O How A Rose E'er Blooming -- Your favorite Christmas songs?

[bertha katzenengel]

Keep in mind that I'm an atheist, and that is my favorite Christmas song. My second favorite is "O Come Emmanuel."

Yours? Of course, it can be secular. ;)

[Blue-Jay]

1. O Holy Night. (an I'm an atheist!)

The other night there was a musical Christmas tribute to New Orleans on the show Studio 60 On The Sunset Strip. It kind of loses something without the video, but I found a link to the audio.

http://www.nbc.com/Studio_60_on_the_Sunset_Strip/music/studio_60_o_holy_night.mp3

Watching the vid on Tivo yesterday made me cry.


EDIT: YES! I found the video! There's some acting in it over the music, but not too much.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LXT83g7wsOs&mode=user&search=

[dbt]

2. Fairytale Of New York

The Pogues with Kirsty MacColl. Sublime.

:smoke:
dbt
Remember New Orleans

[two gun sid]

54. Greatest Xmas song ever written.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=Asbve6GR1WY&mode=related&search=

[deadparrot]

3. Somewhere In My Memory, from Home Alone...

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-7688006786074483675

[Mojambo]

4. The one where Santa wins a fiddling contest with the Devil.

Seriously though, I really despise Christmas music.

[Sabriel]

5. "The Little Boy that Santa Claus Forgot"

I get teary every time Nat King Cole sings it:

He's the little boy that santa claus forgot,
And goodness knows, he didn't want a lot.


He sent a note to santa
For some soldiers and a drum,
It broke his little heart
When he found santa hadn't come.


In the street he envies all those lucky boys,
Then wanders home to last year's broken toys.
I'm so sorry for that laddie,
He hasn't got a daddy,
The little boy that santa claus forgot.


Spoken:
(you know, christmas comes but once a year for every girl and boy,
The laughter and the joy they find in each brand new toy.
I'll tell you of a little boy that lives across the way...
This little fella's christmas is just another day.
He's the little boy that santa claus forgot,
And goodness knows, he didn't want a lot.)


In the street he envies all those lucky boys,
Then wanders home to last year's broken toys.
I'm so sorry for that laddie,
He hasn't got a daddy,
The little boy that santa claus forgot.

[Pool Hall Ace]

6. Jan Peerce singing "Noel Nouvelet"

It was on an album that I think my dad got at the gas station. Of course, I no longer have it, and the album is only available for a small fortune on e-bay and similar sites. :(

[JVS]

61. Good tune

[AlCzervik]

7. the little drummer boy by Bowie and Bing, not a Bing fan but i really love

their version of that song.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

8. We sing about two dozen carols and motets during the Advent and

Christmas seasons.

I like O Magnum Mysterium by Tomas Luis de Victoria, Bethlehem Down by Peter Warlock, Rorate Coeli by Palestrina, O Come O Come Emmanuel (traditional plainsong), A Spotless Rose by Herbert Howells, and People Look East.

[bertha katzenengel]

22. Have you ever heard Lauridsen's "O Magnum?"

I have sung it, but never without crying. It's incredibly moving. (And that and "Ubi Caritas" are the only two such numbers I've ever sung where the altos get the lead. :headbang:)

Pick up "Lux Aeterna" by the Los Angeles Master Chorale, conducted by Salmaunovich. The music of Morten Lauridsen. Sublime.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

26. Yes, I like that O Magnum Mysterium, too

Coincidentally, I'm watching the Rick Steves Christmas Special on TV, and they're playing it in the background at this moment! :wow:

:cue Twilight Zone music:

[bertha katzenengel]

27. weird

Who is Rick Steves? :ignorant:

[Lydia Leftcoast]

28. A travel writer who writes guidebooks and also has travelogue

programs on PBS.

This one is an overview of Christmas in seven European countries.

[tigereye]

64. that was a lovely program!

I love Medieval Christmas music - we attend the local Ren and Baroque Christmas concert every year. It's a tradition.

[YellowRubberDuckie]

9. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen...

I love jamming to the Trans Siberian Orchestra version, sometimes called Christmas Eve Sarajevo, but my favorite version is the jam session Bare Naked Ladies did with Sarah McLachlan. It's very up beat and FUN!
Duckie

[Lyric]

10. O Holy Night, Angels We Have Heard On High, and O Come All Ye Faithful

And I'm not the least bit religious. I just absolutely love those songs, especially when performed by a skilled choir (like the Vienna Boys Choir). I also love all of Handel's "Messiah", plus "Carol Of the Bells".

