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Dashing Vol. 2

More Sounds of the Season

Sarah Wallin Huff composer
Joseph Turrin composer
Kristina Marinova piano
Vince Guaraldi composer
Josh Trentadue composer
Jordan VanHemert saxophone
David W. Solomons composer
Elizabeth J. Start composer, cello
Agustin Barrios composer
Alan Rinehart composer, guitar
J. S. Bach composer
Joseph T. Spaniola composer

Release Date: November 12, 2021
Catalog #: NV6374
Format: Digital
21st Century
Baroque
Holiday
Orchestra
Piano
Saxophone

Navona Records presents DASHING VOL. 2, a festive assortment of new classical and jazz arrangements and compositions inspired by staples of the holiday season. Unwrap this gift from Sarah Wallin Huff, Joseph Turrin, Kristina Marinova, Jordan VanHemert, David W. Solomons, Elizabeth J. Start, Alan Rinehart, and Joseph T. Spaniola to find a variety of new works and familiar favorites. All of the traditional holiday sounds are featured in this album, embellished with distinguished compositional twists that complement seasonal standards. Experience the holidays in a refreshing way with reharmonizations of Silent Night, Carol Of The Bells for solo guitar, a jazz arrangement of Christmas Time is Here, and more.

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Track Listing & Credits

# Title Composer Performer
01 Christmas Wayfarer Sarah Wallin Huff Janáček Philharmonic Orchestra | Stanislav Vavrinek, conductor 8:46
02 Good King Wenceslas Traditional, arr. Joseph Turrin Kristina Marinova, piano 1:24
03 Silent Night Traditional, arr. Joseph Turrin Kristina Marinova, piano 2:22
04 God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman Traditional, arr. Joseph Turrin Kristina Marinova, piano 2:01
05 Christmas Time is Here Vince Guaraldi, arr. Josh Trentadue Hope College Orchestra | Christopher H. Fashun, conductor; Jordan VanHemert, saxophone; Lisa Sung, piano; Rodney Whitaker, bass; Jeff Shoup, drums 6:56
06 Sleigh Ride David W. Solomons The Budapest Scoring Orchestra | Peter Illenyi, conductor 2:36
07 Winter Scene David W. Solomons Orsolya Sapszon, soprano; The Budapest Scoring Orchestra | Peter Illenyi, conductor 2:21
08 Good King Wenceslas Traditional, arr. Elizabeth J. Start Elizabeth J. Start, cello 2:19
09 Three Ships and Three Kings Traditional, John Henry Hopkins Jr., arr. Elizabeth J. Start Elizabeth J. Start, cello 3:38
10 Lo How a Rose Traditional, arr. Elizabeth J. Start Elizabeth J. Start, cello 2:07
11 Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas Hugh Martin & Ralph Blane, arr. Elizabeth J. Start Elizabeth J. Start, cello 1:58
12 Carol of the Bells Mykola Leontovych, arr. Alan Rinehart Alan Rinehart, guitar 1:16
13 Greensleeves Traditional, Francis Cutting, arr. Alan Rinehart Alan Rinehart, guitar 1:21
14 Un jour Dieu se résolut Michel Corrette, arr. Alan Rinehart Alan Rinehart, guitar 2:22
15 Villancico De Navidad Agustin Barrios Alan Rinehart, guitar 2:32
16 Jauchzet, Frohlocket! (Christmas Oratorio, BWV 248 I) J. S. Bach, arr. Joseph T. Spaniola Joseph Galema, organ; Steven Kindermann, Tim Allums - trumpet; Gary Stephens, horn; John Gohl, trombone; Gary Poffenbarger, tuba; Michael Woods, timpani 6:13

TRACK 1
Recorded May 28, 2021 at Dům Kultury města Ostravy (The Ostrava House of Culture) in Ostrava Czech Republic
Recording Session Producer Jan Košulič
Recording Session Engineer Pavel Kunčar
Editing & Mixing Lucas Paquette

TRACKS 2-4
Recorded on April 11, 2021 at Oktaven Audio in Mount Vernon NY
Recording Session Engineer Ryan Streber

TRACK 5
Recorded March 28, 2021 at Hope College Studios in Holland MI
Recording Session Producer, Engineer & Mixing Drew Elliot – Drew Elliot Recording

TRACKS 6-7
Recorded August 5 & November 16, 2020 at Lang Hall in Budapest, Hungary
Recording Session Producer, Engineer, Editing & Mixing Tamas Kurina

