JD's 2023 Advent Calendar: Christmas Day!

In 1858 Camille Saint-Saëns composed his Oratorio de Noël for five vocal soloists, mixed choir, strings, organ and harp. The work, sung in Latin, is based on texts from the Old and New Testaments, the Psalms and Gospels, as well as the Catholic Christmas liturgy. A distinctive chamber music-like instrumentation, with lyrical soloistic parts and a modest choral part combine to create a basic pastoral mood which has led this Christmas Oratorio to become one of the most performed works by Saint-Saëns.

Saint-Saëns: Weihnachtsoratorium / Christoph Poppen / DRP

(00:32) 01 Prelude In the Style of J.S. Bach

(03:54) 02 Et Pastores erant; Gloria (chorus)

(08:40) 03 Expectants expectavi Dominum (soprano)

(11:39) 04 Domine, ego credidi (tenor, chorus)

(14:37) 05 Benedictus qui venit (soprano, bass)

(18:42) 06 Quare fremuerunt gentes (chorus)

(21:58) 07 Tecum principium (soprano, tenor, bass)

(26:42) 08 Alleluja (soprano, soprano, alto, bass)

(28:55) 09 Consurge, Filia Sion (soprano, soprano, alto, bass, chorus)

(34:28) 10 Tollite hostias (chorus)

JD's 2023 Advent Calendar (24): Christmas Eve

A small selection from around the world of other, and very different, Christmas musical offerings Including what is possibly the earliest Christmas carol (if carol is the right word for it.)

Christmas Song by St. Gregorios Orthodox Church, Trivandrum

Veni Redemptor Gentium

This is the oldest Christmas carol ever documented. Dates back to 4th century Rome. (Come, Redeemer of the nations) is a Latin Advent or Christmas hymn by Ambrose of Milan

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ambrose

Theshbuhtho | Syrian Orthodox Nativity Hymns | Crystal Chords | 4K

Yehoodhiyayile Oru Gramathil Super hit Malayalam Christmas song

JD's 2023 Advent Calendar (23) - nearly there!

Christmas Must Be Tonight | The Band |

Sarah McLachlan - Wintersong (Official Video)

Amy Grant Vince Gill Tennessee Christmas 1993

JD's 2023 Advent Calendar (22) - music at the Winter Solstice

Today is the winter solstice, at 3:27GMT this morning to be precise. The summer starts here! (possibly)

Yo-Yo Ma, Alison Krauss - The Wexford Carol (Video)

Yorkshire carol Sweet Bells (Kate Rusby)

From BBC programme Songs of Praise 

(Carols from Yorkshire, Sunday 5 December 2010), 

presented by Aled Jones

Maddy Prior and The Carnival Band - God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen

JD's 2023 Advent Calendar (21)

Today, a mix of Irish, French and French Canadian:

Chieftains - A Breton Carol (1987)

The Christ Child's Lullaby - Celtic Christmas

The "Huron Carol" (or "'Twas in the Moon of Wintertime") is a Christmas hymn, written in 1643 by Jean de Brébeuf, a Christian missionary at Sainte-Marie among the Hurons in Canada. Brébeuf wrote the lyrics in the native language of the Huron/Wendat people; the song's original Huron title is "Jesous Ahatonhia" ("Jesus, he is born"). The song's melody is a traditional French folk song, "Une Jeune Pucelle" ("A Young Maid"). The well known English lyrics were written in 1926 by Jesse Edgar Middleton.

This version is performed by Heather Dale, and sung in Wendat (Huron), French and English.

Dropkick Murphys - "The Season's Upon Us" (Video)

JD's 2023 Advent Calendar (20)

A musical mixture for Wednesday 20th December:

Mannheim Steamroller Special Live Performance 

"Traditions of Christmas"

God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen

Bill & Gloria Gaither - 

Angels We Have Heard On High/

Hark! the Herald Angels Sing (Medley) (Live)

JD's 2023 Advent Calendar (19) - Old Favourites

 Some more from the old-timers who are perennial favourites -

Louis Armstrong, Benny Carter And His Orchestra - 

Christmas In New Orleans

Tony Bennett, Lady Gaga - 

Winter Wonderland (Official Audio)

The Brian Setzer Orchestra (Stray Cats) 

"Jingle Bell Rock" 18/12/2004 Universal Amphitheatre, L.A.

