[GT]

Here is a recording i did today. I re-record this one, cause my gear has improved from that time

This is a powerfull great song, i hope you like it.
Her eis the story:

Paul O'Neill explained the story behind Christmas Eve/Sarajevo 12/24 in an interview published on ChristianityToday.com:[1]

... We heard about this cello player born in Sarajevo many years ago 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 the Ukraine, near that region). The orchestra represents one side, the rock band the other, and the single cello represents that single individual, that spark of hope.

"Christmas Eve/Sarajevo 12/24" was also one of the songs featured on the Trans-Siberian Orchestra's only (as of 2006) DVD, The Ghosts Of Christmas Eve, and is played twice at every live show: once as part of the Christmas Eve and Other Stories half of the show, and later as a finale. Along with "Wizards In Winter", it is generally regarded as the TSO's most recognizable recording.

The cellist that the story refers to is Vedran Smailović. However, unlike the "white-haired man" referred to in the story, Smailović was in his mid-thirties at the time of the Siege of Sarajevo.

The song is often misnamed "Carol of the Bells" (due to its use of the melody) on file-sharing networks. As such, it has also been incorrectly linked to Metallica rather than accurately being attributed to either Savatage or the Trans-Siberian Orchestra.

Here it is:
Christmas Eve / Sarajevo GT 2007 <== only 7 days...


This is my way to say MERRY XMAS EVERYBODY!!!!!

[allthumbs]

Thanks GT. Same to you.

[eddiez152]

Thats one heck of production GT. Sure stayed with the tempo of this.
That had to be tough.

Merry Christmas to you too.

[tomg123]

Nice going GT

[cshude]

Very impressive.

[coldethyl]

Well done GT!
Merry Xmas to you too.

[knight46]

Very well done GT, thanks for the post and the background information.
And a Very Merry Christmas to you and yours.

[Rockerbob]

Nice!

[GT]

Thanks so much guy, im glad you like it! Merry christmas everybody!!!

[SlickCat]

Awsome Merry Christmas GT !

[krissovo]

Touching story and very similar to an event that I witnessed again in Sarajevo in the early 90's when I was serving with the UN. A large shell landed near the the old TV staition (sniper ally) and killed a member of the Sarajevo orchestra along with a number of civilians. In the same bombardment was an unexploded shell that I was clearing when 5 members of the orchestra turned up and played in the crater that the shell had left behind. The French military who were controling the area tried to move them to safety but they refused and continued playing even when another bombardment started. They ended up playing for over 12 hours!

Merry Chrimbo!

[X4StringDrive]

Great GT...Merry Christmas to you as well!

[GT]

Originally Posted by krissovo

Touching story and very similar to an event that I witnessed again in Sarajevo in the early 90's when I was serving with the UN. A large shell landed near the the old TV staition (sniper ally) and killed a member of the Sarajevo orchestra along with a number of civilians. In the same bombardment was an unexploded shell that I was clearing when 5 members of the orchestra turned up and played in the crater that the shell had left behind. The French military who were controling the area tried to move them to safety but they refused and continued playing even when another bombardment started. They ended up playing for over 12 hours!

Merry Chrimbo!

That´s an incredible story Krissovo, thanks for sharing it

And thanks everybody else!