TRACKS 8-11
Recorded 2017 at La Luna Recording in Kalamazoo MI
Recording Session Producer & Engineer Ian Gorman

TRACKS 12-15
Recorded in 2016 at NovaScribe in Kelowna BC, Canada
Recording Session Producer & Editing Alan Rinehart
Mixing Levi Brown

TRACK 16
Recorded at The United States Air Force Academy Cadet Chapel in Air Force Academy CO
Recording Session Producer Joseph T. Spaniola
Recording Session Engineer Janusz Masztalerz

Mastering Shaun Michaud

Executive Producer Bob Lord

Executive A&R Sam Renshaw
A&R Director Brandon MacNeil
A&R Jacob Smith, Danielle Lewis

General Manager Of Audio & Sessions Jan Košulič
Production Director Levi Brown
Audio Director Lucas Paquette
Production Assistant Martina Watzková

VP, Design & Marketing Brett Picknell
Art Director Ryan Harrison
Design Edward A. Fleming
Publicity Patrick Niland, Sara Warner

Artist Information

Sarah Wallin Huff

Sarah Wallin Huff

Composer

Sarah Wallin Huff is a music lecturer at California Polytechnic University of Pomona, teaching “History of Technology in Music,” for which she published an original textbook with Great River Learning in 2019. She received her M.A. in Music Composition at Claremont Graduate University in 2008, and was the Professor of Composition and Advanced Theory — as well as conductor of the Chamber Ensemble — at The Master’s University in Santa Clarita from 2012-2016.

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Kristina Marinova

Kristina Marinova

Pianist

Kristina Marinova has been described as a virtuoso performer of extreme energy and youthful vibrance. Her clear and precise tone enhances her stormy expressions and performances, full of grace, serenity, style, and beauty. Her album entitled 4 RHAPSODIES, which she performed live at Carnegie Hall on November 17th, 2022, has been called “A Feast for the Ears” by Darren Rea of Classical Music Review Magazine.

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Jordan VanHemert

Jordan VanHemert

Saxophonist

Dr. Jordan VanHemert is a Korean American saxophonist and composer lauded for his skill as a modern jazz improviser. Critics recognize VanHemert’s music as being profoundly relevant; Noted jazz journalist and historian Scott Yanow recently praised VanHemert’s debut release as “quite impressive,” stating that his piece Autumn Song “could eventually become a standard.” Additionally, critics recognize VanHemert’s album I AM NOT A VIRUS as “full of generous emotions,” (Sonograma Barcelona) and the “beautiful harmonious, melodious base” of his compositions, calling them “sophisticated but quite accessible for many.” (JazzMania Belgium)

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David Warin Solomons

Composer

David Warin Solomons (b. 1953) began his musical career relatively late, taking up the violin at the age of 14 and the classical guitar a few years after that. Most of his musical expression in composition has been based on the principle of "learning by doing," liberally seasoned with musical collaborations. The first of these collaborations, as far back as 1969, was with two pen-friends in France and Germany, which gave rise to several trios for the unusual combination of violin, trumpet, and piano. Solomons moved on to Christ Church at Oxford University in 1972 to study French and German and also began to sing there on a regular basis, eventually settling on alto as his preferred range. At Oxford he met lots of great musicians, many of whom had important influences on his compositional style.

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Elizabeth Start

Cellist, Composer

Elizabeth Start is a composer, cellist, arts administrator, and union officer, currently dividing her time between Kalamazoo MI and the Chicago area.

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Alan Rinehart

Guitarist

Alan Rinehart has over 45 years of experience as a professional classical guitarist with many contributions to the guitar world as a performer, teacher, and music editor. Upon completing university, he studied lute repertoire and technique in London, England at the Early Music Centre.

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Joseph T. Spaniola

Composer

Joseph T. Spaniola is a composer on a passionate quest to engage the hearts and minds of audiences and performers through the communicative powers of music. Spaniola is active as a composer, arranger, educator, conductor, lecturer, producer, clinician, and adjudicator. He has composed works for band, orchestra, chamber ensembles, solo instruments, voice, choir, and electronic tape. His works have received honors from National Band Association, The American Prize, Global Music Awards, Florida State Music Teachers Association, Dallas Wind Symphony, and others.

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Joseph Turrin

Composer

Joseph Turrin’s music has been commissioned and performed by some of the world’s leading orchestras, chamber ensembles, and soloists. His work encompasses many varied forms, including film, theater, opera, orchestral, chamber, jazz, electronic, and dance. Several of his films and recording projects have been nominated for EMMY and GRAMMY Awards.