[Blue-Jay]

11. Listen.

I posted this up-thread, but it's beautiful.

http://www.nbc.com/Studio_60_on_the_Sunset_Strip/music/studio_60_o_holy_night.mp3

[crim son]

12. Two: Lulay, Lulay Thou Tiny Child

and Come, Emmanuel. There are a few I have in a music book that I've never heard played (except by me), from Elizabethan times. Beautiful but nobody's going to know them.

[lildreamer316]

14. See my post below:

Lulay is called Coventry Carol,and I LOVE that. I too love that English carol tradition, it's just beautiful.

[ulysses]

52. love that one.

When I was young, my dad wore out the "Nonesuch Christmas" album every year. :)

[lildreamer316]

13. Masters In This Hall; Coventry Carol

Carol of The Bells (any of the bell carols)

My two FAVORITES of all time is the one on FIrestone Christmas Vol.4.
One is Dorthy Kirsten and the Young Americans; their version of I Wonder as I Wander is stunning.
The other is Julie Andrews singing "The Bells Of Christmas".

[crim son]

16. Thanks, you're right, it's the Coventry Carol.

I have music books of carols from around the world and across time. Christmas music truly is some of the most beautiful music there is. I think I'll dig out some music tonight!

[Mad_Dem_X]

15. "Silent Night,"

"O Holy Night" and "We Three Kings" for religious. "Sleigh Ride" is probably my favorite non-religious tune.

Edited to add: "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)."

[mohinoaklawnillinois]

17. My favorite is O Holy Night for religious music and

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas for secular.

BTW I bought James Taylor's new Christmas CD and I absolutely love it. It's great, I haven't stopped playing it since I got it on Thursday.

[Guava Jelly]

18. Even though I despise xmas music I do like a few :)

http://youtube.com/watch?v=YZJjKgXln30
The Kinks Father Christmas 1977

http://youtube.com/watch?v=I0oaef6VAtI
Bruce Springsteen - Santa Claus Is Coming To Town

http://youtube.com/watch?v=Inma6Xz_PvM
The Pretenders - 2000 Miles
She does a version of
"have yourself a merry little christmas" that is my actual all time fav.
But i cant find it on youtube

[haf216]

30. I believe in Father Christmas-Greg Lake

It's on youtube but I don't know how to add the link.
Edit Sorry posted that on the wrong line.

[Paladin]

19. Bertha: Listen To It In The Original German

It's on the "Sing We Christmas" album by Chanticleer. Absolutely beautiful.......

[bertha katzenengel]

23. Dude! I actually heard that on the XM Classical Christmas station today!

YES! Awesome. :thumbsup:

[Paladin]

56. One Reason It Sounds So Good......

....it was recorded in an ancient German cathedral. Highly recommended........

[ironflange]

20. Carol of the Bells

Goes with being Ukrainian, I guess.

I've heard some pretty interesting songs on XM 107 lately. "I Found the Brains of Santa Claus" leaps to mind.

[CBHagman]

21. I also like "Lo, How a Rose, E'er Blooming" and...

..."Shiloh," particularly as performed by His Majestie's Clerkes, though I also have the Waverly Consort version of it.

http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=43:56917

And most of what's on the album The Bells of Dublin by the Chieftains, especially the "Boar's Head Carol," "Past Three O'Clock," "The Rebel Jesus," and "The St. Stephen's Day Murders."

http://www.thechieftains.com/discography/disc_bellsofdublin.asp

I also love "People, Look East," which we sing during Advent. Amy White and Al Petteway just recorded it.

http://www.alandamy.com/discog.html

http://www.hymnsandcarolsofchristmas.com/Hymns_and_Carols/people_look_east.htm

"People, Look East" by Eleanor Farjeon. Tune: Besancon.

People, look east. The time is near
Of the crowning of the year.
Make your house fair as you are able,
Trim the hearth and set the table.
People, look east and sing today:
Love, the guest, is on the way.

Furrows, be glad. Though earth is bare,
One more seed is planted there:
Give up your strength the seed to nourish,
That in course the flower may flourish.
People, look east and sing today:
Love, the rose, is on the way.

