Come, All Ye Faithful
The Choir of Kings College ’nuff said.
Read moreMonth: December 2009
A Celebration
Christmas Concert – December 2007 – The Lebanese National Higher Conservatory of Music
Choir: the Antonine University Choir, the NDU Choir and the Lebanese National Higher Conservatory Choir
Choir Direction: F. Khalil Rahme
Under the Direction of Dr. Walid Gholmieh
Ssshh
What’s become my favorite Christmas song, Still, Still, Still by the Vienna Boys Choir. Still, Still, Still is one of the prettiest carols out there and unfortunately not a lot is known about it other than that it is Austrian, set to the “Salsburg Melody” and was written around 1819.
Read moreThe Christmas Song
“The Christmas Song”, commonly subtitled “Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire“, is a classic Christmas song written in 1944 by vocalist Mel Tormé and Bob Wells. According to Tormé, the song was written during a blistering hot summer. In an effort to “stay cool by thinking cool,” the most-performed (according to BMI) Christmas song was born.
Read moreOnce in Royal David's City
The famous chapel choir sings carols old and new, including the Sussex Carol, God Rest You Merry Gentlemen, In the Bleak Midwinter, the Three Kings, Lux Aurumque – by the modern American composer Eric Whitacre – and O Come All Ye Faithful. This first piece is traditionally rendered by a chorister chosen at random!
Read moreThe First Noel – Elvis
With a bow to my old high school friend, Mike, here’s the King doing The First Noel. “The First Nowell” is a traditional English Christmas carol, most likely from the 18th century. In its current form it is of Cornish origin, and it was first published in Some Ancient Christmas Carols (1823) and Gilbert and Sandys Christmas Carols (1833), edited by William B. Sandys and arranged, edited and with extra lyrics written by Davies Gilbert.
Read moreJingle Bell Rock – Hall and Oates
Another 80’s classic Christmas song. This time it’s Hall and Oates performing Jingle Bell Rock. It was first released by Bobby Helms in 1957 and has received frequent airplay during every Christmas time since then. “Jingle Bell Rock” was written by Joe Beal, a Massachusetts-born public relations man, and Jim Boothe, a Texas writer in the advertising business. It was also recorded by Bill Haley and the Comets.
Read moreA Wham Christmas
Here’s a golden oldie from 1984. Wham performs “Last Christmas.”
Read moreSanta Claus is Coming to Town-The Boss
The Boss, Bruce Springsteen singing Santa Claus is Coming to Town. The song is by J. Fred Coots and Haven Gillespie, and was first sung on Eddie Cantor’s radio show in November 1934. It became an instant hit with orders for 100,000 copies of sheet music the next day and over 400,000 copies sold by Christmas.The earliest known recorded version of the song was performed by George Hall and the Hotel Taft Orchestra, and was also recorded on September 26, 1935, by Tommy Dorsey & His Orchestra
Read moreJohn Lennon-Happy Christmas
The very famous “Happy Christmas (War is Over), by John Lennon.
Read moreAn Early Return for My Annual Visitor
Each year, usually when the weather is like this in January or February, I get a visitor. She’s been coming around every year for at least five or six years, and this year she’s about a month early. She also has a boyfriend this year. Earlier this morning I heard a tapping on the sliding glass door in the dining room. When I went to look, there she was, a cardinal tapping on the door, then flying into it trying to get in, or seeing herself in its reflection. I’m not sure which.
Read more