Christmas music

[TC Chris]

I'm a fan of Christmas music. My favorites are "Oh Holy Night," "While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks," and the Holst setting of "In the Bleak Midwinter." And there's one more recording that I listen to each Christmas eve: Dylan Thomas reading his story, "A Child's Christmas in Wales." He has that glorious Welsh rumble of a baritone voice that would make the McDonald's menu sound interesting, plus it's just a colorful tale of childhood memories. I had recorded it off the air on cassette years ago, and a couple years back bought a CD collection of him reading things.

The old cassette is cool because as Thomas was reciting the last line, "And I slept....", the radio host brought up a hammered dulcimer recording that just fits the holiday mood. The CD is higher quality but lacks the end music.

Chris Campbell

[electra225]

It is a tradition in our house to listen to Perry Como singing "O Holy Night" and "Ave Maria" on Christmas Eve. On a record, no less. I have the 1961 version, on RCA "Living Stereo", but he recorded these two songs on more than one occasion. I also enjoy Jim Reeves' "An Old Christmas Card". At the store this year, and on the local FM station that plays constant Christmas music, there are no songs with religious content, none whatsoever. No "Silent Night", no "We Three Kings", no "Away in a Manger". Our society has shifted Christmas to a commercial holiday. Mariah Carey singing "Holly Jolly Christmas" twenty times a day gets old after a couple of months.....

It was a tradition at home to have grandpa read the Christmas story from the book of Luke by candle light on Christmas Eve. The parlor was lighted by coal oil lamps on that occasion, just like it was when he was little. After he had read the story, mom or grandma would slip over to the piano and start playing "Away in a Manger". The little kids started singing first, then the older kids, then the big kids, then the young adults, then the elders. 50-odd souls, many singing off-key, but no matter. We were all there, celebrating what we felt was the true meaning of Christmas, making memories that last a lifetime. Both sides of the family were there. The kids sit on the floor, with the elders in chairs behind them.

In 1964, I recorded grandpa reading the Christmas story. Since his passing, I play it, now on CD every Christmas Eve. Just me and the wife now for the most part.

[William]

Christmas brings back many memories, and a lot of those memories are similar to what Greg described. The person playing the music was me and most just listened as I played all the Christmas carols and hymns. Some would sing, but most just listened. Dinner would be a potluck with everyone bringing their best Christmas dish. There was always way more food than all of us could eat and it seemed the desserts never ended. The cousins hung out together talking over things that we had been doing since the last time we saw each other. The adults gathered basically doing the same thing and the at some point someone would say "it is time to open the presents". The kids came running and everyone gathered around the tree. On my mothers side Christmas as a family was celebrated on Christmas Eve, that way everyone could be in their own homes on Christmas day. The Christmas Eve home would rotate and every 4th year it would be at my parents house. The other three times it would either be at my grandparents, uncles, or aunts. The one hosting would provide the meat, usually ham and turkey and the sides all came thru the door with the best Christmas dish to pass. I hope to be able to hold onto those memories as long as I live.

I love music, so it makes sense that I love Christmas music too and actually I love Christmas music most of all which is probably why it is also the time of year where I will set down and actually play.
I seldom sit down and play anymore, sad, but true. And when I do, during other times in the year, it is quite often Christmas music. I guess I am just a Christmas kind of guy.

As I write this, I am with extended family and we will be celebrating this Christmas tomorrow. On Christmas day I will celebrate the second Christmas for me at home.

Merry Christmas, everyone. Bill

[Dr. Radio]

I hope I don't offend anyone here, especially of Italian heritage , but this has to rank right up there with the barking dogs version of jingle bells.....most nerve racking song of all time...... Every year I hear this...somehow.

So now you get to have it stuck in your head too!

https://youtu.be/Ca5wXojemRM?si=lw_WptS8GX-XDME-

[danrclem]

I guess I might be immature for my age (maybe any age) but I still like to hear those silly Christmas songs. I'll post one here. It doesn't have Christmas lyrics but does have a Christmas tune. I hope I don't offend anybody that is into Chevys.

One of the Christmas songs that stands out to me is "Little Drummer Boy." The first time I remember hearing it was when I was in elementary school and I think the version I heard was by the Harry Simeone Chorale.

We always celebrated Christmas at my parents' house, and after some of us started leaving home and getting married it was an all-day thing with people coming and going. I have seven brothers and sisters so there never was a shortage of people there. After we started having kids it could get downright crowded. After I got married, we would split time between my parents' house and my wife's parents' house. We now celebrate at my house on Christmas Eve so that our kids and grandkids can go to the other side of their family's house. Two of our granddaughters have gotten married and we have one great granddaughter, so we have quite a few people here on Christmas Eve and other holidays.

So many good memories.

https://youtu.be/aeZ0BUc3kMw?si=-cJTbP_v286ntmrs

https://youtu.be/gpvXQjnMI48?si=23MlybaXVk-3Maax