Eartha Kitt - 

Santa Baby (Official Audio)

Frank Sinatra 

Let it snow

Elvis

Blue Christmas

JD's 2023 Advent Calendar (18)

As noted yesterday there are too many Elvis impersonaters out there and some of them make fake videos pretending to be the 'King'

There is one however who made no secret of his copycat Elvis style and that was the late Les Gray of the pop/rock band called 'Mud' and you have heard the song every Christmas for as long as you can remember.

Mud - 

Lonely This Christmas

Love Unlimited - 

It may be winter outside (but in my heart it's spring)

Darlene Love - 

All Alone On Christmas (Official Video)

25th Anniversary of Darlene Love's annual appearance performing "Christmas (Baby, Please Come Home)" on The Late Show with David Letterman. December 23, 2011. (I think 2014 was her last performance on Letterman with this song)

JD's 2023 Advent Calendar (17) - Elvis!

It wouldn't be Christmas without Elvis! Two problems finding suitable videos, one being the lack of good picture and sound quality. The other is trying to avoid the 'fake' Elvises out there and there are quite a lot so I hope I have the real one every time with these four.

Elvis Presley - On A Snowy Christmas Night, (HD)

Elvis& Priscilla Presley- Christmas in Graceland

Elvis Presley - Blue Christmas ('68 Comeback Special)

Elvis Presley - If Every day Could Be Like Christmas

JD's 2023 Advent Calendar (16) - USA

From across the water a few old timers singing their Christmas songs:

The Christmas Song-

Nat King Cole with a cozy log cabin & fireplace to keep you warm

Ella Fitzgerald 

Have yourself a merry little Christmas

Bob Zuga 

What will santa claus say when he finds everybody swingin

Johnny Cash

... and as the Met Office predicts snow in the UK, here's

Bing Crosby

'White Christmas'

JD's 2023 Advent Calendar (15) - Hispanic style

Continuing the Christmas musical journey -

Mercedes Sosa Los Pastores

'Los Reyes Magos'', Ariel Ramirez, Choir of Experimental High Sch

Llegó la Navidad - Ozuna - [BAILA EN CASA]

Marcela Gandára - Alabanzas al Rey con Letra

JD's 2023 Advent Calendar (14) - More McKennitt

More from Loreena McKennitt because she wrote and recorded a lot of 'winter' songs.

Loreena McKennitt - In The Bleak Midwinter

The draft horses of Cedar Knoll Farm take you through the snow-covered New England country side to Loreena McKennitt's beautiful song, "Snow". Lyrics by Archibald Lampman.

Loreena McKennitt - Emmanuel

Dickens Dublin

JD's 2023 Advent Calendar (13): Loreena McKennitt

Honorary Colonel Loreena Isabel Irene McKennitt, CM OM CD LL.D. D.Litt is a Canadian singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and composer who writes, records, and performs world music with Celtic and Middle Eastern influences. McKennitt is known for her refined and clear soprano vocals.

Loreena McKennitt’s ‘eclectic Celtic’ music has won critical acclaim worldwide and gold, platinum and multi-platinum sales awards in 15 countries across four continents.

https://loreenamckennitt.com/about/

Loreena McKennitt - In Praise Of Christmas

Loreena McKennitt in a haunting piece from the album "To Drive The Cold Winter Away", accompanied by chosen nature pictures.

The album was recorded in The Church Of Our Lady in Guelph, Ontario, and, in Ireland, a Benedictine monastery and The Tyrone Guthrie Centre in Annaghmakerrig.

Loreena McKennitt - Huron Carol (Jesous Ahatonhia)

God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen

Coventry Carol

JD's 2023 Advent Calendar (12)

 Some 'froggie'* music this time.

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Musique de joyeux noël de nos amis d'outre-manche -

"Une très belle chanson de Noël de Jean Naty-Boyer où Noël rime avec paix.

