(r) Favourite Christmas Carol?

[pianowelsh]

There are so many really good ones.
I think one of my favourites has to be Hark the Herald angels sing. Great words, great tune great theology. What are yours??? 

This is not intended as an overtly religious post. BUT please respect that many people who do post here will have strongly held religious beliefs.

[mephisto]

Deilig er Jorden

[jpianoflorida]

Gesu Bambino

and

Angels We Have Heard on High(the chorus is so much fun to play on an organ)

[nicco]

Julekveldsvisa

[pianowelsh]

would it be possible for the none english text ones to hae translations of titles. Thanks

[mephisto]

"Deilig er Jorden" roughly translates to "How great is thee earth". Not in the sense that it is a question, but how much one is baffled by it. And of course in the song one thanks God for this.

"Julekveldsvisa" may be translated into "Song to be sung in christmas eve" but that may not be a very good translation

[nicco]

"Deilig er Jorden" roughly translates to "How great is thee earth". Not in the sense that it is a question, but how much one is baffled by it. And of course in the song one thanks God for this.

"Julekveldsvisa" may be translated into "Song to be sung in christmas eve" but that may not be a very good translation

I'd say that was pretty accurate. Norway has a great tradition for christmas songs.

[phil13]

O Come, O Come Immanuel

O Holy Night

Carol of the Bells

Phil

[pianowelsh]

Thanks for those translations guys...Im unfamiliar with those carols - is there a sound sample of them somewhere? perhaps you'd like to sing them??!
Keep em coming in!

[donjuan]

The only one I like is O holy night.  And only when it sung well, i.e. not jazzed up.

[jpianoflorida]

one of my students came in last year and had different words for "carol of the bells"

part were:

ding, fries are done, ding , fries are done, ding , fries are done.     then there is a part "i work at burger king, i make whoppers , do you want fries with that please?".     Now everytime i hear that song i think of this.   

[donjuan]

one of my students came in last year and had different words for "carol of the bells"

part were:

ding, fries are done, ding , fries are done, ding , fries are done.     then there is a part "i work at burger king, i make whoppers , do you want fries with that please?".     Now everytime i hear that song i think of this.   

They heard that on Family Guy:

[jpianoflorida]

that's great! thanks!

[musik_man]

Lo, How a Rose is Growing (by far the best Christmas Carol)
In Dulci Jubilo (aka Good Christian Men Rejoice)
O Holy Night
Christmas Time is Here
Here We Come a Wasseling
Angelus, Ad Virgenem (As sung by the Tallis Scholars)


Carol of the Bells is also nice although 99% of the arrangements of it suck.

[phil13]

Carol of the Bells is also nice although 99% of the arrangements of it suck.

Do you have the remaining 1%?

I'd love to see a good piano arrangement.

Phil

[ahinton]

Ah - let me count the ways - I mean let me think of some...

"Good Christian men read Joyce?"...(mm - can't remember how that goes)

"How far is it to Bethnal Green?"…(well, if I knew my London Underground better, I might be able to - er...)

"Angelis from the realms of commerce,
Wing your CDs for all they’re worth"…(no - this isn't working...)

Ah - here we go...

"In the Blair midwinter
Cameron still moans;
He stands hard as rusted iron
Outwith Waterstones.
Confidence had fallen
Low and yet more low
In the Brown midwinter –
Time for Dave to go.

(notes for non-UK readers:
1. "Cameron" is leader of the opposition to the party in government - or so he believes
2. "Waterstones" is a famous UK chain of booksellers
3. "Brown" = Gordon Brown, currently UK Chancellor of the Exchequer but hopeful and intended President-of-Greater-Europe-in-waiting
4. "Dave" is the aforementioned "Cameron"'s forename.)

"It came up on a midnight clear
Th’inglorious siren of old
The cop car traps the driver as
He imbibes some Scottish gold.
P’lice on this earth show ill to men
For their incessant drink
“Breathe in this bag – then you I’ll drag
Down to the nearest clink”.