Turrin’s works have been recorded on: RCA, EMI, Teldec, Naxos, Summit, Klavier, Cala Records, Albany, Crystal, and others. Not only a recipient of several commissions from the New York Philharmonic, Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, Live from Lincoln Center and the National Endowment on the Arts. His works have been championed by such noted musicians as: Kurt Masur, Zubin Mehta, Erich Leinsdorf, Bram Tovey, Wynton Marsalis, Canadian Brass, Renee Fleming and others. In 2006 he was awarded an honorary degree from the Eastman School of Music and the University of Rochester.

Turrin is currently on the music faculty of Rutgers University, Montclair State University, and Kean University. He is also the author of Music in Film: Settling the Score published by Cognella Press in San Diego CA.

Christopher Fashun

Christopher H. Fashun

Conductor

Dr. Christopher H. Fashun is an incredibly diverse and versatile conductor, performer, and music educator. He brings over two decades of experience as a music educator leading collegiate, high school, and middle school orchestra and band programs. Additionally, Fashun presents sessions on Brazilian music and culture for general music at national and state music education conferences and workshops.

A 2019 recipient of a U.S. Postdoctoral Fulbright Award in All Disciplines, Fashun lived in Salvador da Bahia, Brazil researching Afro-Brazilian music and culture in Brazil. An Assistant Professor of Music at Hope College, he serves as the Director of Orchestras, is the founder and Music Director of the Brazilian Drumming Ensemble, teaches applied percussion, world music, and is an instructor of Instrumental Music Education. He is active in the Holland music community and serves as the Music Director and conductor of the Holland Area Youth Symphony Orchestra.

An accomplished percussionist and violist, Fashun has several years of orchestral and chamber music experience and has enjoyed success in both areas as a soloist by winning three concerto competitions, one on viola and two on marimba.
Fashun is an active guest conductor, clinician, adjudicator, and percussionist. He is a frequent presenter at music education conferences and is a highly sought after clinician and conductor. He has served on the music faculties at St. Ambrose University and Goshen College.

Rodney Whitaker

Rodney Whitaker

Bass

Internationally renowned bassist and Mack Avenue recording artist Rodney Whitaker is one of the world’s renowned double bass performers, educators, and mentors, and is dedicated to inspiring and growing the next generation of jazz educators and musicians.  A Detroit native, he grew up in the city soaking in the sounds of jazz and classical music and working with the finest musicians in the city.

Building on his Detroit roots and enormous talent, Whitaker went on to earn an international reputation as one of the world’s finest jazz double bass performers. He completed a seven-year tenure as bassist with the Wynton Marsalis Sextet, the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, and has toured the world over the last twenty-six years, collaborating with over 100 legendary performing jazz artists such as: Dianne Reeves, Hank Jones, Mulgrew Miller, Junko Onishi, Yutaka Shiina, Kenny Burrell, Diana Krall, John Lewis, Kathleen Battle, Marian McPartland, Wycliffe Gordon, Kenny Garrett, Bradford Marsalis, Bob James, Roy Hargrove, Jon Carl Hendricks, Tommy Flanagan, Frank Morgan, Terence Blanchard, Betty “Be-Bop” Carter, Chick Corea, and leading symphony orchestras across the world—just to name a few.

In addition, he has appeared and presented masterclasses at the International Association of Jazz Educators (IAJE) conferences.  Featured on more than 100 recordings — from film to compact discs — Whitaker’s film scores, China — directed by Jeff Wray — was released on PBS Fall 2002, and Malaria and Malawi released on PBS Fall 2010. Whitaker also has a DVD release featuring Michigan State University’s Jazz Department entitled, “Inside Jazz” and three new compact discs entitled Get Ready, Work To Do, — both on Mack Avenue Records — and Better Than Alright by Michigan State University College of Music. In 2011, he was nominated for an EMMY in the original music category for “Malawi and Malaria: Fighting to Save the Children,” produced by Robert Gould and Sue Carter.  Whitaker collaborated with musicians Phil Dwyer and Alan Jones on Let Me Tell You About My Day, produced by Alma Records and was nominated for a Juno Award in 2006 for Traditional Jazz Album of the Year, Canada’s equivalent to the United States’ GRAMMY.

Whitaker is a full time professor of jazz double bass and director of jazz studies at Michigan State University where he has built one of the leading jazz degree granting programs, offering both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Jazz Performance.

