It’s after Thanksgiving, and it’s officially December, which makes it an acceptable time for Christmas music. But fear not–this is not your average Christmas recording!
If you’re still looking to get into the holiday spirit but the thought of being saturated in the typical Christmas fare makes you cringe, we’ve got an excellent solution for you.
Two years ago, Sono Luminus’ CEO Collin Rae and producer Dan Merceruio began asking their artists to considering providing a track for a new kind of Christmas-themed album. The only caveat? “They could do anything they wanted with a Christmas classic, as long as they put their individual stamp on it.”
Released on October 27th on Sono Luminus, Imagine Christmas features 12 tracks by some of the label’s top performers, including ACME, Jasper String Quartet, Cory Hills (of the Los Angeles Percussion Quartet), Kathryn Bates (of the Del Sol String Quartet), lutenist Ronn McFarlane, pianists Stewart Goodyear and Bruce Levingston, and more.
Stream the American Contemporary Music Ensemble‘s meditative take on Silent Night below, or enjoy an exclusive track download: MP3 | WAV
About the American Contemporary Music Ensemble
Led by Artistic Director and cellist Clarice Jensen, the American Contemporary Music Ensemble (ACME) is dedicated to the outstanding performance of masterworks from the 20th and 21st centuries, primarily the work of American composers. The flexible ensemble presents fresh work by living composers alongside the classics of the contemporary. ACME’s dedication to new music extends across genres, and has earned them a reputation among both classical and rock crowds. NPR calls them contemporary music dynamos,” and The New York Times describes ACME’s performances as “vital,” “brilliant,” and “electrifying.” Time Out New York reports, “Jensen has earned a sterling reputation for her fresh, inclusive mix of minimalists, maximalists, eclectics and newcomers.” ACME was honored by ASCAP during its 10th anniversary season in 2015 for the “virtuosity, passion, and commitment with which it performs and champions American composers.”