Symphonic Carols
I. Adeste fidelesProgram note
Symphonic Carols is a collection of six orchestral arrangements of traditional Christmas carols. The selected melodies come from a mix of international traditions, including French, English, and Czech carols.
The arrangements themselves contain only a small amount of original material and were not initially conceived to tell any explicit story. Yet, when listening back, unexpected narratives may begin to emerge as the familiar melodies unfold. Well-known tunes have a remarkable ability to invite imagination.
For me, Silent Night, for example, is not solely about the birth of Christ. In this setting, it can also represent a lone wanderer, spending Christmas without companionship, quietly passing through the night. Gradually, however, that solitude is broken when a family notices him and invites him inside, offering warmth, light, and human connection. What a beautiful Christmas story that would be—hidden, quietly, within an old and beloved melody.