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Silver Bells and O Holy Night.

Secular

"Father Christmas" The Kinks

https://youtu.be/fPPCPqDINEk" target="_blank

Dog barking of Jingle Bells....

I stumbled upon "Babe of Bethlehem" a few years ago watching a Rick Steves Christmas travel show.

I can't believe I hadn't heard it before...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nmV2aQT3kss" target="_blank

Begs the question: if the song is "secular," how can it be a Christmas song?

iiipopes wrote:Begs the question: if the song is "secular," how can it be a Christmas song?

The same way I saw a sign for Holiday Trees!!

Always liked Tom Lehrer's contribution. It might even be titled "Christmas Song" but i am too lazy to look it up...

Mrs. Fogary's Christmas Cake is pleasant as well, and i can't say anything bad about Spike Jones and his renditions of classic christmas stuff.

But if i gotta name a favorite these days, i was quite smitten when i came across this little ditty a few years back: https://youtube.com/watch?v=KA-qpAFxFPU

The egg is in the nog indeed...

Carol of the Bells, especially the Chip Davis arrangement (Mannheim Steamroller).

This could be considered as both: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJH7I6XyZZo" target="_blank" target="_blank

Another vote for "Es ist ein Ros entsprungen".

The major VI chord before the last phrase gets me, every single time.

One of my favorites at this time of year. Praise God.

https://youtu.be/Dr_NxKksMGA?t=18" target="_blank

Ace

iiipopes wrote:Begs the question: if the song is "secular," how can it be a Christmas song?

"Jingle Bells", "Silver Bells" and "Jingle Bell Rock" are all considered Christmas songs but are clearly secular.

The Big Ben wrote: "Jingle Bells", "Silver Bells" and "Jingle Bell Rock" are all considered Christmas songs but are clearly secular.

While Jingle Bells is completely Christmas free, Silver Bells and Jingle Bell Rock mention Christmas so I don't think they count.

"Snow" on the other hand...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CH2KGboA35c" target="_blank

Russian Christmas Music is pretty good.

Although i feel like i should give it a listen from the other side of the 4th wall, and not under the pressure to perform without having practiced enough, only to be rescued by fortuitous circumstances.

Favorite Sacred - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5_w2XpG7DI" target="_blank Gotta love Mahalia, this is beautiful.
Favorite Weird - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZvvHXjKloNs" target="_blank" target="_blank I'm sorry, I know it's just twisted. I still laugh at it.
Favorite Secular - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VHuIL26AeMY" target="_blank" target="_blank Anderson's scoring is completely fun, fun rhythms, completely sing-able as you walk out after the concert. I enjoy both hearing and playing this one.
Merry Christmas to you all.

Gesu Bambino, based on nostalgia. I used to play it on violin with my mother accompanying on piano, all through my childhood. Last summer I got good enough on oboe to thoroughly enjoy playing it just by myself, in my very reverberant living room.

What makes it secular, vs. non-secular?

For example, "I'll be Home for Christmas" is about Christmas... so is that secular? But it's not directly about Jesus or the nativity or anything like that... so is it non-secular?

I like "O Holy Night" and most anything sung by Bing Crosby. I listened to Sirius's Holiday Traditions (?) (from the 40s, 50s and 60s) for most of the drive from northern Illinois to Marietta, Ga. His voice may be just about perfect. And there were plenty of other singers.

But since it only covered through the 60s, they didn't play "Feliz Navidad". I was also wanting to hear Snoopy's Christmas.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ruirnUfaC5U" target="_blank