It's too late for Divali, and Channukah is almost over, but Christmas and Kwanzaa and other celebrations are nigh.
I'll start--
Divali:
Flute improv: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZT11TM-j8A
Drums and voices: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQtwaj8-rMw
A lovely Ganesh gift: A wooden elephant head puzzle, with pieces that represent tiny lizards and other animals:
https://unidragon.com/products/wooden-jigsaw-puzzle-eternal-elephant
Channukah:
Hatikvah (instrumental): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRSxZher9ag
A new piece, history and hep together: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ghauzXY2F_4
This piece for peace: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=loEjCbSPNjw
Instrumental loop: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pap8nWo3Hi8
There are also many children's tracks, with Dredyl, S'vi Vom, and other favorites:
C'mas:
Carol of the Bells (Libera's arrangement): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQadcm_dwEM
The Star Carol: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5C7VX0lmuOI
(or any others by A. Burt, who wrote them annually as greeting cards)
A few other Burt carols, in fact: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IGzTm_obVnM
And I just found these (James Taylor): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=70kKTndnkBM
(Also JT/Farjeon): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fmikN0XrRpE
Plus this 1-hour-plus tape loop from King's College: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fmikN0XrRpE
Any and all--please just add your favorites, maybe why you like them, what they recall to you--in a positive, celebrative, constructive way.
If you comment on others' choices, please observe the same peaceful requests.
M.
"Gramma Got Run Over by a Reindeer"
I was doing the Kwanzaa entries but timed out:
Kwanzaa:
Lovely Hoffman: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kg2T3zRfIRc
Teddy Pendergrass: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EzrYUhMJZY0
A dancing family with gorgeous moves: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GaevJwvj1AQ
A summary with music and dance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0kV-6qVp98Q
M.
The Fred Waring and the Pennsylvanians version of "Jingle Bells"
'The Christmas Waltz' by Sammy Cahn and June Styne, written for Frank Sinatra.
Maybe I should have asked, can people post YouTube or other links so we can hear the ones we don't know?
Merci bien!
M.
Here's Fred Waring and the Pennsylvanians performing "Jingle Bells": https://youtu.be/H_bo-fkhsbw (https://youtu.be/H_bo-fkhsbw)
'"We Need a Little Christmas" is a popular Christmas song originating from Jerry Herman's Broadway musical Mame, and first performed by Angela Lansbury in that 1966 production.'
-wikipedia
and 'What Are You Doing New Year's Eve' by Frank Loesser
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-f1HcY4gAs
N.O.E.L. - by Psychostick (Christmas Parody of System of a Down's B.Y.O.B. )
https://youtu.be/tZWlZFfAnIM
Christmas Truce of World War I.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmJeWxwbSio (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmJeWxwbSio)
https://youtu.be/t039p6xqutU (https://youtu.be/t039p6xqutU)
I guess I'm partial to O Come O Come Emmanuel?
Quote from: onehappyunicorn on December 08, 2021, 05:34:58 AM
https://youtu.be/t039p6xqutU (https://youtu.be/t039p6xqutU)
Christmas at Ground Zero!!!!
: )
Quote from: mahagonny on December 07, 2021, 06:27:03 PM
'"We Need a Little Christmas" is a popular Christmas song originating from Jerry Herman's Broadway musical Mame, and first performed by Angela Lansbury in that 1966 production.'
-wikipedia
and 'What Are You Doing New Year's Eve' by Frank Loesser
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-f1HcY4gAs
Angela starts our tree decorating session every year. And we tend to listen to the Ella Fitzgerald version of the latter song (https://youtu.be/UFdfzNMV52Q).
This one always gets me into the Christmas groove (with lots of jazz hands): https://youtu.be/NrrS7zLdI68 "The Merriest" June Christy. I like the Christmas Cocktails albums in general.
And I have a special fondness for "Feliz Navidad" after watching Christmas Eve on Sesame Street year after year. https://youtu.be/DgMXBUJFZOA
This is one that always came up on my Mom's radio during Christmas and made us chuckle: https://youtu.be/Ca5wXojemRM ("Dominick the Donkey")
Of course, lots of the old standards are also favorites.