Birds, though you long have ceased to build,
Guard the nest that must be filled.
Even the hour when wings are frozen
God for fledging time has chosen.
People, look east and sing today:
Love, the bird, is on the way.

Stars, keep the watch. When night is dim
One more light the bowl shall brim,
Shining beyond the frosty weather,
Bright as sun and moon together.
People, look east and sing today:
Love, the star, is on the way.

Angels, announce with shouts of mirth
Christ who brings new life to earth.
Set every peak and valley humming
With the word, the Lord is coming.
People, look east and sing today:
Love, the Lord, is on the way.

[rug]

24. The Virgin's Slumber Song by Max Reger.

[Redstone]

25. That was a really stupid post,

and I hope nobody read it before I changed it.

Redstone

[salin]

29. A Peter Paul and Mary song that noone seems to know...

starts off with "and it came to pass on a Christmas evening..." song is about a child with nothing looking in a window to see an elderly lonely woman - to which he offers what little he has, and she offers to him what little she has - and they share together what seems to be a 'feast'. Heard it as a small child -but have never found anyone who is familiar with the song outside of my family.

[CBHagman]

34. It's called "Christmas Dinner."

Lyrics are available at several websites, but here's one:

http://lyrics.lr2.com/P/Peter+Paul+And+Mary/Christmas+Dinner/631795.html

It's on Peter, Paul, and Mommy.

http://www.rhapsody.com/peterpaulandmary/peterpaulmommy

[auntAgonist]

35. it's called: Christmas Dinner

And it came to pass on a Christmas evening,
When all the doors were shuttered tight,
Outside standing, a lonely boy-child,
Cold and shivering in the night.

On the street every window
Save but one was gleaming bright;
And to this window walked the boy-child
Peeking in saw candlelight.

Through other windows he had looked at turkeys,
Ducks, and geese, and cherry pies;
But through this window saw a gray-haired lady
Table bare and tears in her eyes.

Into his coat reached the boy-child
Knowing well there was little there
He took from his pocket his own Christmas dinner
A bit of cheese and some bread to share.

His outstretched hands held the food and they trembled
As the door it opened wide
Said he "Would you share with me Christmas dinner?"
Said she gently, "Come inside."

The gray-haired lady brought forth to the table
Glasses two, last drops of wine.
Said she "Here's a toast to everyone's Christmas,
And especially yours and mine!"

And it came to pass on that Christmas evening
Whene all the doors were shuttered tight
That in that town the happiest Christmas
Was shared by candlelight.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

31. Mirabile Mysterium, by Jacobus Gallus.

Renaissance composer, very strange harmonically, almost like Gesualdo. Marvelous stuff.

Check it out - here it is, played on an electronic keyboard, but you can get the idea of how strange the harmonies are: http://wso.williams.edu/cpdl/sound/handl/gall-mir.mid

[Blue-Jay]

32. Nice pick!

I had almost forgotten about that.

[auntAgonist]

33. The Huron Carol

The Huron Carol

(Twas in the Moon of Winter Time)

Father Jean de Brebeuf, 1640
English Translation by J. E. Middleton;

1. 'Twas in the moon of winter-time
When all the birds had fled,
That mighty Gitchi Manitou
Sent angel choirs instead;
Before their light the stars grew dim,
And wandering hunter heard the hymn:

Refrain:
"Jesus your King is born, Jesus is born,
In excelsis gloria."

2. Within a lodge of broken bark
The tender Babe was found,
A ragged robe of rabbit skin
Enwrapp'd His beauty round;
But as the hunter braves drew nigh,
The angel song rang loud and high. Refrain

3. O children of the forest free,
O sons of Manitou,
The Holy Child of earth and heaven
Is born today for you.
Come kneel before the radiant Boy
Who brings you beauty, peace and joy.

Refrain

[sir_captain]

36. In the Bleak Midwinter

the Poston version. Gorgeous song.

And I'm a Jew for what it's worth.

[sir_captain]

37. I also like Ralph Vaughn Williams'

Fantasia on Christmas carols.

[ChoralScholar]

38. My two favorites are

"In the Bleak Mid-Winter"
http://www.sharebigfile.com/file/35072/UCA-Chamber-Singers---In-the-Bleak-Mid-Winter.mp3.html
and

"Gabriel's Message"
http://www.sharebigfile.com/file/35071/-s-Message.mp3.html

I was in both these choirs. They are from the UCA Chamber Singers 1996 album, Lullaby for Christmas.

