Leon Jessel - The Parade of the Tin Soldiers, Op. 123 - Balázs Szokolay Piano

Leon (or Léon) Jessel (1871-1942) was a German composer. This is his most well-known piece. Sadly, he was arrested, tortured, and ultimately died at the hands of the Gestapo for taking a stand against the Nazis. The Parade of the Tin Soldiers, also known as The Parade of the Wooden Soldiers was originally composed for piano in 1897. In 1905, Jessel published an orchestrated version. The piece is often associated with Christmas. Lyrics were written by Ballard MacDonald in 1922, but orchestrated versions remain the most popular way this piece is performed and recorded. Balázs Szokolay (b. 1961) is a Hungarian pianist. This is the only commercial recording I could find of the original piano version. He adds a few of his own touches in some sections.