'Snow' (Irving Berlin) by Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney, Vera-Ellen
https://duckduckgo.com/?q=%27snow%27+song+bing+crosby&t=h_&iax=videos&ia=videos&iai=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DRwZ1_f33doE
'Happy Holidays' (Irving Berlin) by Bing Crosby
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2jzhd0SU8k4
"Joy to the World"
"It Came Upon a Midnight Clear"
"Hark! The Herald Angels Sing"
I know this isn't technically a holiday song, but it was the first song on John Denver's Rocky Mountain Christmas, so it was (and still IS) the very first song I listen to when the season starts.
Aspenglow (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xPcq6Mw4pRo)
Yingle Bells (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pfXkLvhoL7s)
Alvin & The Chipmunks (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KcvlWtYqEhE)
Hark! The Hare Lipped Angels Sing! (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_YYpkQBGfM)
Just about any Andy Williams Christmas song--the guy sounds like Christmas. And when he insists "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year," he really means it.
Quote from: FishProf on December 09, 2021, 06:38:42 AM
I know this isn't technically a holiday song, but it was the first song on John Denver's Rocky Mountain Christmas, so it was (and still IS) the very first song I listen to when the season starts.
Aspenglow (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xPcq6Mw4pRo)
He gets an almost-kantele*-like sound from his upper strings.....enchanting.
*soft, penetrating Finnish harp, example here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ba_QRSI0F8Y
Ooh, and while looking for the kantele example, ran across this by the King's Singers, of a group of Catalan hymns:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yE-yOguRgxc
M.
Quote from: little bongo on December 09, 2021, 11:14:12 AM
Just about any Andy Williams Christmas song--the guy sounds like Christmas. And when he insists "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year," he really means it.
Andy Williams did annual Christmas TV specials starting in the 1960s through the 1990s. My local PBS station did a special about Williams's Christmas shows one year.
Quote from: hmaria1609 on December 09, 2021, 12:13:32 PM
Quote from: little bongo on December 09, 2021, 11:14:12 AM
Just about any Andy Williams Christmas song--the guy sounds like Christmas. And when he insists "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year," he really means it.
Andy Williams did annual Christmas TV specials starting in the 1960s through the 1990s. My local PBS station did a special about Williams's Christmas shows one year.
I remember my mother being upset each year because it seemed like Andy Williams' special always ended up preempted by some sporting event or something.
easter parade (irving berlin) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OoLpe-H4tZ4
Lincoln's Birthday: 'Abraham' (Irving Berlin) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QpPQJodh9kI
Thanksgiving: 'I've Got Plenty To Be Thankful For' (Irving Berlin) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BbSkeZHIf8A
ETA: bonus https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w8IOKKG_PAQ
2nd bonus winter: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gk44ZUFjUjQ
I'm enjoying two at the moment, both on the longer (1 hr+) King's loop: both are dances, of course...
"In Dulci Jubilo," which, like "God Save Our Gracious Queen/King" (and several others) is a galliard.
and
"Ding, Dong, Merrily We Sing," which is set to a late 16th c. French dance, "Branle L'Officiel" from Arbeau's Orchesography (1581).
I've taught the latter for pageants a couple of times.
;--}
M.
Quote from: mahagonny on December 09, 2021, 04:58:31 PM
easter parade (irving berlin) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OoLpe-H4tZ4
Lincoln's Birthday: 'Abraham' (Irving Berlin) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QpPQJodh9kI
Thanksgiving: 'I've Got Plenty To Be Thankful For' (Irving Berlin) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BbSkeZHIf8A
ETA: bonus https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w8IOKKG_PAQ
2nd bonus winter: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gk44ZUFjUjQ
I clicked a few of the links--they're songs from "Holiday Inn" (1942)! :) The song "White Christmas" is introduced in this movie.
I borrowed and enjoyed "Holiday Inn" on DVD from the library last Christmas.
Our family used to watch it each year, along with the Charlie Brown's Christmas and Miracle on 34th St. films.
