George Winston ~ December

Despite the abundance of Christmas threads (and a Winter thread) I couldn't resist opening a separate thread about this album, first released in 1982. I always listen to it during the holiday season, and I own a pressing from 1999 plus the 20th Anniversary Edition, released on digipak, which added a few extra songs. My favourite of the tracks is "Variations on the Kanon by Pachelbel", it's simply beautiful.

 

It's a classic and I always play it on Christmas Eve. Captures what I want to feel about the holiday season so perfectly...relaxed and contemplative about all the good in my life.

 

this is a regular at our holiday dinners

if you like this, I highly recommend Liz Story's "The Gift"

 

Great album but the versions you mentioned, to me, are greatly inferior in sound to the excellent original CD which was mastered by the legendary Bernie Grundman. In my opinion seek out the original CD which in my area sells for only $2-3, you likely be very glad you did.

P.S. The album had at least 1 secret remaster. If it's an original that is Made in Japan, WG or early DADC ["made in USA by DADC" in the plastic hub] then you are ensured of it being the original Grundman mastering.

 

Beautiful album and one that deserves to be palyed when you are in front of a warm fire on a cold winters day.

 

One of my favorite "New Age" recordings.
One of my favorite Christmas albums.
One of my favorite piano discs.
And it would probably be my favorite George Winston album...if Autumn had never existed.




Now playing on Ariel Stream: Groove Armada - Serve Chilled

 

I'm biased. I'm really into early windham hill stuff--William Ackerman, Alex de Grassi, etc. just about everything from before the whole roster suddenly sounded like shadowfax.

but december is in a class all its own. even if you think less than highly of instrumental new age, you will enjoy this record. the well-known folk and classical tunes are good ('the holly and the ivy' in particular is excellent), but it's Winston's original compositions that really make the record. 'peace,' 'prelude,' and especially 'thanksgiving' play like stark readings of unheard traditional hymns, conveying a sense of holy, melancholy stillness in the heart of winter. his approach is somewhere between Harold Budd and Tim Story--open, ringing, spare while still retaining narrative melodism.

it's also one of the best recordings Ackerman ever produced. the piano is bright and clear, which perfectly suits the music--as does the low noise floor. december was the closest windham hill ever got to ECM. (I haven't heard the CD remaster from this year, but I'd listen to it on vinyl, anyway--it sounds beautiful and copies go for about fifty cents.)

fun fact: this record was apple computer's on-hold music from 1984 to 1995.

 

I somehow missed this thread before now. I'm glad to see some more discussion of George Winston. (I started a thread on the CD versions of his Autumn album in 2010. http://forums.stevehoffman.tv/threads/george-winston-autumn-on-cd.228644) I probably have more versions of this album on CD than any other. I first heard "Prelude/Carol of the Bells" on the radio in 1986 and the album been treasured music for me ever since.

I found the 20th anniversary edition CD (one mastering I'd never purchased) at a garage sale recently. I'd never heard it, but was pleasantly surprised to hear tape hiss, as I'd read years ago that it was no-noised. It's dynamic as well. I really don't think there's a bad version of this album, but there are definitely lots of masterings. This one also credits Bernie Grundman. Here are EAC peak levels and DR scores for those who might care:

Code:

December - 20th Anniversary Edition
peaks     DR     
95.9      14     01 Thanksgiving
92.5      13     20 Jesus, Jesus, Rest Your Head
79.7      12     03 Joy
43.9      13     04 Prelude
99.5      14     05 Carol of the Bells
94.5      13     06 Night, Part One Snow
21.4      12     07 Night, Part Two Midnight
46.1      12     08 Night, Part Three Minstrels
99.5      12     09 Variations on the Kanon by Pachelbel
99.4      12     10 The Holly and the Ivy
96.8      13     11 Some Children See Him
99.5      19     12 Peace
41.9      13     13 A Christmas Song
51.0      16     14 Sleep Baby Mine

Yes, I know it's July.

 

A wonderful album that every forum member should own.

 

Actually, I've found that the early Japan (Denon) and WG (Polygram) pressings are different masterings. Neither credit Bernie Grundman, but of course the DADC version (DIDX-594) does. The WG is indexed as ten tracks instead of twelve as on other versions. The booklet for my Denon disc incorrectly lists ten tracks even though it is indexed as twelve.

 

every george winston album is fantastic, every one.

no idea why he doesn't get more recognition, he is just incredible.

 

Time to bring up this thread again?

 

December [Nippon Columbia (Denon) Japan for US]:

Code:

 01   80.7
 02   86.3
 03   73.4
 04   38.7
 05  100.0
 06   79.1
 07   19.2
 08   47.8
 09  100.0
 10   93.1
 11   75.2
 12  100.0

Code:

DR14      -1.86 dB   -21.54 dB      4:07 01-Thanksgiving
DR14      -1.27 dB   -20.86 dB      2:45 02-Jesus, Jesus, Rest Your Head
DR12      -2.68 dB   -19.49 dB      3:16 03-Joy
DR13      -8.24 dB   -26.09 dB      1:17 04-Prelude
DR15       0.00 dB   -19.55 dB      4:00 05-Carol of the Bells
DR13      -2.03 dB   -19.52 dB      1:55 06-Night, Part One: Snow
DR13     -14.29 dB   -35.30 dB      1:55 07-Night, Part Two: Midnight
DR12      -6.40 dB   -25.43 dB      2:07 08-Night, Part Three: Minstrels
DR13       0.00 dB   -19.09 dB      5:24 09-Variations on the Kanon by Johann Pachelbel
DR12      -0.62 dB   -17.08 dB      4:56 10-The Holly and the Ivy
DR13      -2.47 dB   -20.50 dB      3:53 11-Some Children See Him
DR19       0.00 dB   -26.27 dB      4:06 12-Peace

DADC? PolyGram West Germany? Other early masterings?

AJ

 

This is the only "holiday" CD (original pressing) I own, mostly because I never get tired of it.

 

A thing of beauty. Got the vinyl when it first came out and went to see GW the next time he played Carnegie Hall.

I recall he performed Linus and Lucy and handed out sheet music to it at the show. I immediately learned it on piano and then set about adapting it for a single acoustic guitar tuned to open D. I may be the only person who can play Linus and Lucy on solo guitar.

 

I absolutely love this album. As many have said, it is the perfect "sit in front of the fire" on a cold winter's day record.

I can't listen to any George Winston without thinking of my sister who introduced his music to me. She had a boyfriend who was a fan and who loaned me Autumn. That was my introduction to his music. She's not a huge music fan - I can't remember of any other artists that she introduced me to like that.

Seeing this thread also made me think of seeing him, sometime in the early 1990's when he did this entire album. It MIGHT have been a tour solely related to this record but I can't remember for sure. He came out, very unassuming in sock feet as I remember. Although the venue (our performing arts center here in town) was pretty full, I guess no one really had an idea of what he looked like so there was only a smattering of applause (my then wife thought he was the "piano tuner"). He just started playing and the place erupted. It was an amazing show.