Xmas music recommendations--not your standard collections

[NewGuise]

A few Canucks have made the list - Sarah McLachlan, Diana Krall (and hubby Elvis Costello), and the wonderful Loreena McKennitt (whom I first heard when she was a busker in Toronto!) - but I want to add two more. Bruce Cockburn's Christmas includes only one piece that he wrote, the rest being highly traditional, but not always familiar; the Huron Carol, familiar to many Canadians, at least, is actually sung in Huron. Jane Siberry's Child, a double CD set from a live concert in New York City, includes a wide range of material, from the joyous "Shir Amami," a Hanukkah song, to Siberry's own quirky "Hockey," not exactly a Christmas hymn but ... seasonal, to one of the loveliest renditions of Holst's "In the Bleak Midwinter" that I have ever heard. Essential.

[Lachlan09]

Merry Christmas Everybody ! - Slade

[MacBubba45]

Merry Christmas Everybody ! - Slade

Merry Christmas! (and this comes from someone who has a difficult, trying job thru this time of year, beginning with Thanksgiving).

My cell phone ringtone is set to "God Rest Ye, Merry Gentlemen" from the 1984 Mannheim Steamroller Christmas album. I may do a week of "Auld Lang Syne" next week, but my constant ringtone is "Highland Laddie" from that first best selling album by the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards (1960-something?). That always gets a lot of attention when it goes off in, say, the doctors office waiting room.

The "adult contemporary" style of Christmas music, like Ray Coniff or Mitch Miller, always reminds me of childhood this time of year.

I also like Leon Redbone's "Christmas Island" album, as well as a "Rat Pack" Christmas collection of Dean Martin, Sinatra, and Sammy Davis, Jr.

[KD Burke]

I very much enjoy traditional carols: "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen", "The Carol of the Bells", "I Saw Three Ships", etc.

Several years ago, on a whim, I purchased a "Medieval Christmas" CD. The performers reproduced, as faithfully as possible from the original sources, the music actually performed during the middle ages. I regret that I lost it some time ago.

I recall that it was haunting and melancholy to a degree that would be unthinkable today. It drove home to me just how fragile and difficult life was in that era.

KD :ootd:

[PEEDYC]

If you want someting a little different go to You Tube and type in Christmas Bagpipes.
Seasons greetings from a Scot in Yorkshire

[LANCER1562]

One of my favorites is The 12 Red Neck Days of Christmas by Jeff Foxworthy. Always good for a laugh. I have a friend who, if you ask her really nicely, will sing Silent Night, Holy Night in German with the voice of an angel.

[fluter]

Several years ago, on a whim, I purchased a "Medieval Christmas" CD. The performers reproduced, as faithfully as possible from the original sources, the music actually performed during the middle ages. I regret that I lost it some time ago.

KD, that may be another collection by Boston Camerata, whose American Christmas I mentioned up-thread.

[fluter]

Cited by the Chronicle of Higher Education, someone asked several music/music history scholars for their antidotes to the elevator music.

Bah, Humbug: It's an Old Refrain, but There Are Better Holiday Songs

This reminded me of some favorites like Rachmaninoff "Bogoroditse Devo" --- it's hard to go wrong with Russian sacred music . Somehow that reminded me of Morton Lauridsen's "O magnum mysterium" (a nice Christmas text), which also has a stunning arrangment for wind band. (brief preview of
choral and instrumental versions)

[Panache]

One that hasn't been recommend yet is "Christmas Songs" by Mel Torme'. It and "A Charlie Brown Christmas" by the Vince Guaraldi Trio are my favorite Christmas Albums. Mel does a beautiful version of "Christmastime is here".

As for my favorite songs

Mel Torme' "Good King Wenceslas" (fantastic jazz take on the song)

Frank Sinatra "I'll Be Home for Christmas"

Nat King Cole "Oh Tannenbaum" (in German!)

Cheers

Jamie :ootd:

[ForresterModern]

Hi Jamie. Nice to hear your voice again.

Although I already have the original version, I am getting a special edition expanded version of the "Charlie Brown Christmas" album for christmas. It supposedly has a couple pieces that were not included in the original soundtrack, as well as some alternative versions of songs that were included. Can't wait to get to that stocking Christmas morning to get that baby on the stereo.

Nice to have you back sir.

Jeff