So, every Christmas Eve for the past few years I've been posting this diary in various forms.
We all (I hope) enjoy the music of this Holiday Season. However, while the popular songs are nice to listen to, I personally prefer to listen to Christmas music one doesn't normally hear on the radio stations that switch their format to all Christmas music. Those stations will play all sorts of different arrangements of the same several "standards" what everyone knows. They'll even play light classical like Leroy Anderson.
I'm talking about more serious Christmas music. The kind the classical music station would play.
In the past, I've tried to organize the music historically and stuff like that. This year, I'll just go for it and post this plethora of music for you to listen to.
So I'll begin where the Christmas story began--in the Levant.
Jump below the Great Orange Chee-to for more. Much, much more.
Let's start in the 8th Century.
Then some carols from the Renaissance:
Now, I'm going to play a lot of Christmas music written by and arranged by Ralph Vaughan-Williams. Included will be the opening of his monumental work Hodie. Please read this excellent diary discussing this masterwork.
And now a digression based on "The Wassail Song": In "Olden Days", people used to celebrate the season by going door to door singing and wishing each other "waes hael". They would be rewarded with a mulled cider based beverage. This tradition, and the drink, became known as "wassailing". Naturally here follows a recipe for Wassail.
So: Take your largest crock pot. Add one gallon of pure apple cider (the good stuff), or hard cider like Strongbow, or your best ale. Chop up 2 or three apples (Fuji is preferable) and set in the cider. Stud two oranges with cloves (Not too many--they will overpower the other flavors) and add into the pot. Add 1/4 cup honey if desired. Add two whole nutmegs, 2 cinnamon sticks, 1/4 cup candied ginger and heat. Just before serving, add up to 750 ml of brandy. Drink. Sing. Fall asleep.
Moving on, here is the "Ceremony of Carols", ancient carols arranged by Benjamin Britten:
Some Holst:
Alfred Reed:
Ottorino Respighi:
Excerpts from Bach's Christmas Oratorio:
Excerpts from Saint-Saens' Christmas Oratorio:
The daughter-in-law of the director of this ensemble is in the choir I sing in. Here's Morten Lauridsen:
Music from the recently deceased Stephen Paulus. I had the privilege of working with him last year in a recording of works by him that haven't been recorded.
I'll conclude this year with excerpts from the most famous Christmas music of all: Messiah, by Georg Frederick Handel. This is the chorus I sing in.
Please sit back this evening with your favorite beverage, turn the lights low, light candles, and enjoy.