christmas music

I love John Rutter Shepherd's Pipe Carol and the Candlelight Carol in particular. Also the Carol of the bells by Libera.
But there is so much Christmas music that is wonderful.

We always sang Adeste Fideles at school, I had the words stuck in my hymn book for years. I love Gaudete as well, it wouldn't sound half as good in English. We used to sing a couple of French carols too. If I'm in the car I play a CD of Friar Alessandro, the monk from Assissi singing Christmas songs.

The Christmas Song (Mel Tormé) is fine, and my favourite from two or three years ago I Love New York at Christmas (Feather), recorded by Lorraine Feather, is worth listening out for.

roses - my favourite of all films; I have it on DVD, and John Barry's music for Eleanor is wonderful.

In the Bleak mid Winter - Harold Darke's version and anything Christmassy by John Rutter, make my heart sing.
Away in the Manger is the first carol I remember from my very young childhood and singing/hearing it gives me a trembly, emotional, maudlin, fuzzy feeling

I detest the 'canned' carols that pollute our streets when the Round Table comes round collecting. I have, in the past, told them what I think of them and asked them to tone them down but they seem to think that awful noise is festive.

In the bleak midwinter, when sung well it makes me cry.

We have The Lion In Winter music on cd, the film is set at Christmas( in Chinon, France) and has a wonderful soundtrack, Eleanore, Regina Anglorum.

Sung Latin sounds great, how could anyone object?

Just been reading the posts on here, and kitty your predictive text made me burst out laughing ( waking a napping DH in the process) it was the bleak kissinger that did it!

Oh rosequartz I too used to sing the (a ) descant, only I thought I was singing the tune

'Quem' not queen! Bl***y predictive text!

'Queen pastores laudavere'. Short but sublime!

We had a singing lobster once - we set it going on my sister's doorstep one Christmas Eve, knocked on the door and hid round the corner! I didn't think she would ever stop laughing!

Mine was not a Catholic school either, don't remember any parents complaining (they did as they were told in those days )
No, we didn't learn Clementine, we did learn Caesar and Virgil ad infinitum, I can still recite some ...

I love the carols from Kings, classical Christmas music, and...
Have Yourself a Merry little Christmas, Judy Garland
Santa Baby, Eartha Kitt
and my guilty pleasure, All I Want for Christmas is you by Marian Carey.

Having battled our way through gales and floods to Bo'ness last night we were treated to almost all the carols and Christmas songs chosen above, courtesy of the area choirs of the National Youth Choir of Scotland. Although the Junior & Senior choirs were exceptional, it was the wee ones in the Training Choir, including our GD, who really stole the show, singing loud and clear in their Central Scotland accents as they have yet to be trained to 'sing posh'.

The audience were invited to stand and join in a couple of the carols and I was transported back to my days in the school choir, enveloped in the wrap around sound, automatically signing the alto part. We sang Oh Come all Ye faithful in English and I was reminded of the furore which ensued when we learned and sang Adeste Fidelis at school. Numerous complaints from parents and other teachers because we WERE NOT A CATHOLIC SCHOOL and therefore should not be singing in Latin. It was OK tho' to sing 'Mon Beau Sapin' and 'Stile Nacht' (excuse my attempt at spelling). Our feisty young Latin teacher declared that 3 languages were taught in the Academy - French, German & Latin - all should have equal status. In defiance she taught her Latin Classes 'In caverna du metalla excavatus minerel' (sp? It was over 50 years ago) which we sang at a morning Assembly.

Did anyone else learn Clementine in Latin at school?

We used to sing it in Latin at school as well, I was supposed to be part of the 'descant' until they realised I couldn't really sing

Greyduster . You're cruel !

Roseq. I love Adeste Fidelis in Latin. Memories of schooldays. I was singing Venite, Venite ..... along our High Street yesterday accompanying the wonderful Sally Army band.

Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas but only the Judy Garland version as sung in Meet me in St. Louis.
Caribbean Carol and finally, On a Starry Night these two when sung by an enthusiastic reception class.

I've got a little hamster fairy who dances and sings 'Baby it's cold outside'. It's very good for a quick little kitchen dance. She is very sweet.

Harold Darke's, rather than Holst's, version of 'In the Bleak Midwinter' sung by Kings College choir;
Leroy Anderson's 'Sleigh Ride' (love that one!);
Delius' 'Sleigh Ride';
'Let it Snow';
Berlioz' 'Shepherds Farewell;
and the absolutely glorious 'Jauchzet, frohlocket' from Bach's Christmas Oratorio - a must for Christmas Day morning.
If DH doesn't stop going into Christmas overdrive, I may be tempted to roast his chestnuts over an open fire!!

and a descant .....

Adeste Fideles sung in Latin by a good choir

I like Carols sung properly
The Sunday school children (+ helpers) must have sung them properly this morning as the old people asked for an encore of Away in a Manger!!