December 13, 201312 yr No. 15 "Little Drummer Boy" - original music and lyrics by Katherine Kennicott Davis; "Peace on Earth" counterpoint music and lyrics by Ian Fraser, Larry Grossman and Alan Kohan; performed by David Bowie and Bing Crosby How good is this duet? Well, it's good enough to make this list. I say that because I've never found "Little Drummer Boy" a particularly interesting piece and most of the versions you get aren't very entertaining. But Crosby and Bowie are absolutely outstanding here and the counterpoint, written specifically for this TV special, adds SO MUCH to the tune. Crosby never lived to see the special go to air. It was filmed in early September, 1977; Crosby would die just five weeks later on October 14 at age 74. The special aired across the U.S. on November 30, 1977 and this duet became an all-time Christmas classic. That's it Getslow!!! That is my favorite of all time!!! I was waiting to see when you would have it. Btw it should be #1 btw lol. Growing up I used to look forward to Bings Christmas special every year. This one was his last before he died and the rendition of little drummer boy is the only thing I remember from that special. Greatest Christmas duet ever. Thanks Getslow for finally getting to it!
December 13, 201312 yr Author That's it Getslow!!! That is my favorite of all time!!! I was waiting to see when you would have it. Btw it should be #1 btw lol. :lol2: I thought that was it. You know, as I said in the post, I'm just not crazy about "Little Drummer Boy"; I never have been. But that duet is SO GOOD.
December 14, 201312 yr I am loving this, Getslow. I want it on my I pod. Can we make it a BGP classic.
December 14, 201312 yr Channel surfing last night and came across "Silent Night", an opera version of the Christmas truce of 1914.
December 14, 201312 yr Author No. 12 "In Dulci Jubilo" - words by Heinrich Seuse; music, German traditional; performed by the Vienna Boys' Choir The exact origins of this carol are unknown, but the words are thought to have been written in the early 14th century by Bl. Heinrich Seuse, a German Dominican monk, writer, and mystic. They're written in macaronic alteration, going back and forth between German and Latin, a style not uncommon in medieval carols. In English, the carol is most often heard with different words written in the 19th century: "Good Christian Men, Rejoice". http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zOTMrpbkHdw In sweet rejoicing, now sing and be glad! Our hearts' joy lies in the manger; And it shines like the sun in the mother's lap. You are the alpha and omega!
December 15, 201312 yr Yo Getslow... really digging this thread. I purposely avoided delving into it until today because I traditionally won't allow myself to get into the spirit of the season too early in December for fear of burning out on it. Playing catchup with this whole thread is officially starting to do it for me. So much of what you have posted here is really good stuff and is starting to get the goose bumps going. A lot of the history that you are adding is also very interesting as well. Thank you tons for putting in the daily effort. Very Cool! The Vienna Boys Choir entry brings back a nice memory from 4 years ago where a good friend of mine and I had the privilege of seeing them put on a stunning Christmas concert at The Saint Peter and Chains Cathedral in Cincinnati, as well as being invited with the audience to the undercroft afterwards for a reception with the choir. It was quite an honor to attend such a fantastic event. I really couldn't believe that I was there. There really is a lot to love about the season, but I can sometimes forget that. Music especially helps to get that good old feeling back in one's heart. Thanks again because what you're doing here is really working. :thumb:
December 16, 201312 yr Author No. 11 "The Holly and the Ivy" - lyrics, English traditional; music arranged by Cecil Sharp; performed by the Westminster Abbey Choir Like all the best things about Christmastime, this particular carol has a perfect blend of pagan and Christian tradition. No one knows fore sure how old it is, but a version of the first stanza was published as early as 1710. It is known that Holly and Ivy were used in seasonal church decoration from at least the 15th century. They were used as part of the holiday celebration from the earliest days as the ancient Romans used holly as part of Saturnalia and the druids on ancient Britannia considered it sacred and associated it with the winter solstice. The lyrics of the song take the ancient pagan symbols and use them to demonstrate the great truths of the Christian celebration of Christmas.
December 16, 201312 yr No. 11 "The Holly and the Ivy" - lyrics, English traditional; music arranged by Cecil Sharp; performed by the Westminster Abbey Choir Like all the best things about Christmastime, this particular carol has a perfect blend of pagan and Christian tradition. No one knows fore sure how old it is, but a version of the first stanza was published as early as 1710. It is known that Holly and Ivy were used in seasonal church decoration from at least the 15th century. They were used as part of the holiday celebration from the earliest days as the ancient Romans used holly as part of Saturnalia and the druids on ancient Britannia considered it sacred and associated it with the winter solstice. The lyrics of the song take the ancient pagan symbols and use them to demonstrate the great truths of the Christian celebration of Christmas. My dad used to listen to Mannheim Steamroller to no end around Christmas. I could take or leave most of their renditions of Christmas songs, but their version of The Holly And The Ivy (as well as their Stille Nacht) are pretty great.
