# What are the best classic, religious Christmas songs? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 7, 2008, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-best-classic-religious-christmas-songs/476100 "2008-12-07T05:43:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2008, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-best-classic-religious-christmas-songs/476100/21 "2008-12-08T00:36:51Z")
i love still, still, still. most especially when walking through a snow shower (not a blizzard, or storm, just a nice calm snow globe kinda snow). i hum or sing it all winter long. ---
**Author:** ![straight\_man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/straight_man/32/3027_2.png) [@straight\_man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/straight_man)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2008, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-best-classic-religious-christmas-songs/476100/22 "2008-12-08T01:03:36Z")
I’m thirding _Es Ist Ein’ Ros’ Entsprungen_ (Low, How a Rose…). Also, _Comfort, Comfort, Ye my People_. I’m sure I’ll think of some more shortly. I love Christmas music… I wish I were in a choir this year… ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2008, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-best-classic-religious-christmas-songs/476100/23 "2008-12-08T01:20:02Z")
Listen to classical, religious songs for free on the Internet radio station [Classic Church Music](http://www.live365.com/stations/robfens), at [Live365.com](http://Live365.com). The catch: they’re strict about their liturgical playlist. It’s all-_Advent_ music until Christmas Eve, then twelve days of Christmas music. ---
**Author:** ![Frostillicus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Frostillicus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frostillicus)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2008, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-best-classic-religious-christmas-songs/476100/24 "2008-12-08T03:03:51Z")
Belle and Sebastian’s version of \*\*O Come, O Come Emmanuel \*\*is one of my favorite songs. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/6s25qJVER_U/hqdefault.jpg "Belle and Sebastian - O Come, O Come, Emmanuel") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6s25qJVER_U) George Winston’s version of \*\*The Holly and the Ivy \*\*is another favorite. This dude does a reasonable rendition. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/qm6PMxFpPfU/hqdefault.jpg "George Winston's The Holly and the Ivy played by Andrew Boss") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qm6PMxFpPfU) ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2008, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-best-classic-religious-christmas-songs/476100/25 "2008-12-08T03:24:44Z")
In four sections, because there is classical and there is classical… Ave Maria (Bach/Gounod) Ave Maria (Schubert0 For Unto Us a Child is Given (Händel / the Messiah) O Come O Come Emmanuel O Magnum Mysterium Esurientes implevit bonis (Berger / the Magnificat) We Three Kings Lo How a Rose E’er Blooming O Holy Night The Coventry Carol In the Bleak Midwinter Angels We Have Heard on High I Wonder as I Wander Gesu Bambino Infant Holy, Infant Lowly I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day Estampie Natalis There’s a Song in the Air Go Tell it on the Mountain Do You Hear What I Hear? Patapan Children Go Where I Send Thee The Wexford Carol A Star in the East ---
**Author:** ![dangermom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@dangermom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dangermom)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2008, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-best-classic-religious-christmas-songs/476100/26 "2008-12-08T03:57:37Z")
[I saw three ships](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQBgXoH8FGk&feature=related) has always been a favorite of mine. This is Sting singing, because I can’t find a better version on youtube. Speaking of Sting, you can listen to him sing [Gabriel’s Message](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWvIC3OR7wk) too. Another nice common carol is [The Cherry Tree Carol](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4wKDEou8hU&feature=related)–this is just the best version I could find. ---
**Author:** ![picunurse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@picunurse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picunurse)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2008, 10:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-best-classic-religious-christmas-songs/476100/27 "2008-12-08T10:20:24Z")
[Carol of the Bells](http://www.christmas-carols.net/carols/carol-of-bells.html) It’s been used in too many commercials, but the song is beautiful. [Angels We have Heard on High](http://www.xmasfun.com/Lyrics.asp?ID=5) [Hallelujah Chorus](http://www.hallelujah-chorus.com/) Here’s a site with several possibilities: [Christmas carols](http://www.christmas-carols.net/) ---
**Author:** ![Jragon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Jragon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jragon)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2008, 10:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-best-classic-religious-christmas-songs/476100/28 "2008-12-08T10:27:22Z")
I’ve always had a soft spot for Hark the Herald Angel Sings, possibly because circa 5th grade I had a solo on it in church. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2008, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-best-classic-religious-christmas-songs/476100/29 "2008-12-08T12:17:52Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > “The Little Drummer Boy” One of my favorites. I can’t hear it now, though, without thinking of West Wing. ---
**Author:** ![kelly5078](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/6f9a4e/32.png) [@kelly5078](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kelly5078)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2008, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-best-classic-religious-christmas-songs/476100/30 "2008-12-08T16:45:25Z")
> [@picunurse](#): > > Angels We have Heard on High My personal favorite (though not much above most of the others mentioned here). My wife refers to it as the eggshells carol: “Gloria in eggshells sees day-o.” But I came here to add “The First Noel.” Amazing what can be done just basically playing a major scale. ---
