Xmas music recommendations--not your standard collections

[RB51]

We enjoy listening to:

Christmas Songs - Diana Krall
The Christmas Song - Nat King Cole
A Little Christmas Music - The King's Singers (with a wonderful piece by Kiri Te Kanawa)
Songs of Joy & Peace - Yo-Yo Mah & Friends (an eclectic collection of musicians and their music)

And what Christmas season would not be complete without Handel's Messiah. I had the delight of hearing my father and brother sing this very many years ago, and it is a piece that still moves me.


Laurie

[Woodsheal]

Loreena McKennit; To Drive the Cold Winter Away

[Dixiecat]

http://www.amazon.com/Meowy-Christma.../dp/B000001UEP

Best Christmas present ever (thanks sis!). This is the most oft requested Christmas music in our household.

Anybody pick up that tool cd of Christmas songs from Lee Valley?

[Kilt_Em_All]

There's quite a few that don't fall in to the "typical Christmas music" category that I enjoy. In no particular order:

Merry Axemas - A Guitar Christmas vol 1 & 2 by various popular guitar players (Alex Lifeson, Brian Setzer, Ted Nuggent, etc)
The Jethro Tull Christmas Album by Jethro Tull
The Christmas Attic by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra
Christmas Eve and Other Stories by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra
The Lost Christmas Eve by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra
Night Castle by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra

I know I have others that fall into this category, but these are my favorites.

-Elliott

[Mark Keeney]

Favorite CD of all time
A Christmas Delight - Oklahoma Woodwind Quintet
favorite track - Stille, Stille, Stille

Close behind
He Is Christmas - Take 6
and
Our Hearts Joy, A Chanticleer Christmas

Other favorites
Ceremony of Carols - Benjamin Brittan
Handel's Messiah - A Soulful Celebration

[Rex_Tremende]

Here are some of the tunes that say it's Christmas to me (besides Vince Guaraldi):

• Bach: Christmas Oratorio, BWV 248
• Count Your Blessings Instead Of Sheep / Diana Krall / Christmas Songs -- I actually listen to this one almost every night on my sleeping music mix
• I'd Like You For Christmas / Julie London / Ultra-Lounge: Christmas
• Cocktails, Part One
• Jesus Christ the Apple Tree / James Galway / James Galway's Christmas Carol
• Shepherd's Pipe Carol / James Galway / James Galway's Christmas Carol
• Snowfall / The Manhattan Transfer / The Christmas Album
• (entire album) / George Shearing Quintet / Christmas With The George Shearing Quintet
• (entire album) / Narada / The Narada Nutcracker

I'm sure I'm missing some, but the posts above have listed some intriguing choices that I'm looking forward to exploring.

iTunes users, be aware that there is a free 20-track Christmas sampler of whole songs available to you.

Regards,
Rex.

[fluter]

Loreena McKennit; To Drive the Cold Winter Away

Thanks, Brian! I was a bit surprised it had not yet been mentioned.

The Boston Camerata, An American Christmas Music mainly from the 18th-19th centuries, shows some interesting connections to English music of the same period. Best of all, much of it fits an Advent theme, and thus is a good antidote to the (ahem) schlock with which we are bombarded in public spaces this time of year.

Chanticleer Our Heart's Joy: a Chanticleer Christmas Includes the ravishing 7-part version of "Ave Maria" by Franz Biebl, among other gems from Praetorius to Britten via folk carols and spirituals.

Last and probably least, Dr. Demento Presents: Greatest Christmas Novelty CD of All Time. From Stan Freberg and the Chipmunks, to Cheech and Chong, to Bob and Doug McKenzie.

[beloitpiper]

Really, I'm the first to say it?

Fairytale of New York by The Pogues.

Best. Christmas song. Ever.



Other noteworthies:
-Christmas Time (Don't Let The Bells End) by The Darkness
-Merry Christmas Maggie Thatcher by Elton John
-Father Christmas by The Kinks
-Merry Christmas (I Don't Want To Fight Tonight) by The Ramones

[ccga3359]

I've always connected Christmas with Emerson, Lake & Palmer's "I Believe In Father Christmas". I also enjoy Trans-Siberian Orchestra's compilation's. I dislike how every singer put's out their "own" version of the classics. Randy Travis' covers, for one, just makes me want to scream and pull my hair out.

[Sionnach]

Here's something different- Sufjan Stevens' Songs for Christmas and
The Mediaeval Babes- Mistletoe and Wine.
Regards,