“It’s the most wonderful time of the year!” This is a phrase that starts to get tossed around every December. Holidays, vacations, snow, hot chocolate; so many things that make people love this ‘most wonderful time of the year.’
For me, it’s Christmas music. I LOVE Christmas music. Sacred and non-sacred, I love it all! Whether it’s Nat King Cole’s version of “The Christmas Song,” or Sir David Willcocks setting of “O Come, All Ye Faithful,” I look forward to the beginning of every winter so I can hear the holiday music.
Here are some of my other Christmas favorites:
John Rutter’s settings of “Silent Night” and “O Come, O Come Emmanuel”
Ralph Vaughan Williams’ “Hodie”
Vince Guaraldi’s Jazz Trio in “A Charlie Brown Christmas”
Alfred Reed’s setting of “Greensleeves”
Leroy Anderson’s “Sleigh Ride”
Tchaikovsky’s “Nutcracker”
Simple 4-part a capella singing of Christmas carols
…..I could go on…..
From a Christian/church perspective, I am always happy when Christmas time rolls around because all the churches that have forsaken great music (and the arts in general) will also dust off the hymnal. Even if it’s just once a year, it’s a good thing.
The great and memorable music is part of what makes this ‘the most wonderful time of the year.’ I encourage everyone to soak it up while we have it. Let it help you remember good times with family and friends. Let it remind you of the simpler times, when, as children, we waited the whole year for Christmas. And, if you’re willing, let it tell you about the child born in Bethlehem.