(notes for non-UK readers:
1. "Scottish gold" = whisky
2. "Clink" is old colloquial for prison)

"Oh little town of Birmingham
How sad we see thee lie!
Above thy thick and noxious smog
The silent stars go by.
Yet in the dank streets shineth
The everlasting lights,
Polluting skies, so Brummie eyes
Will never see clear nights…"

(notes for non-UK readers:
1. "Birmingham" is a well known village in the West Midlands area of England
2. "Brummie" is a colloquial term for a resident of Birmingham)

OK - over to someone else now. Come on, pianistimo, it's your turn next...

Best,

Alistair

[thalbergmad]

Jingle bells played by Fats Waller is my fave.

[ahinton]

Jingle bells played by Fats Waller is my fave.

OK, then; come on, you can do beter than that.

"By little town of Gillingham
At which Gravesenders sigh -
Along the old A226
Thal's silent car goes by.
Yet on the M2 motorway
Shine ever-blasting lights,
Of flashing blue; yet they'll not get you
For all Thals know their rights…"

By the way, there's (individually nameless) cat's eyes on both those roads, you know...

Best,

Alistair

[thalbergmad]

Did Sorabji write any Christmas Carols?

[ahinton]

Did Sorabji write any Christmas Carols?

No. He didn't own any YOONIEs either.

Best,

Alistair

[ramseytheii]

Good King Wenceslas

Walter Ramsey

[wishful thinker]

It can depend where and when they are performed.

O Come O come Emanuel,
Adeste Fidelis (O come all ye faithfull)

but for shere impact

Once in Royal David's City and
Hark the Herald Angels Sing!

with full organ after the mass 

[counterpoint]

Mele Kalikimaka  (Hawaiian Christmas Song)   

[burstroman]

musik man: I concur, "Lo How a Rose .... is my favorite.  Do you know of a good arrangement or transcription of it, something in keeping with its simple beauty?

[quacker]

O Holy Night is my favourite... just love the chorus...

but i also like O Come O Come Immanuel, O Come All Ye Faithful... etc..

[musik_man]

musik man: I concur, "Lo How a Rose .... is my favorite.  Do you know of a good arrangement or transcription of it, something in keeping with its simple beauty?

I just play it out of my hymnal.  It's a simple 4 part chorale that works well.

Do you have the remaining 1%?

I'd love to see a good piano arrangement.

Phil

I have a decent transcription that has lots of fun rhythms.  PM me if you'd like it.

And I'd like to add The Holly and the Ivy.  I only heard it for the first time this year.

[pianowelsh]

Musik man - you have exquisite taste!! more than can be said for Thal and mr hinton.  I presume these rather coarse versions will receive some more refined treatment by the time Christmas day actually arrives - or maybe they are drafts for next X mas??!

[phil13]

A few nights ago I went to a concert at the high school I graduated from last year. The pentultimate piece they played was an absolutely gorgeous, breathtaking transcription of 'O Holy Night' for full symphony. It was truly amazing. Then, they did a symphonic transcription of 'White Christmas' which was less amazing, but nevertheless still great. (Plus, in the same concert my best friend, who is a violinist, played the Intro & Rondo Capriccoso by Saint-Saens...truly a great night.)

That concert reaffirmed one of the reasons why I love Christmas- the music written for the season is just so beautiful.

Phil

[pianistimo]

was listening to xm radio and heard an announcement for 2:00 today for liszt's piano version of 'christmas tree.' ? but alas, i am out of my car and don't want to get back in just to hear a song.  i didn't realize he wrote this.  perhaps it is of interest to somebody.  especially since thalberg never wrote anything like that.  (just trying to add some cheer here).  bah humbug.

[lichristine]

Carol of the Bells. Although not on piano....

my favorite to play? "I Wonder As I Wander"

[musik_man]

Pianistimo reminded me.  Anyone who has Sirius satellite radio should tune to channel 76(the Classical Pops station.)  They're playing classical Christmas music all day.