Short bio Alfred Burt
Full biography Alfred Burt
Alfred Shaddick Burt (1920-1954) was an American jazz musician and composer , best known for his Christmas carols. Alfred grew up in a musical family and continued his family's tradition of composing Christmas carols started by his great-grandfather, Bates G. Burt. Alfred began composing annual Christmas carols himself in 1942 , after his father asked him to take over as composer and write the music for the family Christmas card. He wrote both the music and lyrics for his carols.
Alfred's carols were initially intended for private use and were printed on the back of the family's Christmas cards. However, they gained popularity outside of his family and were eventually published and recorded by various choirs. Some of his most well-known carols include "Caroling, Caroling" and "Some Children See Him."
Tragically, Alfred passed away at the young age of 33 due to lung disease. However, his legacy lives on through his music, which continues to be performed and enjoyed by many. The Burt family Christmas carol tradition has also been carried on by Alfred's great-niece, Abbie Burt Betinis, who is also a composer.
Compositions featuring Alfred Burt
| # | Name | Duration | Genre | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | We'll Dress This House, carol for voice & piano | 1:37 min | Miscellaneous (Classical) | 1954 |
| 2 | Caroling, Caroling (Christmas Bells Are Ringing), carol for voice & piano | 1:50 min | Miscellaneous (Classical) | 1954 |
| 3 | The Star Carol, carol for voice & piano | 2:12 min | Miscellaneous (Classical) | 1954 |
| 4 | O, Hearken Ye, carol for voice & piano | 2:16 min | Miscellaneous (Classical) | 1953 |
| 5 | Come, Dear Children, carol for voice & piano | 1:49 min | Miscellaneous (Classical) | 1952 |
| 6 | Some Children See Him, carol for voice & piano | 3:41 min | Miscellaneous (Classical) | 1951 |
| 7 | This Is Christmas (Bright, bright the holly berries), carol for voice & piano | 2:37 min | Miscellaneous (Classical) | 1950 |
| 8 | Sleep, Baby Mine (Carol of the Mother), carol for voice & piano | 2:58 min | Miscellaneous (Classical) | 1949 |
| 9 | Christ in the Stranger's Guise, carol for voice & piano | 2:38 min | Miscellaneous (Classical) | 1948 |
| 10 | Nigh Bethlehem, carol for voice & piano | 2:10 min | Miscellaneous (Classical) | 1947 |
| 11 | All on a Christmas Morning, carol for voice & piano | 3:24 min | Miscellaneous (Classical) | 1946 |
| 12 | Ah, Bleak and Chill the Wintry Wind, carol for voice & piano | 1:55 min | Miscellaneous (Classical) | 1945 |
| 13 | What Are the Signs, carol for voice & piano | 1:35 min | Miscellaneous (Classical) | 1944 |
| 14 | Jesu Parvule, carol for voice & piano | 2:40 min | Miscellaneous (Classical) | 1943 |
| 15 | Christmas Cometh Caroling, carol for voice & piano | 2:22 min | Miscellaneous (Classical) | 1942 |
| 16 | O Harken Ye | 1:38 min | Choral | - |
| 17 | A Christmas Greeting, medley for chorus & orchestra (arranged from Burt's carols) | 12:52 min | Choral | - |
Albums featuring Alfred Burt
| # | Сover | Name album | Year | Music label |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  |
Al Burt, The Columbia Choir, The Columbia Brass Ensemble – The Christmas Mood (A Program Of New American Christmas Carols)(LP, Album, Reissue, Mono) | - | Columbia |
| 2 |  |
Alfred S. Burt, Jimmy Joyce – This Is Christmas: A Complete Collection Of The Alfred S. Burt Carols(CD, Remastered) | - | TRO-Hollis Music Inc. |
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