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The
Holidays in Music
©℗ Tom Brusky, 2016
Catalog #: PP5038
Released:
August 10, 2016
Produced and performed by: Tom
Brusky
Vocalists: Emma Bee, Abby
Broeniman, Steve Brunton, Mollie Busta, Jayme Dawicki,
Mark Demmin II, Ryan Meagher, Matt Newton,
and Gabriel Riccio
Length: 46 minutes
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The Holidays in Music
is an
emotionally-charged, uplifting, musical journey through our
country's most celebrated holidays. Each holiday is represented by its
own song.
You all
know Tom
as a polka musician, but his musical interests cover a
much wider spectrum. Tom stepped farther
outside of his Polka roots than ever before to create a unique
collection of authentic music spanning multiple genres.
Tom
performed
and produced all of the music himself and spent a great deal of time
seeking out and hiring the most qualified, professional vocalists to
give each of his songs the sound he was looking for. In addition to the
diversity of genres and incredible vocal performances, two other
integral parts of this album are the songwriting and arranging — brand
new
songs as well as fresh, unique
arrangements of old songs are showcased.
The
Holidays in Music took an estimated
370
hours over ten months to write and record.
1. NEW
YEAR'S DAY - New
Year's Kiss (1940s-Style Ballad)
This
original song by Tom Brusky was arranged in the style of a
1940's-era ballad, complete with a lush string ensemble and a vocalist
who croons in the vintage style of the era. Many lounge,
opera, and big band singers answered the call, but Tom didn't find the
nostalgic vocal sound he was looking for until he came across Mark
Demmin II
(Naperville, IL). To
hear anyone deliver a ballad as exquisitely and proficiently as Mark,
you'd have to go back in
time at least seventy years.
2. VALENTINE'S DAY - Oh Promise Me (1980s-Style Ballad)
Oh
Promise Me
was
written in 1887, but the song takes on new life as Tom advances it
one-hundred years with an
arrangement that gives it an iconic, 1980's sound. Finding the
right vocalist was critical to the success of this arrangement, because
many singers today have an edgy, contemporary tone which isn't the best
fit for
an 80's-style pop ballad. After more than a month
of auditioning vocalists, Tom heard a sample of Gabriel
Riccio (Chicago, IL) singing, loved the retro vibe, and hired him
on the spot. Sit back, relax, and prepare to be transported back to
a Valentine's Day some thirty-five years ago.
3. ST. PATRICK'S DAY - The Maid Behind the
Bar (Irish Folk
Song)
What
makes traditional folk music so appealing, regardless of the
nationality, is
that it is often just as upbeat and uplifting as American polka music.
In a
Dublin pub, surely nothing gets
one's foot tapping like a peppy Irish
reel. In honor of St. Patrick's Day, Tom chose this classic folk song
and arranged it with a blend of contemporary
and traditional instruments, including the bodhrán, uilleann
pipes, and tin
whistle. Sláinte!
4. EASTER - One Day (Volksmusik Waltz)
Volksmusik
from Europe's alpine regions is one of the most joyful
sounds
on Earth, and that makes it a perfect fit for the celebration of
Easter.
Tom
arranged this traditional Easter hymn with a sound reminiscent of
Slavko
Avsenik's
Oberkrainer style. The song's four-part vocal harmony is led by two of
the Polka genre's most talented, young singers: Abby Broeniman
(Hortonville,
WI) and Mollie
Busta (Ridgeville Corners, OH).
5. MOTHER'S DAY - For All You've Done for Us (Bluegrass)
Like
polka music, bluegrass music has always shared that
cheerful quality that instantly makes people feel good when they hear
it. Tom
wrote and composed this song to honor all mothers on their special
day. Sung in perfect bluegrass-style harmony by Emma Bee (Madison, WI),
Matt Newton
(Nashville, TN), and Ryan Meagher (Milwaukee, WI), this song is all
about
the gratitude felt by three
grown children for their mother's wisdom, patience, and determination
over the years.
6. MEMORIAL
DAY - Tribute to the Fallen (Choir,
Orchestra
& Brass)
This emotional
piece arranged for boys' choir,
orchestra, and brass quintet is dedicated
to the men and women who have sacrificed their lives in the defense of
our freedom. It starts with Tom's original composition, "Finest Hour",
as
an ode to the bravery with which they fought and died. A handbell and
choral performance of "America the Beautiful" follows in tribute to the
land they so gallantly defended. The song concludes with a solemn
rendition of "Taps" to bid our country's heroes a peaceful,
eternal rest.
7. FATHER'S DAY - The Love of a Father (Contemporary
Folk
Ballad)
Tom
wrote this sentimental song all about a father's love for his
daughter. The song is sung from the perspective of the daughter as she
fondly reflects on her childhood. Tom's moving arrangement layers
traditional folk instruments over an upright
piano, but what will propel this song directly to your
heart is the delicate, intimate vocal delivery of Jayme Dawicki (New
Berlin, WI).
Once a student at the grade school where Tom's father, Jim, was the
principal, Jayme grew up to achieve national recognition as a
singer/songwriter.
8. INDEPENDENCE DAY - Hail to the Spirit
of Liberty (Symphonic Band March)
Perhaps
no song is more associated with the 4th of July than John
Philip
Sousa's Stars and Stripes Forever,
but it certainly wasn't his only patriotic song. Tom chose this more
obscure but equally inspiring Sousa march to amplify your American
pride in celebration of
our country's founding.
9. HALLOWEEN - Halloween Rag Medley (Spooky, Swingin'
Ragtime)
Is
it a horror movie soundtrack? Is it sinister theater music? Is it
piano ragtime? Is it polka band ragtime? Is it swinging jazz? The
answer is
yes — all of the above! Based around two ragtime
Halloween songs, Harem Scarem Rag
and The Greenwich Witch, this
compilation arrangement of music by Tom Brusky is as incongruent and
bizarre as
it is musically entertaining. Happy Halloween! Muahahahahaha!
10. VETERAN'S
DAY - Armed
Forces Polka
Medley (Cleveland-Style Polka)
To
honor all those who have served our country,
Tom arranged four military service songs into an instrumental
Cleveland-style polka
medley. Our veterans are our greatest national treasure. All polka
bands are encouraged to take time out of their busy schedules every now
and then to provide live music at veterans homes in their area.
11. THANKSGIVING - Gratitude (Big Band)
The
lyrics for this song are adapted from two poems
written by Edgar A. Guest cir. 1917: Gratitude
and Thanksgiving. Tom composed the music and arranged
it for big band. Swingin'
the vocal is one of Milwaukee's most unique gems in the entertainment
circuit — "Diamond Steve" Brunton from the Brewhaus
Polka Kings.
12. CHRISTMAS - O Holy Night (Contemporary
Orchestral Carol)
One
of the most iconic and beautiful Christmas songs of all time, O
Holy Night is
also one of the most challenging songs for even the most professional
of vocalists due to its extended range and
dynamics. For this song, Tom traveled to Nashville, Tennessee to
capture
the incomparable talent of Matt
Newton. Matt's powerful and
soaring vocals on this contemporary orchestral arrangement will
surely catapult your Christmas spirit to new heights.
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