Every year since receiving it as a gift from my parents in 1982, I've read stories from the Jack Newcombe-edited anthology, A Christmas Treasury. One essay that hit home with me this year is George Plimpton's "The Christmas Bird Count." In it, rival groups of National Audubon Society birdwatchers are obsessed with spotting more birds--especially rare ones--than any other group.
I've never gone birdwatching, but when it comes to music, I know that feeling well. Say, have you heard that new Warren Wolf rendition of "Sleigh Ride?" Through an energetic vibraphone arrangement, he conveys the thrill of coasting down snow-packed trails. If you're looking for a warm, comforting arrangement of a familiar carol, try Ken and Leslie Bier's guitar and flute rendition of "It Came Upon The Midnight Clear." Searching for an imaginative interpretation of a more lighthearted Christmas favorite? Then, check out Ensemble Galilei's take on "Frosty The Snowman." Initially, it's fit for a conga line before giving way to a Celtic tap dance.
Oh! And then, there's that original 45 mono mix of "Light Of The Stable" by Emmylou Harris. There are about 20 extra seconds in which the guitar doubles back briefly, and backup singers Linda Ronstadt, Dolly Parton, and Neil Young contribute an extra round of Hallelujahs.
Reading what I just wrote there, I think I should take up birdwatching. I suspect I'd enjoy trying to find a marbled godwit.
