Guy Barker (This Classical Christmas)
Jess Gillam and conductor, composer and trumpeter Guy Barker share their favourite festive music, including pieces by Valentin Silvestrov, Bill Evans, Ella Fitzgerald and Ravel.
It's This Classical Christmas! Jess Gillam swaps festive tracks with by the conductor, composer, arranger and trumpeter Guy Barker.
Guy's varied career has seen him working across the worlds of jazz, pop, classical, film and theatre, with everyone from Frank Sinatra to Sting to Quincy Jones. His Big Band Christmas concerts raise the roof of the Royal Albert Hall every December, and since 2008 he has been the Musical Director and arranger for the annual Jazz Voice concert at the Barbican.
Guy has brought along music including Bill Evans' take on a festive classic, a Christmas Cantata from Arthur Honegger and a jazz organ version of God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen. Jess's choices include a Sleigh Ride from Leroy Anderson, a lullaby from Ukrainian composer Valentin Silvestrov and Ella Fitzgerald revealing The Secret of Christmas.
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Music Played
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Johann Sebastian Bach
Christmas Oratorio: Ehre sei dir, Gott, gesungen
Choir: The Sixteen. Orchestra: Orchestra of The Sixteen. Director: Harry Christophers.- Coro.
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Matt Dennis
Angel Eyes
Performer: Guy Barker. Performer: Bernardo Sassetti. Performer: Gene Calderazzo. Music Arranger: Colin Towns. Singer: Geoff Gascoyne. Orchestra: London Metropolitan Orchestra. Conductor: Colin Towns.- Emarcy.
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Guy Barker International Quintet
Midnight Miles 1
- Music House.
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Charlie Parker
Just Friends
- Clef Records.
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Arthur Honegger
A Christmas Cantata
Performer: Henriette Puig-Roget. Singer: Camille Maurane. Orchestra: Orchestre national de France. Choir: Ma卯trise de Radio France. Conductor: Jean Martinon.- EMI Classics.
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Leroy Anderson
Sleigh Ride
Orchestra: 麻豆社 Concert Orchestra. Conductor: Leonard Slatkin.- Anderson, L.: Orchestral Music, Vol. 3 - Sleigh Ride / The Typewriter / Plink, P.
- Naxos.
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Trad.
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
Performer: Jimmy Smith. Music Arranger: Billy Byers. Orchestra: Billy Byers Orchestra. Conductor: Billy Byers.- Verve Records.
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Valentin Silvestrov
Sleep, Jesus (2 Christmas Lullabies)
Singer: Ieva Ezeriete. Singer: Agate Burkina. Choir: Latvian Radio Choir. Conductor: Sigvards K募ava.- Ondine.
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Naomi Banks
Dragon's Eyes
Music Arranger: Guy Barker. Singer: Naomi Banks. Orchestra: 麻豆社 Concert Orchestra. Conductor: Guy Barker.- Shironeko.
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Turner Layton, Giacomo Smith, Mozes Rosenberg, R茅mi Oswald & William Brunard
After You've Gone
- Stunt Records.
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Maurice Ravel
Daphnis et Chlo茅, M 57 - 5th Mvt 'Daybreak'
Choir: Berlin Radio Choir. Orchestra: Berliner Philharmoniker. Conductor: Pierre Boulez.- Deutsche Grammophon.
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Sammy Cahn
The Secret of Christmas
Composer: Jimmy Van Heusen. Music Arranger: Russ Garcia Orchestra. Singer: Ella Fitzgerald. Orchestra: Russ Garcia & His Orchestra.- Verve.
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J. Fred Coots
Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
Composer: Haven Gillespie. Performer: Bill Evans. Performer: Paul Motian. Music Arranger: Bill Evans. Singer: Gary Peacock.- Verve.
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The Coventry Carol
Choir: The Choir Of Trinity College, Cambridge. Conductor: Richard Marlow.- Conifer Classics.
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In Dulci Jubilo
Music Arranger: Clarice Assad. Ensemble: Mir贸 Quartet.- Pentatone.
Broadcast
- Sat 20 Dec 2025 17:00麻豆社 Radio 3
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Jess Gillam hosts the music show for people who like classical and other stuff too.