For years, I didn't know anything about Vera Ellen but that I really appreciated her dancing...
Just ran across these Finnish/Swedish ones, also:
Nightengale's Song:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjq0FQdAXMY
and, with kantele (psaltery) accompaniment
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LzdNm5bcjMs
Also, this one (Sparrow's Song):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9BmoafN_nGo
and this version:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T5Us4svCwXQ
M.
Christmas: "Hurry Home For Christmas" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R7gnonxUe70
"Christmas is Coming" by Vince Guaraldi https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-lcRqodwLeo
"Christmas is Coming" by Edith Nesbitt https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0F0331bhZk
and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWCllTR6mPQ
New Year's Day: "Let's Start The New Year Right" https://vimeo.com/114567314
Flag Day, Fourth of July, White Supremacy: "You're a Grand Old Rag" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GCqDxq-d2h4
Quote from: mamselle on December 11, 2021, 07:52:27 PM
For years, I didn't know anything about Vera Ellen but that I really appreciated her dancing...
Trudy Stevens did the singing in the 'White Christmas.'
One source says it might have even been Rosemary Clooney. Or that Vera-Ellen was dubbed by either Clooney or Stevens depending on which song. Maybe 'Sisters' was two Rosemary Clooneys. Sounds that way to me.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PG7x8HWbDzU
But it sounds like someone else on 'Snow.'
??
Happy Santa Lucia Day! Today is the Scandinavian Festival of Lights. Celebrate with Saffron Buns and a procession of singing by candlelight. Here is some traditional singing from the lovely Cathedral in Goteborg. The first song you may know in either Swedish or Italian.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wcCnso0PcAs (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wcCnso0PcAs)
Ah, yes, I used to play and sing the first song in Italian restaurants!
"Sul mare lucicca...."
M.
Quote from: mahagonny on December 13, 2021, 03:50:46 AM
One source says it might have even been Rosemary Clooney. Or that Vera-Ellen was dubbed by either Clooney or Stevens depending on which song. Maybe 'Sisters' was two Rosemary Clooneys. Sounds that way to me.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PG7x8HWbDzU
But it sounds like someone else on 'Snow.'
??
From what I read in the "Trivia" section on imdb.com, Vera-Ellen's own singing voice is heard at the beginning of "Snow."
Another bit of movie trivia: the inn featured in "White Christmas" (1954) previously was used in "Holiday Inn" (1941).
Yes. I meant to mention that as well.
Many "hit songs from shows that missed" were recycled forwards to new shows then.
My dad had a record album with that title, in fact; there were about 20 pieces on it, as I recall.
M.
Handel's Messiah. The whole oratorio. Not strictly "Christmas" music, since only part of it deals with the Nativity. But some of the most popular choruses get a lot of play around this time. The big-city church I used to attend had a very good choir that would sometimes perform one or another chorus, among other music for the Christmas season.
Messiah is remarkable for the way it tries to encompass everything that Scripture has to say about Jesus, from the prophecies of the coming Messiah, through the nativity and earthly ministry, on through the passion and resurrection, and finally looking ahead to the rapture and the final establishment of the kingdom of the Lord and of his Christ, all set to magnificent music. Listening to the whole Messiah on CD while trying to meditate on its message has become a personal Christmas-season tradition.
Quote from: hmaria1609 on December 13, 2021, 12:20:26 PM
From what I read in the "Trivia" section on imdb.com, Vera-Ellen's own singing voice is heard at the beginning of "Snow."
Thank you.
Yes, Holiday Inn was great too. The part where Bing and Fred were after the same girl. "I'll Capture Your Heart singing." And of course 'Be Careful It's My Heart.'
Shirley Bassey, (b. 1937, Cardiff) who sang 'Goldfinger' for the Bond film. A sound as big as all outdoors, and a heart twice that big.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_MbyhsnvHK4
Dean Martin, 'It Won't Cool Off' (Sammy Cahn, Ken Lane) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGyeqWSHURQ
Doris Kappelhoff....https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JLYqkscuZkA&list=PLe51JdGCZZuRfy1umpzD_sW5lbf-QoF8T
Quote from: apl68 on December 13, 2021, 01:27:08 PM
Handel's Messiah. The whole oratorio. Not strictly "Christmas" music, since only part of it deals with the Nativity. But some of the most popular choruses get a lot of play around this time. The big-city church I used to attend had a very good choir that would sometimes perform one or another chorus, among other music for the Christmas season.