Notes

Written in 2015, Christmas Wayfarer is a medley of sacred Christmas carols for symphony orchestra. It is a formal collection of some of Wallin Huff’s prior arrangements for a variety of chamber ensembles of both classic and lesser known carols that she has created and performed over the years. Included in this sweeping work are her original adaptations of I Saw Three Ships, O Come All Ye Faithful, Coventry Carol, O Holy Night, and Hark the Herald Angels Sing.

–Sarah Wallin Huff

It’s always a challenge to write arrangements of well known Christmas carols, mostly because there have been so many examples. In time I thought I would give it a try and set some of my favorites. The result was a suite of three carols which I found not only musically contrasting, but also capable of being set for solo piano.

God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen — which opens the suite — is the most technically difficult: starting out quietly, slowly building to a modulation, and then a grand finish in the style of Liszt.

Silent Night is contemplative in nature, taking the melody which is so well known and harmonically setting it in an unexpected way. Good King Wenceslas is one of the oldest carols, a tune going back to 1582. It’s set more or less in a march style with the tune repeated and each time with a different accompaniment.

– Joseph Turrin

Sleigh Ride is a tuneful, whimsical, and lyrical piece from the composer’s olden days, complete with harp, jingle bells, triangle, and full-bodied strings. The lively melody and energetic flow of this instrumental ensemble brings a heartwarming and nostalgic taste of such a ride.

The key is basically major but with occasional modal changes: a flattened 7th, sharpened 6th, and a flattened 2nd.

There is no connection with the piece with the same name by Leroy Anderson.

Winter Scene for soprano, harp (or 2 harps), vibraphone and triangle

Setting of a poem by my father (S N Solomons) about his feelings on winter:

Standing on this high place
In stark mid-winter
I gaze out upon the country
Folded in white silence,
And celebrate its elegance,
Its clean pure beauty

I breathe in crystalline ideas,
Sharp and measured,
Exquisite thoughts
Of pain and pleasure
And recall without regret
The sensual joys of summer.
(c) Stanley N Solomons

— David Warin Solomons

Lo, How a Rose has long been a favorite carol of mine, and my arrangement was created in 2014 as an audio holiday greeting to be emailed to friends and family. It sets the melody with varying density of double-stops and chords, sometimes in left-hand pizzicato, shifting registers for variety in the melodic voice.

In some ways, this created a template for the treatment of such tunes in my 2016 flurry of arrangements. The nine arrangements I created in 2016 were completed over about two weeks, when a concert for which I had promised a 45 minute program of holiday music for a senior home was fast approaching. Not surprisingly, a general template evolved quickly including a statement of the melody, followed by more “verses” which support the melody using double-stops and chords — as in my Lo, How a Rose — and sometimes elaborating the melody with filigree, returning to a more clear concluding statement.

The Good King Wenceslas arrangement is a good example of this template. In Three Ships and Three Kings, I play on the similarities of these two carols, introducing and elaborating on each separately, then bringing them together phrase by phrase in the final statement. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas deviates from the others in that there is little elaboration on the melody. Instead it employs a few double-stops for harmonic interest and provides connecting material between the phrases of the song.

— Elizabeth Start

Carol of the Bells was written in 1914 by Mykola Leontovych based on a traditional Ukranian melody. Both this and Un Jour Diu se Resolut are arranged by Alan Rinehart.

The composition of Greensleeves has been ascribed to Henry VIII and exists in many arrangements from a simple harmonization for the lute to large orchestral and choral productions, especially when done as the Carol “What Child is This?” This sophisticated solo version was composed by the Elizabethan lutenist Francis Cutting.

Un jour Dieu se résolut is a keyboard work written by the French Baroque composer Michel Corrette (1707-1795) as part of a larger collection of original Christmas music for keyboard published in 1741.

Villancico de Navidad — almost literally ‘Christmas Carol’ — is an original work for guitar by the great Paraguayan guitarist and composer Agustin Barrios (1885-1944).

–Alan Rinehart

Jauchzet, frohlocket! Auf, preiset die Tage – “Shout for joy, exult, rise up, praise — or glorify — the day.”

This instrumental version of Part 1 of J.S. Bach’s Christmas Oratorio (BWV 248 I) was arranged by Joseph T. Spaniola for organist Joseph Galema — music director and academy organist at the U.S. Air Force Academy (1982-2014) — and members of Stellar Brass. The work was recorded in the Protestant Chapel of the iconic U.S. Air Force Academy Cadet Chapel and utilizes the chapel’s M.P. Möller (Opus 9480, 1963) organ.

— Joseph T. Spaniola

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Dashing Vol. 3

Dashing Vol. 4

Dashing Vol. 5