The Christmas Attic

The Christmas Attic
Studio album by Trans-Siberian Orchestra
Released	September 15, 1998
Genre	Symphonic rock, Christmas rock
Length	73:19
Label	Lava Records
Producer	Paul O'Neill and Robert Kinkel
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Trans-Siberian Orchestra chronology
Christmas Eve and Other Stories (1996) The Christmas Attic (1998) Beethoven's Last Night (2000)

The Christmas Attic is the second album by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, a rock opera, and the second installment of their Christmas Trilogy, the sequel to Christmas Eve and Other Stories and the prequel to The Lost Christmas Eve.

Story

In this room where shadows live
And ghost that failed, learn time forgives
Welcome friends please stay awhile

Our story starts with one small child
Who spends her times in attics dark
where dreams are stored like sleeping hearts

It is here that the story begins on Christmas Eve, where a small child is exploring the attic in her old house. Here through piles of forgotten toys, trunk of old letters and Christmas cards she rediscovers the magic of Christmas.

The like most Trans-Siberian Orchestra albums the liner notes contain the story in both prose form and rhyming pentameter album as well. Night Castle is the only album that to date does not contain rhyming pentameter but that my easily change in the future as "Beethoven's Last Night" did when they re-released it and started touring it in 2010. As of 2011 when ever TSO performs a rock opera live they always use the rhyming pentameter

Certified Double Platinum RIAA

Track listing

1. "The Ghosts of Christmas Eve" – 2:15
2. "Boughs of Holly" – 4:24 *
3. "The World That She Sees" – 4:13
4. "The World That He Sees" - 4:45
5. "Midnight Christmas Eve" – 4:21 *
6. "The March of the Kings / Hark the Herald Angel" – 3:52 *
7. "The Three Kings and I (What Really Happened)" – 6:29
8. "Christmas Canon" – 4:19
9. "Joy / Angels We Have Heard on High" – 3:55
10. "Find Our Way Home" – 3:45
11. "Appalachian Snowfall" – 4:12 *
12. "The Music Box" – 3:01
13. "The Snow Came Down" – 5:43
14. "Christmas in the Air" – 4:12
15. "Dream Child (A Christmas Dream)" – 7:04
16. "An Angel's Share" – 3:05
17. "Music Box Blues" – 4:57

(*) indicates an instrumental

Original copies of the CD from 1998 do not contain "The World That He Sees." It was added to the lineup at a later date.

Personnel

• Paul O'Neill - Producer
• Robert Kinkel - Co-Producer
• Dave Wittman - Recording and Mix Engineer

Performers

Vocals

Solos:

• Jody Ashworth
• Joe Cerisano
• Katrina Chester
• Marlene Danielle
• Thomas Farese
• Peggy Harley
• Daryl B. Pediford

Back-Ups:

• Latisha Jordan - Background Coordinator
• Peggy Harley
• Robert Kinkel
• Maurice Lauchner
• Al Pitrelli
• Jon Oliva
• Timara Sanders
• Zak Stevens
• Doug Thoms
• Yolanda Wyns

Child choir

Conductor:

• Dan Moriarty

Choir:

• The Choristers, St. Bartholomew's Church, New York City
• Marilina Acosta
• Brendan Burgess
• Julian George
• Shoshana Frishberg
• Julia George
• Jack Gibson
• Nina Gottlieb
• Erick Hernandez
• Michelle Repella
• Anton Spivack

Orchestra

• Robert Kinkel - Piano and Keyboards
• Jon Oliva - Piano, Keyboards and Bass Guitars
• Al Pitrelli - Lead, Rhythm and Bass Guitars
• Paul O'Neill - Rhythm Guitars
• Johnny Lee Middleton - Bass
• Jeff Plate - Drums
• Chris Caffery - Rhythm Guitars

References to other carols and works

• "Boughs of Holly" is a reworking of "Deck the Halls".
• "March of the Kings/Hark! The Herald Angels Sing," besides the obvious carol, is also a rock version of the Farandole from Bizet's L'Arlésienne's Suite No. 2.
• "The Three Kings and I (What Really Happened)" briefly quotes O Holy Night and the Hallelujah Chorus.
• "Christmas Canon" is based on Pachelbel's Canon.
• The "Joy" section of "Joy/Angels We Have Heard on High" is a reworking of Bach's "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring."

External links

• Trans-Siberian Orchestra Homepage
• The Christmas Attic page