Messiah is remarkable for the way it tries to encompass everything that Scripture has to say about Jesus, from the prophecies of the coming Messiah, through the nativity and earthly ministry, on through the passion and resurrection, and finally looking ahead to the rapture and the final establishment of the kingdom of the Lord and of his Christ, all set to magnificent music. Listening to the whole Messiah on CD while trying to meditate on its message has become a personal Christmas-season tradition.
I taught a course for the local Bible Society one winter on visual art representations of scenes from "Messiah."
The handout included all the verses all the arias, recitatives, and choruses were taken from...the whole text is straight KJV Scripture.
M.
Percy Faith & His Orchestra "Music of Christmas" (1959)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9Apd0ckPiY&list=OLAK5uy_nD_pfo1lGdC4aUzuR2ITPp7gx4oIKiJ1g (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9Apd0ckPiY&list=OLAK5uy_nD_pfo1lGdC4aUzuR2ITPp7gx4oIKiJ1g)
On the jazzier side
Duke Ellington: Jingle Bells https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GYBuzVFZ8mg
Herb Gellar: Sleigh Ride https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P7meYOaEmVU
Jimmy Smith: S.C. Is Coming To Town https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vwnq9XFlt10
Overall my favorite Christmas carol is O Holy Night.
My favorite Christmas album is Upon A Midnight Clear by Jonn Serrie. It's essentially Christmas carols via the planetarium, beautiful peaceful ambient music.
Quote from: Larimar on December 21, 2021, 08:30:11 AM
Overall my favorite Christmas carol is O Holy Night.
A young lady at our church can sing "O Holy Night" in a way that will give you chills. She hasn't been singing in public much lately, as she had a third baby early this year and has been otherwise occupied. There are efforts underway to persuade/beg/browbeat her into singing for us at church this Wednesday evening.
These aren't exactly holiday-related pieces, but they're lovely, would sound nice played softly during a quiet evening at home--or you could dance to them...
1. The first is Hungarian; it was played for the folk dance I attended virtually this evening, and is called Hora Nouras:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9NUtr8aOvU
The stepping is very quiet and intricate, very soft-footed; the step instructions are here:
https://folkdancemusings.blogspot.com/2020/05/hora-nouras-romania.html
2. The second is French Renaissance dance: there's a version in Arbeau, but this one's by Praetorius:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxzR08MoRE4
It's called "Branle de la Torche" (or, in English, it's referred to as "Candlesticks"), in which the dancers pass lighted candles from one to the next partner:
It seemed appropriate, tonight being Midwinter's Night...
M.
Thurl Ravenscroft is the singer. What a sound.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Hj3U18FHgQ
And, Bob Dorough
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-uircXPp3A
Melba Liston and her Bones
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rz_q9wshEPs
Like all pavanes, calming and stately, another piece without specific holiday connections but lovely to listen to with a fire in the fireplace and hot cocoa:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yCKVvKpnh2c
Same performer, livelier dance music, still the soft, persistent sound of medieval recorders and lutes:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9Ebk5_loUo
Also more cheerful, with a hurdy-gurdy and cornemuse to liven up the sound:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mpTHAMLnV3w
M.
Quote from: mahagonny on December 20, 2021, 05:51:37 PM
On the jazzier side
Duke Ellington: Jingle Bells https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GYBuzVFZ8mg
Herb Gellar: Sleigh Ride https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P7meYOaEmVU
Jimmy Smith: S.C. Is Coming To Town https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vwnq9XFlt10
'Jingle Bells' is racist. Sorry, Duke.
https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/theatre-survey/article/story-i-must-tell-jingle-bells-in-the-minstrel-repertoire/D42C78950A58BDB88290954F73B195B2