Breath of Heaven: A Christmas Collection

Breath of Heaven: A Christmas Collection is the second Christmas album from American country music artist Vince Gill. It was released in 1998 on MCA Nashville. The album was recorded with the Patrick Williams Orchestra.

Track listing

 * 1) "Winter Wonderland" (Felix Bernard, Richard B. Smith) - 3:21
 * 2) "The Christmas Song" (Mel Torme, Bob Wells) - 4:16
 * 3) "O Little Town of Bethlehem" (Phillips Brooks, Lewis Redner) - 4:06
 * 4) "Silver Bells" (Ray Evans, Jay Livingston) - 3:32
 * 5) "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year" (Edward Pola, George Wyle) - 2:45
 * 6) "Blue Christmas" (Billy Hayes, Jay W. Johnson) - 3:48
 * 7) "O Holy Night" (Adolphe Adam, John Sullivan Dwight) - 4:34
 * 8) "Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!" (Sammy Cahn, Jule Styne) - 2:48
 * 9) "A Cradle in Bethlehem" (Alfred Bryan, Larry Stock) - 4:12
 * 10) "Breath of Heaven (Mary's Song)" (Chris Eaton, Amy Grant) - 5:57
 * 11) "O Come All Ye Faithful" (Frederick Oakeley, John Francis Wade) - 2:57

Personnel

 * Vince Gill – lead vocals
 * Michael Lang – acoustic piano
 * Michael Omartian – keyboards, percussion
 * George Doering – guitars
 * Dean Parks – guitars
 * Chuck Berghofer – bass
 * Gregg Field – drums
 * Larry Bunker – percussion
 * Gene Puerling – arrangements (3)
 * Patrick Williams – arrangements (7, 11)

The Patrick Williams Orchestra


 * Patrick Williams – arrangements and conductor
 * Endre Granat – concertmaster
 * Joe Soldo – contractor
 * Bill Baker – music preparation
 * Curt Berg – music preparation
 * Jonathan Barrack Griffiths – music preparation
 * Clyde Hoggan – music preparation
 * Ralph Mullins – music preparation
 * Daniel Perito – music preparation
 * Marion Sherrill – music preparation
 * David Wells – music preparation
 * Terry Woodson – music preparation

Brass and woodwind section


 * Rick Baptist– trumpet
 * Wayne Bergeron – trumpet
 * Jon Clarke – flute, oboe
 * Gary Foster – clarinet, flute
 * Larry Hall– trumpet
 * Charles Loper – trombone
 * Warren Luening – trumpet
 * Barbara Northcutt – oboe
 * David Shostac – flute
 * Phil Teele – bass trombone
 * Bill Watrous – trombone
 * Chauncey Welsch – trombone
 * Angela Wiegand – flute

String section


 * Bob Becker – viola
 * Julie Berghofer – harp
 * Robert Brosseau – violin
 * Belinda Broughton – violin
 * Darius Campo – violin
 * Matthew Cooker – cello
 * Mario DeLeón – violin
 * Marcia Dickstein – harp
 * Assa Drori – violin
 * Steve Erdody – cello
 * Donald V. Ferrone – double bass
 * Kristin Fife – violin
 * Ronald Folsom – violin
 * Suzanna Giordano – viola
 * Mimi Granat – viola
 * Keith Greene – viola
 * Larry Greenfield – violin
 * Gwenn Heller – violin
 * Amy Hershberger – violin
 * Oscar Hidalgo – double bass
 * Sarah Knutson – violin
 * Laura Kuennen-Poper – viola
 * Armin Ksajikian – cello
 * Natalie Leggett – violin
 * Carolyn Osborn – violin
 * Bob Sanov – violin
 * John Scanlon – viola
 * Harry Shirinian – viola
 * Christina Soule – cello
 * David Speltz – cello
 * David Stenske – violin
 * Ray Tischer – viola
 * Cecilia Tsan – cello
 * Jennifer Walton – violin
 * Miwako Watanabe – violin

Backing vocalists


 * Steve Amerson – backing vocals (3)
 * Morgan Ames – backing vocals (3)
 * Amick Byram – backing vocals (3, 9, 11)
 * Alvin Chea – backing vocals (3, 11)
 * Randy Crenshaw – backing vocals (9, 11)
 * Donna Davidson – backing vocals (3, 7, 9, 11)
 * Ian Freebarin-Smith – backing vocals (3)
 * Debbie Hall – backing vocals (3, 7, 9, 11)
 * Sandie Hall – backing vocals (3, 7, 9, 11)
 * Walt Harrah – backing vocals (3, 11)
 * Terry Harriton – backing vocals (3)
 * Ron Hicklin – backing vocals (3)
 * Luana Jackman – (7, 9, 11)
 * Bob Joyce – backing vocals (3, 9, 11)
 * Edie Lehmann Boddicker – backing vocals (3, 7, 9, 11)
 * Rick Logan – (9, 11)
 * Melissa Mackay – backing vocals (3, 7, 9, 11)
 * Gene Merlino – backing vocals (3)
 * Bobbi Page – backing vocals (3)
 * Don Shelton – backing vocals (3, 9, 11)
 * Sally Stevens – vocal contractor, backing vocals (3, 7, 9, 11)
 * Susie Stevens-Logan – backing vocals (7, 9, 11)
 * Mervyn Warren – backing vocals (3, 11)
 * John West – backing vocals (3, 9, 11)
 * Ann White – backing vocals (3)

Production

 * Tony Brown – producer
 * Michael Omartian – producer
 * Al Schmitt – recording, mixing at Capitol Studios, Hollywood, California
 * Terry Christian – overdub recording at Seventeen Grand Recording, Nashville, Tennessee, additional recording
 * Hank Nirider – additional overdub recording, assistant engineer
 * Peter Doell – assistant engineer
 * Steve Genewick – assistant engineer
 * Bill Smith – assistant engineer
 * Denny Purcell – mastering at Georgetown Masters, Nashville, Tennessee
 * Jessie Noble – project coordinator
 * Lisa Jurowski – project coordinator
 * Jim McGuire – photography