Christmas at Abbey Road
℗ 2020 It’s about the touch Productions
About the album
Christmas at Abbey Road is a collaboration between classical guitarist Irina Kulikova and British tenor Neil Simon, recorded at the legendary Abbey Road Studios in London. The album was engineered by Andrew Dudman, renowned for his work on major film productions including The Lord of the Rings trilogy, Mary Poppins Returns, and Into the Woods.
The programme brings together seven beloved traditional Christmas songs in delightful new arrangements, two original Spanish Christmas pieces and three evocative Winter Daydreams.
The album also features five world premières: two enchanting miniatures by Vincent Lindsey-Clark, a charming Father Christmas song by Nicholas Simon, a jazzy Russian winter song by Konstantin Vassiliev and a song for those who have lost a loved one by Wouter Fellendans.
Programme – Christmas at Abbey Road
Jingle Bells
Music by James Lord Pierpoint (1822-1893)
Arrangement by José María Gallardo del Rey (b.1961)
What Child is This?
Music traditional «Greensleeves»
New arrangement by Konstantin Vassiliev (b.1970)
Words by William Chatterton Dix (1837-1898)
O Holy Night
Music by Adolphe Charles Adam (1803-1856)
Arrangement by Neil Simon (b.1963)
Words by Placide Cappeau ( 1808-1877)
Christmas Tree
~ WORLD PREMIERE ~
Music by Vincent Lindsey Clark (b.1956)
Words by Neil Simon (b.1963) & Chariza Palabrica (b.1986)
In the Bleak Midwinter
Music by Gustav Holst (1874-1934)
New arrangement by Konstantin Vassiliev (b.1970)
Words by Christina Rossetti (1830-1894)
O Christmas Tree
Music traditional
New arrangement by Konstantin Vassiliev (b.1970)
Away in a Manger
Music traditional
Arrangement by Steve Goss b.1964)
Words by William. J. Kirkpatrick (1838-1921)
Magic of the Guitar
in loving memory of Victor Kozlov
Music by Victor Kozlov (1958-2021)
Christmas Without You
~ WORLD PREMIERE ~
Dedicated to those who have lost a loved one
Music and words by Wouter Fellendans (b.1971)
Arrangement by Konstantin Vassiliev (b.1970)
Christmas Bicycle
~ WORLD PREMIERE ~
Music by Vincent Lindsey-Clark (b.1956)
Words by Neil Simon (b.1963)
Pastorcito Santo
Music by Joaquín Rodrigo (1901-1999)
Words by Lope de Vega (1562-1635)
Queen of the Clear Night
~ WORLD PREMIERE ~
Music by Konstantin Vassiliev (b.1970)
Words by Konstantin Vassiliev and Aleksandra Akimova (1992)
Originally written for guitar and cello,
Carillon
Music by Benvenuto Terzi (1892-1980)
Coplillas de Belén
Music by Joaquín Rodrigo (1901-1999)
Words by Victoria Kamhi (1905-1997)
Ballade for Beautiful Elena
Dedicated to Elena Poplyanova
Music by Victor Kozlov
Across the Roofs
~ WORLD PREMIERE ~
Music and words by Nicholas Simon (b.2000)
We wish you a merry Xmas
Traditional
Sung by Mariëlle
Selected Christmas Sheet Music
The album features five new Christmas compositions and six traditional carols in fresh arrangements. Learn to play them yourself, or share them as a gift with the guitarists in your life. Digital sheet music with fingering by Irina Kulikova is available via It’s about the touch Productions:
Traditional carols (new arrangements):
What Child Is This?
O Christmas Tree
In the Bleak Midwinter
Away in a Manger
Christmas Tree
Silent Night (advanced and easy)
Original works:
Christmas Without You
Christmas Bicycle
Magic of the Guitar
Ballade for Beautiful Elena
Credits
Recorded in the Abbey Road Studios, London, United Kingdom.
October 5-6, 2021
Producer: Andrew Dudman
Assistant producer: Michael Christian Durrant
Irina Kulikova plays a spruce top 2019 Simon Marty guitar with Cantiga premium high-tension strings by Savarez.
Booklet design: Mark Counts
Photography: Yuliia Hryb, London, UK. Instagram: yulia.lifephotos
Editions:
Jingle Bells: Gallardo del Rey Ediciones
Pastorcito Santo: Schott & Co.Ltd. London
Queen of the Clear Night: Les productions d’Oz
Carillon: Bèrben
Coplillas de Belén: Schott & Co.Ltd. London
All other works: It’s about the touch Productions