[sir_captain]

39. Heh....looks like I just beat you to the punch

I prefer the other melody, but they're both beautiful. Nice choir--is the cd available commercially?

[ChoralScholar]

45. It was at one time. I think it's out of print now.

It is the University of Central Arkansas Chamber Singers

I was a proud member for four years and three international tours.

Which other melody are you referring to. I know a few. This one was the Holst.

PM me, and I'll send you whatever you like. I have the whole album on MP3.

[sir_captain]

57. The other melody that I was referring to

was composed by Elizabeth Poston and made famous by the Choir of Kings College. I've got a lot of fond memories of it from my days as a chorister.

[133724]

40. Good King Wenceslas

Good King Wenceslas looked out
On the feast of Stephen,
When the snow lay round about,
Deep and crisp and even.
Brightly shown the moon that night,
Though the frost was cruel,
When a poor man came in sight,
Gathering winter fuel.

Hither, page, and stand by me.
If thou know it telling:
Yonder peasant, who is he?
Where and what his dwelling?
Sire, he lives a good league hence,
Underneath the mountain,
Right against the forest fence
By Saint Agnes fountain.

Bring me flesh, and bring me wine.
Bring me pine logs hither.
Thou and I will see him dine
When we bear them thither.
Page and monarch, forth they went,
Forth they went together
Through the rude wind's wild lament
And the bitter weather.

Sire, the night is darker now,
And the wind blows stronger.
Fails my heart, I know not how.
I can go no longer.
Mark my footsteps my good page,
Tread thou in them boldly:
Thou shalt find the winter's rage
Freeze thy blood less coldly.

In his master's step he trod,
Where the snow lay dented.
Heat was in the very sod
Which the saint had printed.
Therefore, Christian men, be sure,
Wealth or rank possessing,
Ye who now will bless the poor
Shall yourselves find blessing.

[livetohike]

49. That's my all time favorite too

:-)

[Whoa_Nelly]

41. Several French carols

Grew up singing a lot of French carols,and still love them

Un Flambeau, Jeanette Isabella!
(Bring a torch, Jeanette Isabella!)

Il est né le divin enfant
(He is born the divine child)

Entre le Beouf et l'Ane Gris
(Between the Cow and the Gray Donkey or Here with the ass and oxen mild)

D'où viens-tu, bergère
(Where are you coming from, shepherd)

[Gormy Cuss]

42. I have favorites to sing, and favorites to hear.

O How A Rose, O Come Emmanuel, and the Coventry Carol are my favorites to sing.
God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen, Good Christian Men Rejoice, Rudolph, Santa Claus is Coming to Town, and Silent Night if some else is singing.


on edit: and this thread has started a whole slew of earworms... must break out my Robert Shaw Chorale and hokey modern Christmas song CDs..

[last_texas_dem]

43. "Wonderful Christmastime", of course!

OK, not really (though I do like it)... I'm just trying to see if I can get flamed. If I had to choose a favorite Xmas song: "O Holy Night" or "What Child Is This?" Oddly, they're both religious ones, which I'm not and haven't ever really been; but they're just such moving songs. My runner-up would be "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas", "Carol of the Bells" and, in a slightly different vein, Jethro Tull's "Christmas Song."

Here are the lyrics to that one, just for the fun of it; though they're definitely more powerful with the music accompanying them:

Once in royal David's city, stood a lonely cattle shed,
Where a mother held her baby.
You'd do well to remember the things he later said.
When you're stuffing yourselves at the Christmas parties,
You'll just laugh when I tell you to take a running jump.
You're missing the point I'm sure does not need making
That Christmas spirit is not what you drink.

So how can you laugh, when your own mother's hungry?
And how can you smile when the reasons for smiling are wrong?
And if I just messed up your thoughtless pleasures,
Remember, if you wish, this is just a Christmas song.

[njdemocrat106]

44. A few of my favorites:

Johnny Mathis: "Do You Hear What I Hear?" and "Sleigh Ride"

Mariah Carey: "All I Want for Christmas is You" (I'm not a Mariah fan, but I've always liked this song)

Nat King Cole: "The Christmas Song"

Overall, though, "The Christmas Song" is my favorite secular Christmas song, and "O Little Town of Bethlehem" is my favorite religious Christmas song (I don't have a favorite version of that songm though).

