Holiday Music Thread

skrol

I searched through but was not able to find ...

T'is the season where our attentions turn to holiday traditions and of course, music. Can we start a thread of favorite holiday music?

Of course I am selfish in this quest and looking to add to my music collection. Does anyone have suggestions for classical holiday music (artists, titles, renditions, formats).

Thanks

mmadden28

Johnny Mathis -Merry Christmas is at the top of my list.

I was listening to Music Choice the other day-Songs of the Season. I heard a great song. I found it was a duet between Carrie Underwood and Elvis. Its from a new CD of Duets with various artists and the King. Pretty cool. Working on getting one.

mhardy6647

When you say "classical" do you mean as in classical (i.e., "serious") music?

If not, here's my #1 recommendation (and we have hours and hours of holiday music in pretty much every imaginable format except 8-track tape, so I speak with some context, if not authority):

Bruce Cockburn, Christmas

Superb in every respect, including sound quality.



http://cockburnproject.net/albums/christmas.html

skrol

Lets include all our holiday favorites regardless of genre.

mhardy6647

OK :-)

Here are my other four favoritest of all (FWIW).

Stevan Pasero Christmas Classics for Guitar (much less cheezy than it sounds. Pasero is a virtuoso Bay Area guitarist)
The Life Treasury of Christmas Music (simple and satisfying; from Gregorian chants to Victorian carols)
Fred Waring presents... Christmas Around the World (1957 Capitol promo album)
Gisele MacKenzie Christmas with Gisele (as cheezy as it gets; fun, though)
Eugene Ormandy/Philadelphia Symphony Greatest Christmas Hits (a little cheezy, but well-recorded; with interesting, energetic arrangements)

bobman1235

I just bought Aimee Mann's One More Drifter in the Snow. Haven't had a chance to listen yet though.

skrol

I had heard Aimee Mann's version of "Chestnuts Roasting..." on a various artist CD from Star bucks. There is such a nice quality to her voice. It was very enjoyable.

I am presently sampling Stevan Pasero "Christmas Classics for Guitar" on Rhapsody. Very nice. I was not sure about the start to "Messiah, Allelujah" but as I listen ... it will likely join the collection.

strider

A Charlie Brown Christmas by the Vince Gauraldi Trio

Available on SACD and 45 rpm vinyl for the true audiophile Christmas experience.

mmadden28

I have to add Bob Rivers comedic version of Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire.
Its great-Well done. Sometimes I put this on as background music and try to see how many people catch the changes lyrics.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00004WF3V/bobriverstwis-20
Go ahead click on the Amazon link above and give #2 a listen.

When I get home and pull out the Holiday CDs I might post some more as I remember them.

mhardy6647

bobman1235 wrote: »

I just bought Aimee Mann's One More Drifter in the Snow. Haven't had a chance to listen yet though.

That has the opportunity to be quite good, I'd think.

obieone

Seriously: TSO's DVD "The Ghosts of Christmas Eve"

Not serious: Spinal Taps "Christmas with the Devil" or Bob Rivers "Santa Clause"- sung to the tune of Black Sabbath's "Iron Man"

mmadden28

mmadden28 wrote: »

...I heard a great song. I found it was a duet between Carrie Underwood and Elvis. Its from a new CD of Duets with various artists and the King. Pretty cool. Working on getting one.

The Elvis CD is called Elvis Presley Christmas Duets only released just last month-er I mean in Oct.

John K.

Stan, one of the classical music highlights for the Christmas season is Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker. I own four complete recordings and have listened to about a dozen more. You certainly should have at least one complete recording of this glorious music and I'll suggest a terrific bargain now available that includes not only The Nutcracker in one of my favorite performances by Lanchbery, but also Sleeping Beauty and Swan Lake in a 6-disc set. Due to recent strength in the U.S. dollar the UK dealers have been a good source which I've used, and now Presto Classical has a sale on this set for about $19 plus $3 shipping.

bigaudiofanatic

Trans-Siberian-Orchestra simply the best

skrol

I do have Sleeping Beauty and Swan Lake. I used to have a CD of the Nutcracker but can't find it. I would like to replace it with a SACD recording. (Just saw one on the Must Have SACD thread)

Also, is there a rendition of Handel's Messiah that would be recommended?

mmadden28

Another CD I listen to each year (and sometimes throughout the year), although not traditional and not at family get togethers and certainly not while the kids are around. The soundtrack to Mr. Hankeys' Christmas Classics.

Fongolio

I was last night listening to Manheim Steamroller's Christmas. Different but very nice. Excellent version of Silent Night on that LP.

mhardy6647

skrol wrote: »

Also, is there a rendition of Handel's Messiah that would be recommended?