December 17, 201312 yr Author No. 10 "In the Bleak Midwinter" - words by Christina Rosetti; music by Harold Darke; performed by the Choir of Trinity College, Cambridge Written by English poet Christina Rosetti, the words were first set to music by Gustav Holst in 1906. But it is Harold Darke's setting, published three years later that in 2008 was named the "Best Christmas Carol" in a worldwide poll of choirmasters and choral experts conducted by the BBC. The lyrics are an interesting sort, drawing on several different parts of the bible, from Matthews Incarnation story to the Book of Kings to Peter's epistles. Darke's setting is complex, with the music in each verse slightly varied from the one before. The combination of the two is a beautiful song which only begins to capture the awe-inspiring mystery of an omnipotent and omnipresent God coming to Earth and beginning a human life as a helpless newborn child.
December 18, 201312 yr Author No. 9 "The Christmas Song" - written by Mel Torme and Bob Wells; performed by Nat King Cole Come on... you knew it had to be on here. This is an absolute classic. My favorite story about this song is that Cole's label didn't want him to record the version that made the tune famous. The original was just Nat and a piano, recorded in June of 1946. At his urging, they re-recorded the song later that year with a small string quartet. It was THAT version which became a massive hit and skyrocketed up both the pop and R&B charts upon their release. However, the version we all know now -- and the one featured below -- wasn't recorded until 1961 and was the first stereo version (the only stereo version sung by Cole). http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SOszvL9lgSs
December 19, 201312 yr Author No. 8 "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day" - words by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow; music by John Baptiste Calkin; performed by Harry Belafonte One of America's great poets, Longfellow wrote this poem on Christmas Day in 1863. At that point in time, Longfellow had only recently lost his wife in a house fire but had also just learned that his son had been seriously wounded in the Battle of New Hope Church in the Civil War. And yet this contains a remarkable and hopeful message of the time of peace that Longfellow is certain will come at the end of his waiting. I love this poem. Like all Longfellow's poetry, its simplicity is its great strength. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lyu_bA0mqEw
December 19, 201312 yr No. 8 "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day" - words by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow; music by John Baptiste Calkin; performed by Harry Belafonte One of America's great poets, Longfellow wrote this poem on Christmas Day in 1863. At that point in time, Longfellow had only recently lost his wife in a house fire but had also just learned that his son had been seriously wounded in the Battle of New Hope Church in the Civil War. And yet this contains a remarkable and hopeful message of the time of peace that Longfellow is certain will come at the end of his waiting. I love this poem. Like all Longfellow's poetry, its simplicity is its great strength. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lyu_bA0mqEw I have always been moved by this song. But I never knew the backstory. This makes it even more touching.
December 19, 201312 yr Author No. 7(a) "The First Noel" - English traditional; arranged by William Sandys and Davies Gilbert; performed by Annie Lennox One of a small number traditional carols I've always thought was better when performed by an individual or a small group rather than a choir. The carol is about the first Christmas; "Noel" is the French word for "Christmas" which is derived from the Latin word "Natalis" which literally means "birthday". I love the version below. If you don't think Annie Lennox has a spectacular voice, there's not much I can do for you in this life.
December 19, 201312 yr Author No. 7(b) "The First Noel" - performed by Crash Test Dummies I love this version as well. It's cheesy and goofy in all the right ways but the way the harmony fits together with Ellen's vocal parts in the second verse keeps it profoundly beautiful. Also, as I've mentioned before, I'm a baritone, a rare find in modern music, so when I find one I like, I listen forever.
December 19, 201312 yr No. 8 "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day" - words by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow; music by John Baptiste Calkin; performed by Harry Belafonte One of America's great poets, Longfellow wrote this poem on Christmas Day in 1863. At that point in time, Longfellow had only recently lost his wife in a house fire but had also just learned that his son had been seriously wounded in the Battle of New Hope Church in the Civil War. And yet this contains a remarkable and hopeful message of the time of peace that Longfellow is certain will come at the end of his waiting. I love this poem. Like all Longfellow's poetry, its simplicity is its great strength. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lyu_bA0mqEw Wow. The story is very moving.
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