I love Christmas Carols. Nothing says HOLIDAY SEASON to me like music. I usually start listening to my Christmas playlist around Halloween. All the way up until the new year. Ok, I lied. I really listen to it throughout the WHOLE year. But I do it in secret, so nobody makes fun. Remember a long time ago, when I told you I did a lot of driving for my summer job? Well, turns out the middle of British Columbia is a FANTASTIC place to be a star in my car and belt out O Holy Night with Jessica Simpson as backup. She missed her calling, you know. As backup.
O Holy Night.
My number one favorite Christmas song. Of all time. I never tire of it. No matter who sings it. It's like the Rock Ballad of Christmas. The arrangement I like most is one by Craig Courtney arranged for SATB. For the life of me, I couldn't find a video of it online to share with you. Youtube, you've failed me. But in a pinch, Celine Dion, the Diva of Ballads, does a wonderful rendition.
My second favorite Christmas Song is a lesser known song called Peace, Peace. It is a true stunner, and never fails to bring tears to my eyes. The first time I heard this song was at a Sacramento Master Singers concert in Sacramento. The concert was held in a big Catholic Cathedral with stone walls that looked like the inside of an ancient castle. The concert itself was amazing. But the final song brought the house down. The lights were dimmed and it became so quiet, you could hear the proverbial pin drop. Slowly, the choir members filed out in two streams, one on the left and one on the right, encircling the entire inside of the chapel. They were each holding a burning taper candle, creating a soft and warm glow. It was a great effect, putting the audience in the center of the song, enrobing the entire crowd with the familiar strains of Silent Night.....with something a little magic thrown in.
Now, nothing I have found on Youtube comes close to the beautiful arrangement on my SMS CD, which I'd like to shamelessly plug, because it's one of the best Christmas albums out there. But here's a video of another choir performing. Please, have a listen. And if you're ever in Sacramento in December, treat yourself and buy tickets to their concert. You won't be disappointed.
And just for fun, another of my favorite Christmas songs is a parody on a traditional favorite.
The Twelve Days After Christmas
The first day after Christmas my true love and I had a fight,
And so I chopped the pear tree down and burned it just for spite.
Then with a single cartridge, I shot that blasted partridge,
My true love, my true love, my true love gave to me.
The second day after Christmas, I pulled on the old rubber gloves,
And very gently wrung the necks of both the turtle doves.
My true love, my true love, my true love gave to me.
The third day after Christmas, my mother caught the croup;
I had to use the three French hens to make some chicken soup.
The four calling birds were a big mistake,
for their language was obscene.
The five gold rings were completely fake and they turned my fingers green .
The sixth day after Christmas, the six laying geese wouldn't lay,
I gave the whole darn gaggle to the A.S.P.C.A.
On the seventh day what a mess I found,
All seven of the swimming swans had drowned.
My true love, my true love, my true love gave to me.
The eighth day after Christmas, before they could suspect,
I bundled up the eight maids a milking, nine pipers piping, ten ladies dancing, 'leven lords a leaping, Twelve drummers drumming and sent them back collect.
I wrote my true love, "We are through, love",
and I said in so many words,
"Furthermore your Christmas gifts were for the birds!"
Now if that doesn't put a smile on your face, maybe a little giveaway will.
For your holiday enjoyment, I have an icy collection of three half yard cuts of wintery snowflakes. And two blue coordinating spools of Gutermann thread to keep them company. You could do something really fun with these. A little table runner, some cozy oven mitts....and keep them out beyond December 25th even. Snowflakes are a wintery sort of thing, lasting much longer than Christmas. In fact, if you lived in Alaska, you could keep them out six months of the year! Leave a little comment. Tell me your favorite Christmas carol. Sing it if you want. Your friends will love you.
* Thank you everyone for your wonderful comments and stories on yesterday's post. I am not the only one scarred by a cantankerous Christmas Tree! The winner of yesterday's snowman giveaway is....
drum roll please...
Nancy!
Thank you, Nancy, for sharing your own Christmas story. And if the rest of you didn't get a chance, be sure to go back through the comments on yesterday's post to read about Nancy and her husband's very first, and very sweet Christmas together 41 years ago. Nancy, please shoot me an email at Skagwayquilts at hotmail dot com with your mailing address and I'll get this little bundle on it's way to you in time to whip something up for Christmas.
Oh Come, Oh Come Emmanuel - it explains everything - the reason for the season!
Posted by: di | 12/01/2009 at 07:57 PM
My favorite is "What child is this" a beautiful song. Favorite kiddie type is Grandma got run over by a reindeer. Brings back lots of memories of my mom singing it to us children back in the 70's.
Posted by: snowlady | 12/02/2009 at 01:51 AM
My favourite Christmas carol is Silent Night.....but I'm not singing it!!! lol!!!
Posted by: Miriam | 12/02/2009 at 01:51 AM