Wade Tarling – Winter Songs

Diverse multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and instructor, Wade Tarling puts his own unique spin on holiday classics on his latest solo piano effort, Winter Songs 

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Multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter, music teacher and all around good guy, Wade Tarling is the latest Newfoundland and Labrador based artist to lend his touch to some Christmas and holiday classics in 2019.

Tarling recently released his 12-track Christmas themed solo piano instrumental album Winter Songs, which sees the versatile artist tackle tried and true classics O Come, All Ye Faithful, Hark! The Herald Angels Sing and Silent Night alongside hidden gems and original cuts like Strength, Holly and the Ivy and Christmas Wish. 

Delving into Winter 

The Burnaby, British Columbia native, who now proudly calls Newfoundland and Labrador home, releases this holiday collection ahead of his lengthy Canadian tour with The Ennis Sisters, where the iconic local trio celebrate 10 years of their annual Christmas showcase. Factor in his involvement with The Bishops and Dana Parsons Trio, and it will be a hustling, bustling holiday season for Tarling. 

Tarling caught up with The Newfoundland Herald for a deep dive into Winter Songs, adding insights and inspirations into an album that should and would make a fine addition to any and all Christmas lists. 

Tiny Trinkets is a song written by Maureen Ennis and Perry Chafe.  It appears on the Ennis Sister’s album entitled, Upon a Winter’s Day. I’ve always felt like its beautiful melody and chord structure would sound great as a jazz standard.  Thus, I re-harmonized it into what you hear on my album.  

Christmas Wish is one if my own compositions. I tried to portray the images of one’s hopes and dreams.  

Silent Night is one of my favourite Christmas carols.  In this arrangement I wanted to keep my playing as simple as its melody. With the exception of a few running melodies in-between verses, I tried to leave as much space as possible.  I believe this creates a soothing ambiance.  

The Wexford Carol is the last song I recorded for the album. I wasn’t familiar with it until one day I discovered a version by Alison Krauss and Yo Yo Ma.  With this inspiration I created my own arrangement.  It starts very simply and quiet and builds up until the very end. The same pedal tones are used through each verse creating a nice amount of tension and release.  

For more information on Wade Tarling and Winter Songs visit his official social medias and wadetarling.com

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