Messiah is tough. For this time of year, you probably want only the "Christmas" part... the "Easter" stuff may be kind of tough sledding (But Who May Abide the day of His Coming", All We Like Sheep, Since by Man Came Death, etc.) :-)

Do you prefer a period-correct version or big and bombastic? If the latter, the Malcom Sargeant version is an old fave. That's the version of Hallelujah that you'll usually hear.

There was a good thread at AA on Messiahs that may be of interest.

http://db.audioasylum.com/cgi/m.mpl?forum=music&n=163929&highlight=messiah

oh, this one too:
http://db.audioasylum.com/cgi/m.mpl?forum=music&n=155632&highlight=messiah&r=

shack

strider wrote:

A Charlie Brown Christmas by the Vince Gauraldi Trio

Available on SACD and 45 rpm vinyl for the true audiophile Christmas experience.

I have the SACD on the way...

Handel's Messiah...The best copy I have is a SACD from FIM (First Impression Music) but it may be out of print now. There are litereally hundreds of versions out there...and most of them are pretty good.

It may sound corny to many but I really enjoy The Carpenters "Christmas Portrait". GREAT vocals and good traditional Christmas music.

The early Mannheim Steamroller Christmas albums "Christmas" (1984), "A Fresh Aire Christmas" (1988) and "Christmas in the Aire" (1995) are some of my favorites. Their recent stuff just doesn't seem to be as good.

Not Christmas per-say...but I enjoy George Winston's "December" this time of year.

Another of my favorites is Boston Pops with Arthur Fiedler "White Christmas". Just good classic Christmas tunes.

mmadden28

Ahh, now if only George Winston would release on SACD-I'd buy the entire discography again.

skrol

I liked George Winston a lot until I saw him perform live at the Meyerhoff. He went through this phase where he would strike the same note (TINK.TINK.TINK.TINK.TIMK.TINK...) superimposed with the music. I understand what he was trying to do and it works sometimes but done too often it becomes annoying (TINK.TINK.TINK...). I do still like most of his music and an SACD would be great.

mmadden28

skrol wrote: »

I liked George Winston a lot until I saw him perform live at the Meyerhoff. He went through this phase where he would strike the same note (TINK.TINK.TINK.TINK.TIMK.TINK...) superimposed with the music. I understand what he was trying to do and it works sometimes but done too often it becomes annoying (TINK.TINK.TINK...). I do still like most of his music and an SACD would be great.

Ha, I know exactly what you're talking about- I also saw him live and have the live performance DVD (Low Vid Qual) but it kinda grew on me-its different-but I'm usually in a zone anyway.

shack

mmadden28 wrote: »

Ahh, now if only George Winston would release on SACD-I'd buy the entire discography again.

I actually have "December" on the origninal Hi-Rez format...Vinyl...as well the original CD and the remastered CD version.

mmadden28

I've seen some of the GW vinyl on the Gon. It keeps eluding me. If I get a collection of that going-I just might make the jump into Vinyl. :cool:

skrol

I had forgotten that I actually have quite a few GW recordings, some vinyl and some CD. Some were my wife's, some mine and we married our fortunes together. Don't shoot me but I actually ripped my vinyl recording of December to CD for convenience.

skrol

Yo-Yo Ma & Friends Songs of Joy & Peace.

ben62670

Of coarse Bing Crosby, and Jim Neighbors. Another vote for some Elvis:)

fatchowmein

Diana Krall Christmas Songs

Here's track #10.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kU_BBNeumLI

EmmaP

Hey,

I enjoy the Trans-Siberian Orchestra Christmas stuff because it's like classics that are a bit rockin'.

And also I noticed that The Canadian Tenors (think Il Divo-ish) have the free single of the week on iTunes and it's a version of "Silent Night". So free is good, and I thought it was good.

Here's the iTunes link: (It might only be the free single of the week in Canada)

http://ax.itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/browserRedirect?url=itms%253A%252F%252Fax.itunes.apple.com%252FWebObjects%252FMZStore.woa%252Fwa%252FviewAlbum%253Fid%253D299228081%2526s%253D143455

Also, I'm new around here, so hello

-Em-

mhardy6647

EmmaP wrote: »

Hey,

And also I noticed that The Canadian Tenors (think Il Divo-ish) have the free single of the week on iTunes and it's a version of "Silent Night"...

Also, I'm new around here, so hello

-Em-

A quick read of this post and I swear I thought that it said The Canadian Terrors... I really couldn't imagine what sort of holiday music it might be! ;-)

BTW, Welcome.

shack

mhardy6647 wrote: »

A quick read of this post and I swear I thought that it said The Canadian Terrors... I really couldn't imagine what sort of holiday music it might be! ;-)

BTW, Welcome.

Canadian BRASS actually has a couple of good Christmas albums...I have this one and it has some GREAT pipe organ Christmas music in additon to the brass instruments...