What is YOUR favorite Holiday Music?
by Majorie L. Sallee
My first reaction is to say I like them All, but I have my special favorites. I think my favorite carol is “Silent Night, Holy Night”. I associate it with Christmas programs at church and at SCHOOL... Does that date me? In my high school the concert choir formed a “singing Christmas tree” for the annual CHRISTMAS program ( I'm thumbing my nose at the ACLU now). Most of the program consisted of the lovely old traditional carols. I wonder if that continue to this day. The very last song on the program always was “Silent Night, Holy Night”. The lights would turn to a pale blue, and as the choir sang, the stagehands on a catwalk above the stage would sweep artificial snow off in light strokes so it looked like real sow was falling. Its is still a vivid and beautiful memory. And my favorite secular holiday tune is probably is “The Christmas Song” (Chestnuts Roasting on An Open Fire ) sung by Mel Torme (the man with the velvet tonsils) or Nat “King” Cole. I think it would sound good sung by Johnny Mathis, too. It just comes across as such a warm but sophisticated holiday song. Now you tell me about you favorites. -- Vergie Ewing, TX Silent Night and White Christmas are my picks, although I enjoy a lot of others too. Several years ago we used to go caroling with a group from church and then come back to the church and have hot chocolate. We went to the homes of shut-ins and to nursing homes. -- Joan McKinney, VA My all-time favorite Christmas carol is “O Holy Night”, I very much enjoy the singing of Charlotte Church. I hope she will do a Christmas special on tv again this year. -- Elinor Nuxoll, WA I like White Christmas-a kinda of home town song because Spokane is Bing Crosby's home town. I like “Blue Christmas” because of the kind of melancholy I felt in the season that is so meaningful for families. But it wasn't just me and the kids. My mom and my brother and his wife made the season special. -- Muriel Simpson, OR Love “Angels We Have Heard on High” and a lot of others but that is probably one of my favorites. -- June Hildenbrand, MN Silly me... I just love “We Wish You a Merry Christmas” I sing and hum and whistle it all YEAR long... It's the only song I know all the words... all the time!!! I do love all the other festive songs and some are just so lovely they make you cry when you're in church singing them along with all the congregation. -- Donna Tyson, WA It is hard to pick just one! I like “What Child Is This”, “Oh Little Town of Bethlehem” and “O Come All Ye Faithful”. After my sister went on to college, I had our bedroom to myself. We had a big walk in closet with a nice light and my chest of drawers. I would get dressed in the closet. At Christmas time, I would sing Christmas songs to my hearts content while I got ready for school. I'm not a singer at all ,but I enjoyed this i my own private little world. “ O Come All Ye Faithful” was my favorite and I knew all the verses. For modern day songs, I really like “White Christmas”, and “I'll be Home For Christmas, and one called “ Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas”. A few years ago, a phrase in that song really stuck with me. “Through the years, we all will be together, if the fates allow”. I guess as I get older I know dear ones do not remain here in this world. I will find this thought especially poignant this year. I will have my wonderful Christmas Memories and their enduring love to comfort me. -- Dolores Gilligan, NY My favorite is “O Holy Night” (http://www.dobhram.com/greetings/GRxmas7.htm). Speaking of singers, do not forget Tony Bennett. ~Cherish the family-Blessings, Dolores -- Majorie L, Salle, KS Bing? Andy? Perry? How I loved all of them. You could actually find melody in their music and not some mind boggling beat. The words were clearly sung and not shouted. Singing was a whole different animal in those days, wasn't it? I guess Andy Williams might be the only one living of the three. He has had his own “theater” in Branson, MO for some time and apparently enjoys life in the Ozarks. However, he has a throat problem/condition and is unable to sing this season. I have no idea of his actual age, but he is a bit older than I am. Branson is a small town in the hills that has become a large entertainment center these days. Christmas is celebrated there with a variety of shows, and they have a wonderful light display. They are fighting to keep it a family place by resisting offers of casinos to come. They would spoil the whole atmosphere. So i hope they are successful in keeping them at bay. -- Peter Weatherby, CO I love all the songs mentioned and carols, but what especially brings me the true Christmas spirit is listening to the voice of the choir of King's College, Cambridge, singing Christmas carols and hymns..... I always listen to a treasured CD I have of them at Christmas time, and there is a purity and beauty to their voices as the harmony rises to the rafters far above that makes you think of angels on high! |
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