Last week I “pulled the trigger” and started listening to Christmas music on the Sonos. I know, what was I thinking? Except, it was a super grey, super depressing week and I needed a pick me up and the best pick me up I know is Christmas music.
And, even though it is early, it was a much-needed balm for my week. I am not your typical Christmas music listener either. