Christmas Eve/Sarajevo by EMP

Please visit the new EMP youtube page at www.youtube.com/EMPProject.

Additionally, the other individual players in EMP are:

David Presley: www.youtube.com/scubatarkus

Mark Estes: www.youtube.com/HawkStudio

Mark DeGregory: www.youtube.com/MDDRUMZ

Graham Seaman: www.youtube.com/babayaga321

Jakob Wimmler: www.youtube.com/jackinart

The first time I heard this song, a little more than a year ago, I thought it was just a really cool "RAWKED-OUT" version of Carol of the Bells, which is my all time favorite Christmas carol. I recently discovered that I had no clue as to the true essence and origin of this particular composition as brought forth by Savatage and The Trans Siberian Orchestra. The piece describes a lone cello player playing a forgotten Christmas carol in war-torn Sarajevo. Wikipedia denotes how Paul O'Neill (co-founder of TSO) explained the story behind Christmas Eve/Sarajevo 12/24 in an interview published on ChristianityToday.com:

"...We heard about this cello player born in Sarajevo many years ago (Vedran Smailović) who left when he was fairly young to go on to become a well-respected musician, playing with various symphonies throughout Europe. Many decades later, he returned to Sarajevo as an elderly man—at the height of the Bosnian War, only to find his city in complete ruins.

I think what most broke this man's heart was that the destruction was not done by some outside invader or natural disaster—it was done by his own people. At that time, Serbs were shelling Sarajevo every night. Rather than head for the bomb shelters like his family and neighbors, this man went to the town square, climbed onto a pile of rubble that had once been the fountain, took out his cello, and played Mozart and Beethoven as the city was bombed. He came every night and began playing Christmas carols from that same spot. It was just such a powerful image—a white-haired man silhouetted against the cannon fire, playing timeless melodies to both sides of the conflict amid the rubble and devastation of the city he loves.

Some time later, a reporter traced him down to ask why he did this insanely stupid thing. The old man said that it was his way of proving that despite all evidence to the contrary, the spirit of humanity was still alive in that place. The song basically wrapped itself around him.

We used some of the oldest Christmas melodies we could find, like "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" and "Carol of the Bells" (which is from Ukraine, near that region). The orchestra represents one side, the rock band the other, and single cello represents that single individual, that spark of hope."

For EMP, this project has been sort of a "rebirth" in a manner of speaking. It has brought ALL of us back together for another amazing project, and the level of excitement and expectation throughout the production process has been at an extremely high level. I am personally very proud of every member of the group, and I cannot find the words to accurately express my deepest appreciation to them for allowing me to have a part in this. These guys are definitely a major force in my life and I love them to pieces.

Those of us in EMP truly wish everyone out there PEACE and GOODWILL during this Holiday Season. May your holidays be rich with blessings, and your New Year be happy, safe, and prosperous!

LC

Category:

Music

Tags:

• EMP
• Christmas
• Eve
• Sarajevo
• Carol
• Of
• The
• Bells
• Savatage
• Trans-Siberian
• Orchestra
• Cover
• Song

[hamnhock]

Jaw dropping as i watch the video!!!!

awesome guys,,just awesome...

Ham

[SilverHamer]

Thanks Ham. Yea, this is such a neat arrangement it is hard not to love it. Everyone poured their souls into their parts, but the guy who worked the hardest was Graham as he is responsible for this incredible audio mix, as well as some of the guitar tracks and the narration. This was a really BIG project to undertake at a very busy time of the year. Thanks again, and speaking on behalf of all of us, we are very thrilled that you enjoyed it. LC

[Vellont]

Frogive me for sounding simple, but just what are those your hitting at 2:57 to give the sound of the bells?

[SilverHamer]

Those are tubular bells

[murisv]

I was in Sarajevo during the siege (92-95)

and I appreciate this song A LOT,

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year guys!!

[SilverHamer]

WOW! Thank you sooo much! Your compliment means a LOT. I wish you a VERY Merry Christmas and a Happy, Safe, and Prosperous New Year! We hope you will also visit the main EMP page, too. /EMPProject is the youtube URL expander. Thanks again! LC

[Booger414]

I found this video again looking though your channel. Thanks for remembering that this is indeed a Savatage song and that the TSO version is essentially them covering their own work. For me while I know they have been commercial successful with the Christmas albums this song is much more meaningful when heard as part of the original opera Dead Winter Dead. Nice job with the opening narration however.

[Indigolunch]

Stupid Serbians, i'm Croatian myself. 

[protv18]

happy new yeard mother fuckers i love you guys

[RockyWhyNot]

Powerful!

~Tammi~

[PialatBernard]

******

no word !

[ironscull]

one word..... MASTERPIECE!!

[Rangerlou]

I fell in love with this song when TSO debuted on MTV. It was just a powerful, captivating orchestration, one of those songs you not only hear, but feel, deep inside you.

Now, with the addition of the opening narrative, it truly reaches even deeper. Your version will forever be at the top of my Christmas Playlist. Kudos to you Gentlemen, God speed and God Bless!

[AlexPowerMetalhead]

Fucking war :(

[kenns9]

MEIN GOTT!

[poolph01]

Still lovin' it....