**Author:** ![MaxTheVool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MaxTheVool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaxTheVool)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2008, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-best-classic-religious-christmas-songs/476100/31 "2008-12-08T18:16:08Z")
My favorite “carols” are **O Holy Night** and **O Come All Ye Faithful**. If we’re talking non-carol classical songs, I like **Riu Riu Chiu**. But I think the best overall classical now-associated-with-Christmas music is **The Nutracker**. ---
**Author:** ![baronsabato](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed655f/32.png) [@baronsabato](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/baronsabato)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2008, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-best-classic-religious-christmas-songs/476100/32 "2008-12-08T19:38:30Z")
Okay, I’m a big fan of: **Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus (more of an Advent carol, but still very beautiful) Hark, The Herald Angels Sing Good Christian Men, Rejoice! (In Dulci Jubilo) Mortals Awake, With Angels Join Rise Up Shepherd, and Follow Sweet Little Jesus Boy Go Tell It on the Mountain** You can’t go wrong with those! ---
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2008, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-best-classic-religious-christmas-songs/476100/33 "2008-12-08T20:08:18Z")
Favorites: O Come, O Come Emmanuel O Little Town of Bethlehem What Child is This? Silent Night Hark the Herald Angels Sing (with brass. it’s a triumphant song, it needs triumphant instruments) We Three Kings I heard the bells on Christmas Day ---
**Author:** ![stargazer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb8c5e/32.png) [@stargazer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stargazer)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2008, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-best-classic-religious-christmas-songs/476100/34 "2008-12-08T20:44:39Z")
Lemme go grab my hymnal… From the Advent section: O Zion, Acclaim Your Redeemer! Prepare the Way, O Zion! Comfort, Comfort Ye My People Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus Rejoice, Rejoice, Believers! From the Christmas section: It Came Upon a Midnight Clear While by Our Sheep Angels from the Realms of Glory Angels We Have Heard on High Joy Bells are Ringing Of the Father’s Love Begotten Once in Royal David’s City Now Shine a Thousand Candles Bright Sing We Now of Christmas When Christmas Morn is Breaking Our Day of Joy is Here Again Go, Tell It on the Mountain And almost all of Handel’s Messiah, but especially O Thou that tellest good tidings to Zion. I’ll see if I can find some links to any of those that haven’t been linked to already. ---
**Author:** ![Bumbershoot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bumbershoot/32/3428_2.png) [@Bumbershoot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bumbershoot)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2008, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-best-classic-religious-christmas-songs/476100/35 "2008-12-08T21:29:03Z")
My personal favorite, since childhood: Bing Crosby’s version of [Do You Hear What I Hear](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWjzTAkWLBM) ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2008, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-best-classic-religious-christmas-songs/476100/36 "2008-12-09T01:00:51Z")
The Angel Gabriel From Heaven Came [http://www.oremus.org/hymnal/t/t071.html](http://www.oremus.org/hymnal/t/t071.html) [http://www.cyberhymnal.org/](http://www.cyberhymnal.org/) ---
**Author:** ![freckafree](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/freckafree/32/3050_2.png) [@freckafree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/freckafree)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2008, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-best-classic-religious-christmas-songs/476100/37 "2008-12-09T04:01:11Z")
> [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](#): > > Off the beaten track - > > John Joubert - Torches Every time I’ve sung that, my brain thinks, “Scissors! Scissors! Run with scissors!” Great piece, nonetheless. Using it as a choral introit sounds wonderful! Not a classic, exactly, since it’s by a living composer, but Morten Lauridsen’s setting of “O Magnum Mysterium” is one of the most gorgeous pieces of choral music I’ve ever heard, Christmas song or not. I like Pandora. Last year I created a station called “cathedral Christmas,” and it turned up some really wonderful stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2008, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-best-classic-religious-christmas-songs/476100/38 "2008-12-09T04:30:49Z")
> [@Malacandra](#): > > Also like “[O Little Town of Bethlehem](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/O_Little_Town_of_Bethlehem)”, usually to _Forest Green_ although I have sung and like the Walford Davies. Of course it’s also great sung to the tune of “Gilligan’s Island.” Or maybe “Yellow Rose of Texas.” 😃 ---
**Author:** ![lobotomyboy63](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobotomyboy63/32/2900_2.png) [@lobotomyboy63](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lobotomyboy63)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2008, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-best-classic-religious-christmas-songs/476100/39 "2008-12-09T04:32:26Z")
“Silent Night” is the gold standard. Multiple language versions are out there. “O Holy Night” is excellent as well. “Do You Hear What I Hear” is way up there. And then you have your “Hallelujah Chorus.” ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2008, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-best-classic-religious-christmas-songs/476100/40 "2008-12-09T04:39:12Z")
> [@Unauthorized\_Cinnamon](#): > > The only Christmas song featuring magical footprints! What magical footprints? Am I missing a verse? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-best-classic-religious-christmas-songs/476100.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-best-classic-religious-christmas-songs/476100.md?page=3)