(Note: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links to Amazon. That means I'll receive a commission at no cost to you when you make a purchase by clicking through our links. Thank you for supporting this blog.)
This month, I’m writing about the beauty of the Christmas/holiday season. I’d love to hear from you about your traditions.
As I write this, I’m listening to Stanton Lanier’s December Peace. I don't usually listen to music when I'm writing because I end up singing, humming, and even dancing sometimes, and that makes it a little hard to get work done. But Stanton’s instrumental piano music is perfect for creative times, and it has become a standard for me this season.
When I think about the beauty of Christmas, one of the first things that comes to mind is the music.
I still remember every word and note of the Christmas album my parents played every year once the tree was up and decorated. As an adult, I was thrilled to find an old recording of the old album, Harry Simeone Chorale's Little Drummer Boy.
Whenever I turn it on, I’m transported back to our split-level suburban house with green sculpted carpet and a Christmas tree strung with big, colored lights. The music, with classically-trained soloists, interspersed with narration of the Christmas story, fills me with longing for a few moments with my family as we were then.
Maybe because my earliest memories revolve around traditional Christmas music, my favorites tend to be traditional. For example:
Handel’s Messiah. My concert choir sang the Christmas portion of Messiah every year in high school. Family and fans would fill the auditorium for the highlight of our choral season. Though young, our choir had gifted singers and a director who demanded excellence. The music demanded it too. We all stood taller when we sang Handel’s most famous piece, the oratorio Messiah.
Messiah is still dear to me. Whenever I hear it, I can’t help singing along, although I can hardly hit those soprano notes now. I remember the words and the notes, but now I sing this marvelous music just for God and me, and it fills me with joy and wonder all over again.
Christmas with Robert Shaw. When I was in college and, later, newly married, we often went to see Christmas with Robert Shaw, a music festival with Shaw conducting the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and Chamber Chorus in movements like A Festival of Carols and The Many Moods of Christmas. These festivals included local university and community choirs. The stage always looked as if it couldn’t hold one more person, or even one more sheet of music.
Like then, whenever I hear this music now, I always feel my spirit soar at the beauty of Christmas.
What about you? Do you have a favorite piece of Christmas music that inspires you? Let me know in the comments below.
(Note: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links to Amazon. That means I'll receive a commission at no cost to you when you make a purchase by clicking through our links. Thank you for supporting this blog.)
I'm honored that you've taken time out of your day to stop by my blog, Glimsen. If you like what you see, sign up to receive my blog posts and updates by email, and you'll receive a free gift of beauty in your inbox. You can also find me on Facebook and Instagram. I look forward to connecting with you!
Turntable photo courtesy of Unsplash | Luke Chesser.