Name that tune in . . . It's instrumental, classical & always played at Christmas?

[nellypope]

This is really is a long shot. But I can guarantee you will all know the piece of music when you hear it, I just have no idea of the composer.

It's always played at Christmas.
It's instrumental, classical (usually performed by an orchestra)
Has a steady eighth/sixteenth note beat usually played by strings and sleigh bells. Sort of racing rhythm.
Has a kind of Russian feel to it? Perhaps?

Any ideas would be great! :-)

[Aquariel]

It could be Prokofiev's "Troika", or maybe even Mike Oldfield's "In Dulce Jubilo".

[nellypope]

Thanks Aquariel. It's Troika :-)

[AndiFlatland]

It wouldn't be Prokofiev's 'Lieutenant Kije' by any chance, would it? Seems to fit your general description.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AnT3DxWxeDg

[AndiFlatland]

PS. : The tune was also quoted in Greg Lake's 'I Believe in Father Christmas', which gets played to death everywhere for the last 3 months of the year.