The Christmas Attic
| The Christmas Attic | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by Trans-Siberian Orchestra | ||||
| Released | September 15, 1998 | |||
| Recorded | 1997-1998 | |||
| Genre | Symphonic rock, Christmas music | |||
| Length | 73:19 | |||
| Label | Lava Records | |||
| Producer | Paul O'Neill and Robert Kinkel | |||
| Trans-Siberian Orchestra chronology | ||||
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| Professional ratings | |
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| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   link |
The Christmas Attic is the second album by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, a rock opera, and the second installment of their Christmas Trilogy. Cover art created by Edgar Jerins.[1]
The story is about a young child exploring the attic in an old house on Christmas Eve. The opening poetry sets up the story;
In this room where shadows live
And ghost that fail learn time forgives
Welcome friends please stay a while
Our story starts with one small child
Who spend her nights in attics dark
Where dreams are stored like sleeping hearts
This album contains a mix of vocal and instrumental songs but as usual with TSO the story is the core of the album.
The track "Christmas Canon," one of the orchestra's most well-known songs, is a variation of Johann Pachelbel's famous Canon in D Major, with lyrics and new music added.
The album was performed live for the first time during the band's 2014 Winter Tour.
Track listing
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "The Ghosts of Christmas Eve" | 2:15 |
| 2. | "Boughs of Holly" ((Instrumental)) | 4:24 |
| 3. | "The World That She Sees" | 6:00 |
| 4. | "Midnight Christmas Eve" (instrumental) | 4:21 |
| 5. | "The March of the Kings/Hark the Herald Angels Sing" (instrumental) | 3:52 |
| 6. | "The Three Kings and I (What Really Happened)" | 6:29 |
| 7. | "Christmas Canon" | 4:19 |
| 8. | "Joy/Angels We Have Heard on High" | 3:55 |
| 9. | "Find Our Way Home" | 3:45 |
| 10. | "Appalachian Snowfall" (instrumental) | 4:12 |
| 11. | "The Music Box" | 3:00 |
| 12. | "The Snow Came Down" | 5:43 |
| 13. | "Christmas in the Air" | 4:12 |
| 14. | "Dream Child (A Christmas Dream)" | 7:04 |
| 15. | "An Angel's Share" | 3:05 |
| 16. | "Music Box Blues" | 5:36 |
The album was re-released in 2002 with a companion track to "The World That She Sees" (which was shortened from 6 minutes to just 3) called "The World That He Sees" inserted into the track listing directly after "She Sees" and having a length of 4:45. The last track "Music Box Blues" was also truncated to 4:57; this version was previously used in their film "The Ghosts of Christmas Eve."
Personnel
- Paul O'Neill - Producer
- Robert Kinkel - Co-Producer
- Dave Wittman - Recording and Mix Engineer
Performers
Vocals
Solos:
- Jody Ashworth
- Joe Cerisano
- Katrina Chester
- Marlene Danielle
- Thomas Farese
- Peggy Harley
- Daryl B. Pediford
Back-Ups:
- Latisha Jordan - Background Coordinator
- Peggy Harley
- Robert Kinkel
- Maurice Lauchner
- Al Pitrelli
- Jon Oliva
- Timara Sanders
- Zak Stevens
- Doug Thoms
- Yolanda Wyns
Child choir
Conductor:
- Dan Moriarty
Choir:
- The Choristers, St. Bartholomew's Church, New York City
- Marilina Acosta
- Brendan Burgess
- Julian George
- Shoshana Frishberg
- Julia George
- Jack Gibson
- Nina Gottlieb
- Erick Hernandez
- Michelle Repella
- Anton Spivack
Orchestra
- Robert Kinkel - Piano and Keyboards
- Jon Oliva - Piano, Keyboards and Bass Guitars
- Al Pitrelli - Lead, Rhythm and Bass Guitars
- Paul O'Neill - Rhythm Guitars
- Johnny Lee Middleton - Bass
- Jeff Plate - Drums
- Chris Caffery - Rhythm Guitars[2]
References to other carols and works
- "Boughs of Holly" is a reworking of "Deck the Halls".
- "March of the Kings/Hark! The Herald Angels Sing," besides the obvious carol, is also a rock version of the Farandole from Bizet's L'Arlésienne's Suite No. 2.
- "The Three Kings and I (What Really Happened)" briefly quotes O Holy Night and the Hallelujah Chorus.
- "Christmas Canon" is based on Pachelbel's Canon.
- The "Joy" section of "Joy/Angels We Have Heard on High" is a reworking of Bach's "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring."
References
- ↑ Interview with Edgar Jerins
- ↑ "Chris Caffery Interview". Music Legends. Retrieved 3 July 2013.