992 in Framingham, MA, sparking the whole yearly recording thing. I remixed it this year, keeping the original performance but updating the sounds.

[04] Waltz of the Flowers (4.4 Mb)
Tchaikovsky, 1997 (6:21)
This movement from "The Nutcracker Suite" was my most ambitious Christmas track. Wedged in the middle is the interlude from "Mad Man Moon" by Genesis.

[05] God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen (2.8 Mb)
English, 1995 (3:39)
Recorded out of the closet (literally) of our first apartment, a small studio in Melrose.

[06] O Come, O Come, Emmanuel (3.2 Mb)
Plainsong, 13th Century, 1999 (4:11)
I was going for a "Tears for Fears," cinematic vibe here.

[07] Winter Wonderland (3.5 Mb)
D. Smith/F. Bernard, 1998 (4:34)
I listened to a lot of Beck that year…

[08] The Little Drummer Boy (2.8 Mb)
K. Davis, 1995 (3:46)
Done with a Middle-Eastern feel, with finger cymbals I picked up in Egypt.

[09] Silent Night (5.2 Mb)
F. Gruber, 1988 (7:12)
When I listen to Miles Davis’ "In a Silent Way" I can hear bits and pieces of "Silent Night"…coincidence?

[10] Frosty the Snowman (2.6 Mb)
S. Nelson/J. Rollins, 2001 (3:34)
This heavily uses samples from the Mattel Optigan, a home keyboard from the 70’s that plays back sounds from celluloid discs, and Fender Rhodes electric piano.

[11] Arab Dance (3.4 Mb)
Tchaikovsky, 1997 (4:22)
My favorite movement from "The Nutcracker Suite," with the only appearance of clarinet on any of the Christmas recordings.

[12] Jingle Bells (3.8 Mb)
J. Pierpont, 1999 (4:58)
Inspired by the track "Sly" off of Herbie Hancock’s "Headhunters" album.

[13] Skating (2.8 Mb)
V. Guaraldi, 2000 (3:28)
Another great Guaraldi composition that captures the essence of winter.

[14] The Twelve Days of Christmas (3.3 Mb)
Traditional, 1996 (4:23)
Each "day" introduces a new theme on a new instrument. This recording was resurrected off a faulty master tape through the magic of digital editing.

[15] Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow (2.6 Mb)
J. Styne, 1994 (3:21)
A fun horn duo with Greg Kirkos featured on trumpet. Recorded in Coolidge Apt. 411.

[16] We Wish You a Merry Christmas (3.8 Mb)
English, 2002 (5:06)
Jimmy Smith meets symphonic prog-rock? Yeah, I’m audacious enough to try it.

Christmas Card 2001 (CD, 2001)
Troy Nielsen and John MacNeill

[01] Frosty the Snowman MP3 (3.2Mb)
S. Nelson and J. Rollins
John - keyboards

[02] Peace MP3 (4.9Mb)
H. Silver
John - wind synthesizer
Troy - guitar

[03] Silent Night MP3 (2.8Mb)
F. Gruber, arr. by J. Stanefer
Troy - guitar

[04] I'll Be Home For Christmas MP3 (5.3Mb)
K. Gannon and W. Kent
John - keyboards, wind synthesizer

[05] Greensleeves MP3 (2.1Mb)
Traditional, arr. by M. Anderson
Troy - guitar

[06] Happy Xmas (War is Over) MP3 (2.6Mb)
J. Lennon and Y. Ono
John - tenor sax, keyboards, triangle, shaker
Troy - guitar, bass, bells, cymbal

Christmas Card 2000 (CD, 2000)

[01] Christmas Time is Here MP3 (3.9Mb)
[02] Skating MP3 (3.1Mb)
[03] Christmas is Coming MP3 (3.6Mb)
[04] Hark! The Herald Angels Sing MP3 (2.1Mb)
[05] Linus and Lucy MP3 (3.5Mb)

Christmas Card 1999 (CD, 1999)

[01] Jingle Bells
[02] O Come, O Come Emmanuel
[03] O Christmas Tree
[04] Bell Carol / We Three Kings / Afro Blue
[05] Greensleeves

Christmas Card 1998 (CD, 1998)

[01] Winter Wonderland
[02] The Christmas Song
[03] Silent Night
[04] Snowbound

Christmas Card 1997 (CD, 1997)

[01] March
[02] Dance of the Sugar-Plum Fairy
[03] Arab Dance
[04] Waltz of the Flowers / Mad Man Moon

Christmas Card 1996 (CD, 1996)

[01] The Twelve Days of Christmas
[02] Good King Wenceslas
[03] The First Noel
[04] Deck the Halls

Christmas Card 1995 (CD, 1995)

[01] The Little Drummer Boy
[02] God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
[03] Silent Night

Christmas Card 1994 (CD, 1994)

[01] Christmas Time is Here
[02] Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
[03] My Favorite Things
[04] Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow

Christmas Card 1993 (CD, 1993)

[01] Bell Carol / We Three Kings / Afro Blue
[02] Greensleeves




	10 Years of John MacNeill Christmas What started 10 years ago as a few cassettes of a couple of songs has turned into a full-blown production. To mark the anniversary I have compiled the best songs from past years and added a new track "We Wish You a Merry Christmas."





