The Music of CHRISTmas

Question

In these days leading up to christmas day, perhaps we can share some of the music of that special day. For hundreds of years, christianity and music have worked together to tell the story of christianity, its festivals and holidays. What music of christmas brings you into focus on the celebration of the birth of Christ.

Here is one performance that focuses my mind on the day ----> For Unto Us a Child is Born.

What are the musical pieces that help you?

Answer 1

Thank you for this thread, Moe. In the past several years, Christmas music has been replaced little by little with secular "holiday" music. Radio stations that boast of playing Christmas music all day are filling the airwaves with Rudoph, Jingle Bells, Santa Claus is Coming to Town and any number of "Christmas" songs who never once reference what we are actually going to be celebrating.

I love, O, Holy Night and Lo! How a Rose 'ere Blooming...it's so hard to choose among the hundreds of beautiful and heartfelt songs that have been written over the past hundreds of years up until today that celebrate the wonder and mystery of a God who loves us so much as to send His Son to die for us. An idea that is SO hard to get one's head around, and an idea that is so humbling when one does.

Merry Christmas to all.

Answer 2

El Tamborilero

I love this little boy's voice. (Actually I don't know for sure it's a boy singing, but to me it sounds like a boy's voice)

Here's a nice comment from the youtube thread:

"El mejor regalo que le podemos dar es nuestra humildad y amor."

Love it, and I like Raphael's version too http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DNypNqehwcw&feature=related - margaretbl, Dec 21, 2010

Answer 3

When I was in high school, Meistersingers (the advanced choir) would do a candlelight processional to O Come All Ye Faithful at the beginning of our holiday concert. It was always my favorite concert, and that memory is still with me. It's such a beautiful song.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1eLDvM7eSq0

Answer 4

Silent Night - Stille Nacht is one of my all-time favorites. The simplicity of it makes it that much more beautiful and powerful. In the school choir, we had the pleasure of singing it in it's original German - beautiful!

I'm not sure how to do a link to YouTube, but here's a URL

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4puLybRGSAw

Answer 5

At Christmas I always look forward to breaking out my cd of Handel's Messiah, I think it's some of the most beautiful music ever written.

Here's a little YouTube clip of "Unto Us a Child Is Born". It is the London Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Sir Colin Davis.

link text

Answer 6

In the Spanish communites around Boston, Mass, USA, this is a very popular Christmas song.

Burrito Sabanero

Answer 7

Summer weather has started here, so the usual Christmas songs seem out of place, but I guess the pagan celebration of the solstice must be observed none the less.

Christmas songs should not seem out of place as Christmas is, after all, about Christ.... although "winter" songs would be very odd. - Echoline, Dec 21, 2010

Answer 8

Not to be too technical but Christmas is based on pagan holiday so I think it's hard to argue what things were "originally about." time changes everything. Then again, as an atheist, I guess it doesnt bother me much. However, I was raised Christian, in Christian schools, I drank the kool-aid, etc. so I know of some songs that would probably have more significance to me if I believed in the Christian god. I love them because they were a part of my family tradition growing up. Some good messages too. Here they are:

O Holy Night. I LOVE Josh Groban's version. His voice is magical. link text

Joy to the World. I like Whitney's version. link text

Who Could Imagine A King. Again, Miss Houston. link text

Do You Hear What I Hear (one of my favs in any version) Vanessa Williams link text

Carrie Underwood's version link text

Little Drummer Boy - Josh Groban link text

Christmas Canon - Trans-Siberian Orchestra link text

God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman - Barenaked Ladies and Sarah Mclachlan link text

Hark! The Herald Angels Song - mariah carey link text

Jewel's version link text

theres more but ill stop

Correction - many of the European-based, secular traditions that are associated with the Christmas season are pagan based. But "Christmas", the celebration of Christ's birth is all about Christ. - lkelly, Dec 21, 2010

To say, You "drank the coolaid, " prejudices the beliefs of many. Maybe you could rephrase that? - 002262dd, Dec 21, 2010

I am flagging you not because you are an athiest, but because you have gone out of your way to offend Christians during our holy season by saying we "drank the cool-aid". We are tolerant of people here, both believers and non-believers, and all get along - Echoline, Dec 21, 2010

I'm sorry but that is ridiculous. I won't compromise my use of expression. I don't believe in it. It's called freedom of speech, and that was far from "going out of my way." Just delete my answer if its not good enough then, I'd prefer that. - doowahdiddy, Dec 22, 2010

I can't see how 'drank the kool-aid' need be offensive. I wonder how many people of any given faith would be of another faith were they to be born into a different culture. The expression simply means to accept what you are told, and the majority of... - afowen, Dec 22, 2010

... people with religion, I'd warrent, learned said religion was the truth whilst young. - afowen, Dec 22, 2010

'Drink the kool-aid" is extremely offensive. It's a reference to the Jim Jones tragedy where his brain-washed believers unwittingly drank the kool-aid resulting in their deaths. - lkelly, Dec 22, 2010