Violin Holiday Play List!

December 24, 2014, 11:07 AM · Happy holidays to all! Since we're blasted with holiday music everywhere at this time of year, I thought I'd start a holiday play list just for us violin fans, with some good string-playing.

I've tried to include a range of styles, but as always, I need your help! Please add your favorites to this list, and link to a video if you can. Hope you enjoy the season!

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If the cold hasn't bitten you get, here is Sarah Chang to make you shiver with Vivaldi's "Winter":

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Speaking of "Winter," who would think of combining Vivaldi's "Winter" with "Let It Go" from Frozen? Yes, it's the Piano Guys, and it's very entertaining (as they always are!):

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Here's a track from Joshua Bell's Musical Gifts album: I'll be Home For Christmas (with Frankie Moreno):

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The "Overture" to Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker ballet works quite well, played by a the Boston String Quartet (anyone know where the sheet music is for this?):

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Here's a lively section from Corelli's "Christmas Concerto," played by the excellent Baroque chamber group, Tafelmusik:

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Here is a little duet, "What Child Is This?" with Zachary de Pue and Nick Kendall. Very obviously, it's from a live show and perhaps shot on a cell phone, but that makes it all the more remarkable, that the essence of this tune is clear and compelling nonetheless. Time for Three has a little Yuletime EP that you can download from iTunes for a very reasonable $2.99. (Four songs: "If You Want to Build a Snowman, Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring, Christmas Time is Here and Let It Snow!)

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Lindsey Stirling has put together a 12-video playlist on Youtube, and below is all of it. Whether it's up your alley or not, she really knows how to create a sound-sight world that people enjoy visiting!

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And something to make you smile: this quartet is busking, in the NYC subway system, just playing Brandenburg 3, and around 2:05 a group of dancers joins. It made me smile!

Please add your holiday favorites in the comments section below!

Replies

Ray Nichol

December 24, 2014 at 10:14 PM · I have enjoyed watching and listening to these videos. Many thanks. Here is one of my favorited, and it was hard to pick, which always brings a smile to my face. From how the musicians greet each other, the look on the adults faces bringing back memories and forming new ones, and the reactions and looks on the kids faces. For me, the best reaction, will always be of the girl who climbs higher than everyone around her to get as close as possible to the music. The look of wonder and amazement will stay with me. Enjoy my selection.

https://www.facebook.com/ian.renshaw.77/posts/10153417623893222

2.28.50.117

December 25, 2014 at 12:28 AM · Virtual Sheet Music have an arrangement of the Nutcracker for quartet

Laurie Niles

December 27, 2014 at 06:48 PM · I will check out that Nutcracker arrangement! Okay it looks cool, but I actually don't want to download it and print out that many pages. Wishing I could just buy it printed!

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Violin Holiday Play List!

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