“What does Christmas mean to you?” This question was posed by Dietrich Henschel to 12 composers from different countries and cultures with the request to create a work for voice and ensemble depicting in music whatever they associate with Christmas. They were free to choose whether religion or tradition played a role. An objective view, criticism and satire were all possible. As was to be expected, the responses were all very different.

The ensemble unitedberlin, with its artistic advisor, Vladimir Jurowski, was immediately up for this totally new approach to a Christmas project: “We see ourselves as kinds of gallerists of the musical avant-garde – with the ambition of creating an advantageous situation for creators and recipients” (Andreas Bräutigam, founding member and violinist).

The 12 modern Christmas carols* are followed by 12 traditional ones, arranged by Simone Rubino and Dietrich Henschel for baritone, percussion, celesta and piano. The selection of percussion instruments is exuberant and crazy: marimba, vibraphone, Thai gongs, Japanese drum, crotales, bass drum, congas, rototoms, gongs, timbal, snare drum, ocean drum, cymbal, carillon, cow bells, bicycle bell, axe and saw, as well as stones and shells.

Thoughts from Simone Rubino on the arrangements:

From Heaven Above to Earth I Come “So, someone comes down from above to us down here. He brings new tidings, so many and so beautiful that he is very excited. That is a perfect storyboard for a new musical interpretation!”

The Bells Never Sound Sweeter “I think you don’t have to say much more to a percussionist … It is allowed to sound very sweet, but has to have a bit of spice, like gingerbread.”

*12 new compositions by Karim Al-Zand, Detlev Glanert, Vanessa Lann, Jobst Liebrecht, Jamie Man, Matan Porat, Olga Rayeva, Michèle Reverdy, Annette Schlünz, José M. Sánchez-Verdú, Manfred Trojahn, and Arno Waschk