Blissful in December
Blissful in December is a journey through the stillness of autumn and winter, told through gentle melodies for piano, flute, and strings. Here, playful hints of Christmas meet reflective winter scenes in seven instrumental pieces. Some of the melodies have followed me for more than a decade; others were born in a single inspired moment. Together, they form an album that aims to bring a little extra light to December.
About the Album
Blissful in December weaves together the quiet moods of Christmas with the heartfelt nuances of autumn and winter. The album is entirely instrumental and built on a close interplay between piano, flute, and strings. The arrangements were crafted with great care by Ioana Amarita. The music moves through a warm, melodic landscape where both calm and anticipation have room to unfold — and where every piece carries a story of its own.
Several of the melodies have been with me for many years. Advent Wishes, for example, is one of my oldest Christmas pieces; attentive listeners may recognize it from my 2016 holiday greeting, where I performed it on piano. Born in September is a tribute to everyone who — like myself — is lucky enough to have a September birthday, while Waiting for Santa captures a child’s joyful impatience before Christmas Eve in a playful “ding-dong-ding.”
Other pieces hold more personal stories. Smiling Hearts is a small ballad written during a sunny Pentecost weekend, inspired by a correspondence with a close friend about life’s sorrows and joys. Found: Best Friend is based on a poem sent to me long ago by my friend A-L — a reflection on what true friendship really is.
Some melodies arrived quickly and unexpectedly. A Candle Bright is a newly written piece, born in a single inspired instant and captured only because the recording equipment happened to be on. It’s about being a light in the darkness — something that feels especially meaningful in winter. And the album’s title track, Blissful in December, is the one dearest to my heart. I think of it as a musical rose for a young woman who means a great deal to me. I carry a dream of hearing it performed in a full orchestral arrangement one day.
Recording the album was a special experience: melodies that had long been private finally found their place in a wider sonic universe. Knowing that they now reach listeners around the world feels both surreal and wonderful — like sharing a well-kept secret with anyone who wishes to hear it.
Release Information
Released on 15 October 2017
Music by Freddy Gustavsson
Arrangement by Ioana Amarita
Cover illustration by Rizki Ardia
UPC 191061826248