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.
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…
Listen to classical, religious songs for free on the Internet radio station Classic Church Music, at 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.
Belle and Sebastian’s version of **O Come, O Come Emmanuel **is one of my favorite songs.
George Winston’s version of **The Holly and the Ivy **is another favorite. This dude does a reasonable rendition.
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
I saw three ships 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 too.
Another nice common carol is The Cherry Tree Carol–this is just the best version I could find.
Carol of the Bells It’s been used in too many commercials, but the song is beautiful.
Here’s a site with several possibilities: Christmas carols
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.
One of my favorites. I can’t hear it now, though, without thinking of West Wing.
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.
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.
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!
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
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.
My personal favorite, since childhood: Bing Crosby’s version of Do You Hear What I Hear
The Angel Gabriel From Heaven Came
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.
Of course it’s also great sung to the tune of “Gilligan’s Island.”
Or maybe “Yellow Rose of Texas.”
“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.”
What magical footprints? Am I missing a verse?