Let's Chat Aboout...Christmas Music
It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year! Don't you agree? Christmas is more than just a time of year, it's a feeling. That feeling you get inside of peace, joy and happiness.
Christmas music dates back to the 4th Century Rome where Latin hymns were composed. In the 13th Century Francis of Assisi influenced the development of popular songs into native languages known as "Carols". In the 16th Century more Carols emerged, many of which are still sung today such as "The Twelve Day of Christmas" and "O Christmas Tree". The modern canon of Christmas music began in the early 19th Century with the publication of song books.
Carols often celebrate the Nativity, the birth of Jesus, and were written as early as the 4th and 5th Centuries but they didn't get associated with Christmas until the 13th Century. Today many Caroling groups sing for charities or church groups. This concept originated in "Feudal", societies where the poor citizens would "sing for their supper" in exchange for food and drink. Others say the idea developed in the 16th Century when the peasants went "Wassailing", requesting nourishment in exchange for singing good tidings. (Wassail is a thick hot spiced beverage that kept the carolers warm). Another common legend says that Carols were named after Carol Poles, a little English girl who went missing in London during the Holiday Season in the early 19th Century. People supposedly searched for her by going door-to-door, singing to declare their good intentions. Although it may be a nice story, it has no factual basis.
Christmas Music includes a variety of genres regularly heard around the Holiday Season. They are often Christian in nature, but many are also symbol based. Most of the songs before the 20th Century were of Religious origan, but the Great Depression brought on a shift in genre including a more Western style theme. These included songs such as "Santa Claus is Coming to Town", "Rudoph the Red Nosed Reindeer" and "Frosty the Snowman".
Crooner is a term used to describe primarily male singers who performed using a smooth style made possible by better microphones which picked up quieter sounds and a wider range of frequencies, allowing the singer to access a more dynamic range and perform in a more intimate manner. It is derived from the old verb "to croon" (meaning "to speak or sing softly"). This suggestion of intimacy was supposedly wildly attractive to women, especially younger ones such as teenage girls, known at the time as "bobby soxers". The crooning style developed out of singers who performed with big bands, and reached its height in the 1940s to late 60s.Crooning is epitomized by jazz vocalists like Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra.
Elvis' Christmas Album remains to be the top selling album of all time. This album was released on October 15th,1957, and consisted of multiple genres including Christmas, Pop, Gospel and Rock and Roll. There was a Traditional Flare with "White Christmas" and "Silent Night", along with his Pop Style of "Santa Bring My Baby Back to Me" and "Blue Christmas". He also added a Gospel Touch with "Peace in the Valley" and "Take My Hand Precious Lord". "Oh, Little Town of Bethlehem" and "Silent Night" were two pieces that he arranged himself.
Another one I enjoy to play during the Christmas Season is the Alabama Christmas Album:
Some other Classics include:
All I Want For Christmas
My Favorite Things
Angels We Have Heard on High
O Christmas Tree
Away In A Manger
O Come All Ye Faithful
Baby It's Cold Outside
O Little Town of Bethlehem
Blue Christmas
Oh Holy Night
Christmas Shoes
How The Grinch Stole Christmas
Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree
Do You Hear What I Hear
Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer
Feliz Navidad
Santa Baby
Frosty The Snowman
Santa Bring My Baby Back To Me
Go Tell It On The Mountain
Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman
Silent Night
Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer
Silver & Gold
Hard Candy Christmas
The Chipmunk's Chrstmas Song
Hark the Herold
The First Noel
Holly Jolly Christmas
The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year
I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus
The Night Before Christmas
I'll Be Home For Christmas
The Twelve Days of Christmas
It Came Upon a Midnight Clear
Up On The Housetop
Jingle Bell Rock
We Three Kings
Jingle Bells
What Child Is This
Jolly Old St. Nicholas
What Child Is This
Joy To The World
While Shepards Watch
Let It Snow
White Christmas
Little Drummer Boy
Winter Wonderland
Mary Did You Know
But, although I love all types of Christmas Music, my all time favorite is "Christmas Shoes"! If you are not familiar with it, click on the video below and you will see why!
We want to know what's your favorite Christmas Music, please comment below.
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