Silent Night - A Neoclassical Christmas is a beautiful collection of Christmas classics and some original tunes that celebrate the quieter side of Christmas. Produced and arranged by Belgian composer and pianist Patrick Hamiliton, the album features a handpicked ensemble of international soloists and ensembles as well as Hamilton, who plays a felted piano throughout. The line-up includes Luka Faulisi on violin, Lavinia Meijer on harp, Rosie Bennet on guitar, Hadewych Van Gent on cello and the choral ensemble, Lumen Symphonicum Voices conducted by David De Geest. The album offers close to an hour of quiet peacefulness as well as an inviting respite from the stressful times we’re living in. The twenty tracks offer a lovely combination of traditional Christmas hymns and more contemporary popular songs from the past hundred years or so as well as a couple of classical pieces and four Patrick Hamilton originals. Most of the pieces are duets and small ensembles with piano, but there are also several solo piano tracks.

There are too many tracks to mention them all, but I have some favorites I’ll tell you about. The album begins with “Silent Night” as a piano and harp duet with the harp playing most of the melody - a heavenly start. “The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire)” is arranged for piano and acoustic guitar and is one of the most peaceful and heartfelt versions of the song I’ve heard. “Variations On Jingle Bells” is the first of the piano solos and is simple, warm and inviting. It was also released as a single. I’ve always loved the poignant “Coventry Carol,” and this violin and piano duet is soulful and haunting. “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” is adaptable to a wide variety of styles and instruments, and Hamilton’s solo piano arrangement is slow and thoughtful with an emphasis on the melody. As a violin and piano duet, this version of “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” really tugs at the heartstrings! ”XII” is another Hamilton original piano solo and offers a dreamy peacefulness with a delicate touch that makes me think of snow drifting down and making everything sparkle. “Carol of the Bells” is another very adaptable piece to a variety of styles and instruments, and this lively version is for piano and harp - magical! I wasn’t familiar with “Noël (Trois Angels Sont Venus Ce Soir)” by Augusta Holmès, but what a beautiful violin and piano duet! “Christmas Lullaby,” a piano solo by Hamilton, will likely relax and soothe “kids” of any age! “Ave Maria” is a gorgeous arrangement of the JS Bach/Gounod duet, this time for piano, cello and choir voices - stunning! Hamilton’s solo piano “Midnight in December” is my favorite track on the album. Both elegant and very peaceful, it brings images of moonlight sparkling on newly-fallen snow. The album comes to a delicate close with Hamilton’s solo piano “Le Silence Des Flocons de Neige” (“The Silence of Snowflakes”) - sooooooooo peaceful!

Silent Night - A Neoclassical Christmas is highly recommended for the quieter moments of the Christmas holidays. It also sends a gentle reminder to just breathe! The album is available to stream and download from Amazon and Apple Music/iTunes and can be streamed on Spotify and other platforms.