Mon beau sapin / Christmas tree ( in French )

Chorale Gospel - Il est né le divin enfant (Chants De Noèl)

Vive le vent - Tino Rossi

Jacqueline François - Noël Blanc (1949)

^ Aka Johnny Crapaud (Ed.)

JD's 2023 Advent Calendar (11)

 Start the week with.......

Three songs from Zona vom Herberstein.

I have no idea who she is and her videos have very few 'views' but according to this note on the YouTube page the songs are recorded in her 'home studio' using a laptop, a microphone, a guitar and her voice and very good they are too!

"Die Lieder nehme ich in meinem "Heimstudio" auf. D.h. ein Laptop, ein Mikro, eine Gitarre und eine Stimme"

Zona vom Herberstein - We Three Kings Of Orient Are

Zona vom Herberstein - The Gloucestershire Wassail A Cappella

Zona vom Herberstein - The Seven Rejoices Of Mary

JD's 2023 Advent Calendar (10)

Another miscellany, this time from Europe:

Trans-Siberian Orchestra - Christmas Canon

Luciano Pavarotti and Placido Domingo - O Holy Night / Cantique De

Académie de musique de Paris - Berlioz - L'Adieu des bergers à la Sainte-Famille

Juan Diego Flórez - "Cantique De Noel" from Santo (official video)

JD's 2023 Advent Calendar (09)

A miscellany of 'pop' favourites:

Paul Mcartney - Wonderful Christmas Time

Greg Lake - I Believe in Father Christmas

Wham

Chris Rea - Driving home for christmas

Fairytale of New York:

JD's 2023 Advent Calendar (08) - Rod Stewart!

For Friday here is Rod Stewart croaking his way through a few Christmas songs. I know he can't sing but even so I enjoyed his Christmas concert from Stirling Castle about 10 or 12 years ago.

Rod Stewart And Cee Lo Green - Merry Christmas, Baby

Rod Stewart - Blue Christmas (Live)

Rod Stewart And Ella Fitzgerald - What Are You Doing New Year's

Rod Stewart - Red-Suited Super Man

JD's 2023 Advent Calendar (07)

Colorado-based Celtic duo Beth Gadbaw and Margot Krimmel have performed together throughout the U.S., the U.K, and Ireland. Recently featured on Colorado Public Radio, their newest release Icy December was described by The Folk Harp Journal as “a wonderful compilation…that will make you feel nostalgic and warm” and by British folk magazine What’s Afoot as “an absolute joy to listen to.” All-Ireland harp champion Sylvia Woods said, “This is my favorite harp and vocal CD.”

Beth Gadbaw & Margot Krimmel perform their own unique arrangements of Celtic & American folk music, as well as their own compositions. Angelic vocals, sparkling harp, rhythmic bodhrán, and surprisingly intricate vocal harmonies define their unforgettable sound, delivered with masterful musicianship and genuine joy.

https://whitebirdsmusic.wordpress.com/about/

O Come Emmanuel

Gloucestershire Wassail

I Saw Three Ships

JD's 2023 Advent Calendar (06)

Moya Brennan- In Dulci Jubilo

What Is This Fragrance? - Celtic Christmas

"Keith and Kristyn Getty have been called the "preeminent" modern hymn writers in the world today by Christianity Today, with a venerable catalog of songs sung around the world including the renowned hymn, "In Christ Alone." 

Born in Northern Ireland and based in Nashville, they are multi award-winning artists (including a Grammy nomination for Confessio: Irish American Roots) with Keith being the first musician of the modern era to be awarded the OBE from Queen Elizabeth II for service to music and hymn writing. 

With a desire to help teach the Christian faith, their music intertwines deep theology with a unique musical genre, drawing from both inside and outside the classical church form, to reinvent the hymn. According to CCLI, they have written or published 38 of the top 500 songs sung in USA & UK churches, and Integrity Music estimates that more than 100 million people in the world sing their music each year. Learn more at www.gettymusic.com."

Keith & Kristyn Getty - God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen

Sing We Now of Christmas (LIVE) — Keith & Kristyn Getty

Sleigh Ride Medley (Live) - Keith and Kristyn Getty