			Christmas Card 2002 (CD, 2002) Stream this album [01] Christmas is Coming (3.1 Mb) V. Guaraldi, 2000 (4:01) The soundtrack of "A Charlie Brown Christmas" is perhaps my favorite holiday music. This arrangement includes part of Vince’s "Thanksgiving Theme" which fits in quite appropriately. [02] Deck the Halls (3.3 Mb) Welsh, 1996 (4:17) This represents the first recording in our new house, also home to jmac studios. [03] Greensleeves (2.2 Mb) English, 1993/2002 remix (4:29) This was actually recorded around Christmas 1992 in Framingham, MA, sparking the whole yearly recording thing. I remixed it this year, keeping the original performance but updating the sounds. [04] Waltz of the Flowers (4.4 Mb) Tchaikovsky, 1997 (6:21) This movement from "The Nutcracker Suite" was my most ambitious Christmas track. Wedged in the middle is the interlude from "Mad Man Moon" by Genesis. [05] God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen (2.8 Mb) English, 1995 (3:39) Recorded out of the closet (literally) of our first apartment, a small studio in Melrose. [06] O Come, O Come, Emmanuel (3.2 Mb) Plainsong, 13th Century, 1999 (4:11) I was going for a "Tears for Fears," cinematic vibe here. [07] Winter Wonderland (3.5 Mb) D. Smith/F. Bernard, 1998 (4:34) I listened to a lot of Beck that year… [08] The Little Drummer Boy (2.8 Mb) K. Davis, 1995 (3:46) Done with a Middle-Eastern feel, with finger cymbals I picked up in Egypt. [09] Silent Night (5.2 Mb) F. Gruber, 1988 (7:12) When I listen to Miles Davis’ "In a Silent Way" I can hear bits and pieces of "Silent Night"…coincidence? [10] Frosty the Snowman (2.6 Mb) S. Nelson/J. Rollins, 2001 (3:34) This heavily uses samples from the Mattel Optigan, a home keyboard from the 70’s that plays back sounds from celluloid discs, and Fender Rhodes electric piano. [11] Arab Dance (3.4 Mb) Tchaikovsky, 1997 (4:22) My favorite movement from "The Nutcracker Suite," with the only appearance of clarinet on any of the Christmas recordings. [12] Jingle Bells (3.8 Mb) J. Pierpont, 1999 (4:58) Inspired by the track "Sly" off of Herbie Hancock’s "Headhunters" album. [13] Skating (2.8 Mb) V. Guaraldi, 2000 (3:28) Another great Guaraldi composition that captures the essence of winter. [14] The Twelve Days of Christmas (3.3 Mb) Traditional, 1996 (4:23) Each "day" introduces a new theme on a new instrument. This recording was resurrected off a faulty master tape through the magic of digital editing. [15] Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow (2.6 Mb) J. Styne, 1994 (3:21) A fun horn duo with Greg Kirkos featured on trumpet. Recorded in Coolidge Apt. 411. [16] We Wish You a Merry Christmas (3.8 Mb) English, 2002 (5:06) Jimmy Smith meets symphonic prog-rock? Yeah, I’m audacious enough to try it.


			Christmas Card 2001 (CD, 2001) Troy Nielsen and John MacNeill [01] Frosty the Snowman MP3 (3.2Mb) S. Nelson and J. Rollins John - keyboards [02] Peace MP3 (4.9Mb) H. Silver John - wind synthesizer Troy - guitar [03] Silent Night MP3 (2.8Mb) F. Gruber, arr. by J. Stanefer Troy - guitar [04] I'll Be Home For Christmas MP3 (5.3Mb) K. Gannon and W. Kent John - keyboards, wind synthesizer [05] Greensleeves MP3 (2.1Mb) Traditional, arr. by M. Anderson Troy - guitar [06] Happy Xmas (War is Over) MP3 (2.6Mb) J. Lennon and Y. Ono John - tenor sax, keyboards, triangle, shaker Troy - guitar, bass, bells, cymbal


			Christmas Card 2000 (CD, 2000) [01] Christmas Time is Here MP3 (3.9Mb) [02] Skating MP3 (3.1Mb) [03] Christmas is Coming MP3 (3.6Mb) [04] Hark! The Herald Angels Sing MP3 (2.1Mb) [05] Linus and Lucy MP3 (3.5Mb)


			Christmas Card 1999 (CD, 1999) [01] Jingle Bells [02] O Come, O Come Emmanuel [03] O Christmas Tree [04] Bell Carol / We Three Kings / Afro Blue [05] Greensleeves


			Christmas Card 1998 (CD, 1998) [01] Winter Wonderland [02] The Christmas Song [03] Silent Night [04] Snowbound


			Christmas Card 1997 (CD, 1997) [01] March [02] Dance of the Sugar-Plum Fairy [03] Arab Dance [04] Waltz of the Flowers / Mad Man Moon


			Christmas Card 1996 (CD, 1996) [01] The Twelve Days of Christmas [02] Good King Wenceslas [03] The First Noel [04] Deck the Halls


			Christmas Card 1995 (CD, 1995) [01] The Little Drummer Boy [02] God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen [03] Silent Night


			Christmas Card 1994 (CD, 1994) [01] Christmas Time is Here [02] Hark! The Herald Angels Sing [03] My Favorite Things [04] Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow


			Christmas Card 1993 (CD, 1993) [01] Bell Carol / We Three Kings / Afro Blue [02] Greensleeves