World premiere of Jascha Heifetz’s original White Christmas

World premiere of Jascha Heifetz’s original White Christmas

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norman lebrecht

December 24, 2015

In 1944 the great violinist Jascha Heifetz made a spontaneous violin-piano interpretation of Irving Berlin’s “White Christmas”, which Decca promptly transcribed and rush-recorded with an orchestra.

Jascha, however, never wrote down his arrangement and the orchestral parts were lost.

 

Heifetz undated

Sixty years later Nate Sabat of Berklee College of Music has carefully reconstructed it for violin and piano. Enjoy.

Comments

  • NYMike says:

    And no Crosby to be found 🙂

  • Ben Dominitz says:

    Heifetz was a consummate and humble servant of his art. His knowledge of harmony and the post-Wagnerian Vienneses style of composition is evident here, a bit like Korngold.

  • Gregg says:

    It’s the cigarette in the holder that really does it!

  • Maya Koch says:

    I doubt a little that nobody else has done this before…
    https://youtu.be/WyRdNEIjkAc
    Here is my own arrangement of Heifetz’s White Christmas for solo violin and small ensemble, published on the musical advent calendar of the OFF des musiciens de l’Orchestre de Paris last week (featuring concert master of the Orchestre de Paris Roland Daugareil) and performed live on 19 December at La Petite Halle in Paris.

    Happy Holidays everyone!

    http://www.offdesmusiciens.com

  • Jim Wells says:

    Can I get a copy of the sheet music for my son and me to play together? He’s a 12 year old award winning violinist. Thank you.
    Jim

  • Monique says:

    I would be interested in purchasing this transcription as well. Is there some way to obtain a copy?

    Many thanks,
    Monique

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