"O Holy Night"
Yes, out of all the versions I could have picked of this song, I chose 'NSync.
What can I say? I have a soft spot for JT and good A Cappella.
"O Holy Night" will always remain my most favorite Christmas song.
It holds so many precious memories of my father singing.
It also perfectly captures the feelings of reverence, praise, and glory for the Savior Jesus Christ, who of course, is the center of Christmas.
May you all have a very Merry Christmas and feel the love and joy of the Savior in your lives.
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Christmas Pick: Day 6
"Carol of the Bells"
There is a legend that at the stroke of midnight on the evening when Jesus was born all the bells on earth suddenly began pealing joyously together of their own accord - and there was never a sound like it for majesty and grandeur. "Carol of the Bells," based on an old Ukrainian motif, probably springs from that legend, as it tells of the "sweet silver bells" that pealed joyously in unison. Traditionally, the "Carol of the Bells" is sung quietly in the beginning, grows louder and ever louder as each voice adds to the tintinnabulation, and finally dies away to a pianissimo as the pealing gradually ceases.
(from Reader's Digest Merry Christmas Songbook)
I love everything about this song -
and it will always remind me of Home Alone :)
I'm also a bit skeptical as to whether this is actually the Mormon Tabernacle Choir performing this version.
It doesn't sound like them to me.
Plus, the album cover says "Leonard Bernstein."
Hmm...
There is a legend that at the stroke of midnight on the evening when Jesus was born all the bells on earth suddenly began pealing joyously together of their own accord - and there was never a sound like it for majesty and grandeur. "Carol of the Bells," based on an old Ukrainian motif, probably springs from that legend, as it tells of the "sweet silver bells" that pealed joyously in unison. Traditionally, the "Carol of the Bells" is sung quietly in the beginning, grows louder and ever louder as each voice adds to the tintinnabulation, and finally dies away to a pianissimo as the pealing gradually ceases.
(from Reader's Digest Merry Christmas Songbook)
I love everything about this song -
and it will always remind me of Home Alone :)
I'm also a bit skeptical as to whether this is actually the Mormon Tabernacle Choir performing this version.
It doesn't sound like them to me.
Plus, the album cover says "Leonard Bernstein."
Hmm...
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Christmas Pick: Day 5
"I Celebrate the Day" by Relient K
I heard this on Pandora the other day for the first time and loved it.
I had to stop and listen to the entire thing.
It's very Dashboard Confessional meets Secondhand Serenade.
I've never heard of Relient K before. Have you?
Regardless, I'm diggin' this Christmas song.
It definitely has been added to my favorites.
I heard this on Pandora the other day for the first time and loved it.
I had to stop and listen to the entire thing.
It's very Dashboard Confessional meets Secondhand Serenade.
I've never heard of Relient K before. Have you?
Regardless, I'm diggin' this Christmas song.
It definitely has been added to my favorites.
Monday, December 21, 2009
Christmas Pick: Day 4
"Christmas Song" by Dave Matthews
I just love this song.
And I just love Dave Matthews.
*So...I know the Christmas Picks are backwards on the playlist, but this way you can hear the current pick first. Hope you don't mind too much :)
I just love this song.
And I just love Dave Matthews.
*So...I know the Christmas Picks are backwards on the playlist, but this way you can hear the current pick first. Hope you don't mind too much :)
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Christmas Pick: Day 3
"Breath of Heaven" by Amy Grant
I can remember the first time I heard this song. I was alone in the car, pregnant, driving somewhere - probably Christmas shopping - and this song came on the radio. I cried through the whole thing and it became a favorite.
The words and feelings of this song are so precious and sacred.
I still cry whenever I hear it.
I can remember the first time I heard this song. I was alone in the car, pregnant, driving somewhere - probably Christmas shopping - and this song came on the radio. I cried through the whole thing and it became a favorite.
The words and feelings of this song are so precious and sacred.
I still cry whenever I hear it.
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Christmas Pick: Day 2
"God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen"
God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen" is one of the carols that was sung by the waits, those municipal watchmen in old Englad who, like the town criers, were licensed to perform certain duties, such as singing seasonal songs, including those of Christmas, to the proper people. It was first published in 1827 as "an ancient version, sung in the streets of London." Charles Dickens used it in A Christmas Carol: Ebenezer Scrooge, the rich but miserly curmudgeon, hears it sung jauntily in the street and threatens to hit the singer with a ruler if he does not cease immediately. Fortunately, Scrooge is about to be vouchsafed the true meaning of Chrsitmas, and to be made merry - and generous - himself.
(from Reader Digest's Merry Christmas Songbook)
I picked this version because I love the smooth voices of Barenaked Ladies and Sarah McLachlan.
I love classic songs redone well.
This will always be a favorite of mine.
God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen" is one of the carols that was sung by the waits, those municipal watchmen in old Englad who, like the town criers, were licensed to perform certain duties, such as singing seasonal songs, including those of Christmas, to the proper people. It was first published in 1827 as "an ancient version, sung in the streets of London." Charles Dickens used it in A Christmas Carol: Ebenezer Scrooge, the rich but miserly curmudgeon, hears it sung jauntily in the street and threatens to hit the singer with a ruler if he does not cease immediately. Fortunately, Scrooge is about to be vouchsafed the true meaning of Chrsitmas, and to be made merry - and generous - himself.
(from Reader Digest's Merry Christmas Songbook)
I picked this version because I love the smooth voices of Barenaked Ladies and Sarah McLachlan.
I love classic songs redone well.
This will always be a favorite of mine.
Friday, December 18, 2009
Christmas Pick: Day 1
"Joy to the World"
Though the triumphant words "Joy to the world" exemplify the Christmas feeling, this familiar text is actually a translation based on five verses from Psalm 98 in the Old Testament. Isaac Watts, the Engish hymnist and cleric, published his Psalms of David, which contains these verses in 1719. More than a century later, in 1839, American composer and music educator Lowell Mason decided to set them to music, modestly including the phrase "From George Frederick Handel," apparently to honor his idol, the composer of Messiah and many other masterpieces. For nearly 100 years, the world accepted this ascription, until musicologists pointed out that not a single phrase in the music can be said to have come straight from any work of Handel's.
(from Reader's Digest Christmas Songbook)
Even though no phrase comes straight from Handel's work, I can see how this song could be a tribute to Handel. It is very Handelesque.
Though the triumphant words "Joy to the world" exemplify the Christmas feeling, this familiar text is actually a translation based on five verses from Psalm 98 in the Old Testament. Isaac Watts, the Engish hymnist and cleric, published his Psalms of David, which contains these verses in 1719. More than a century later, in 1839, American composer and music educator Lowell Mason decided to set them to music, modestly including the phrase "From George Frederick Handel," apparently to honor his idol, the composer of Messiah and many other masterpieces. For nearly 100 years, the world accepted this ascription, until musicologists pointed out that not a single phrase in the music can be said to have come straight from any work of Handel's.
(from Reader's Digest Christmas Songbook)
Even though no phrase comes straight from Handel's work, I can see how this song could be a tribute to Handel. It is very Handelesque.
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