Favorite Holiday Music - All Cultures

[apl68]

"Joy to the World"

"It Came Upon a Midnight Clear"

"Hark!  The Herald Angels Sing"

[FishProf]

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

[secundem_artem]

Yingle Bells

Alvin & The Chipmunks

Hark!  The Hare Lipped Angels Sing!

[little bongo]

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.

[mamselle]

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

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.

[hmaria1609]

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.

[apl68]

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.

[mahagonny]

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

[mamselle]

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.

[hmaria1609]

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.

[mamselle]

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.

[mahagonny]

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

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.'

[mahagonny]

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.'

??

[mythbuster]

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

[mamselle]

Ah, yes, I used to play and sing the first song in Italian restaurants!

"Sul mare lucicca...."

M.