[Evoman]

46. I hate them all. Christmas carols are one of the reasons I wage war against Christmas.

Usually around christmas, I poke out my ear drums so I don't have to suffer the neverending Chrismtmas musics that plays over and over and over and over and over for a whole fucking month.

[shanine]

47. Another "Oh Holy Night" here sung by

Celine Dionne, John Denver, Johnny Mathis, Luciano Pavarotti, Jon Secada

and of course "War is Over" John Lennon

[Jade Fox]

55. Feed the World, Oh Holy Night, Royal David's City...

(This was meant to be a reponse to the original post. Sorry!)

'Feed the World' is the twenty year old recording made by a bunch of rock stars to aid African hunger. I love the sentiment, and the tune as well.

I love 'Oh Holy Night' for it's second verse "chains shall he break, for the slave he is our brother, and in his name all oppression shall cease". Yes, Jesus as a progressive humanitarian!

'Royal David's City' is a very traditional hymn/carol, but I just like it.

[Duppers]

48. santa baby

http://youtube.com/watch?v=_zxJazdl6kM

it's not what you think.

[FooFootheSnoo]

50. O holy night, We three kings, and rockin' round the xmas tree

[China_cat]

51. Grandma got run over by a reindeer.

[ulysses]

53. Alleluya: A nywe werke

from Anonymous 4's On Yoolis Night, which is about all I've listened to by choice this season.

[tigereye]

65. we saw Anon 4 many years ago

wonderful album.

I like most medieval carols and esp. Patapan. I think that is the first music of that type that I heard when little, and I have always loved it.

[Midlodemocrat]

58. At my daughter's Concert Friday night, they sang that song in the orginal

German. It was fantastic. In her show choir, there are a ton of boys who lean heavily to the bass/baritone. It gave me chills.

[BarenakedLady]

59. Elf's Lament by BNL

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qixiv080feg

[JVS]

60. Savior of the nations, come

http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/s/a/saviorof.htm

Savior of the nations, come;
Virgin’s Son, here make Thy home!
Marvel now, O heaven and earth,
That the Lord chose such a birth.

Not by human flesh and blood;
By the Spirit of our God
Was the Word of God made flesh,
Woman’s offspring, pure and fresh.

Wondrous birth! O wondrous Child
Of the virgin undefiled!
Though by all the world disowned,
Still to be in heaven enthroned.

From the Father forth He came
And returneth to the same,
Captive leading death and hell
High the song of triumph swell!

Thou, the Father’s only Son,
Hast over sin the victory won.
Boundless shall Thy kingdom be;
When shall we its glories see?

Brightly doth Thy manger shine,
Glorious is its light divine.
Let not sin o’ercloud this light;
Ever be our faith thus bright.

Praise to God the Father sing,
Praise to God the Son, our King,
Praise to God the Spirit be
Ever and eternally.

[JVS]

62. That Paul Gerhardt really knows how to write a hymn

[Fenris]

63. Personent Hodie

Personent hodie
Voces puerulae,
Laudantes iucunde
Qui nobis est natus,
Summo Deo datus,
Et de virgineo
Ventre procreatus.

In mundo nascitur;
Pannis involvitur;
Praesepi ponitur
Stabulo brutorum
Rector supernorum;
Perdidit spolia
Princeps Infernorum.

Magi tres venerunt;
Munera offerunt;
Parvulum inquirunt,
Stellulam sequendo,
Ipsum adorando,
Aurum, thus et myrrham
Ei offerendo.

Omnes clericuli,
Pariter pueri,
Cantent ut angeli:
'Advenisti mundo:
Laudes tibi fundo
Ideo: Gloria
In excelsis Deo'.

[u4ic]

66. I have quite a few

I'm not Christian, btw.

Carol of the Bells, O Come All Ye Faithful, God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman, Silent Night, Winter Wonderland, Be A Santa and Aretha Franklin singing "Kissing By the Mistletoe". :-)

[Left Is Write]

67. I have a hard time narrowing it down. For religious...

I love "O Come All Ye Faithful" and "O Holy Night"

For secular, I love love love "Deck The Halls" (but that's a Yule song, not a Christmas song...right?)

[windlight]

68. Happy X-Mas - John Lennon

[yellowdogintexas]

69. "The Holly and The Ivy", "Joy to the World", "O Come All Ye Faithful"

are among my favorites.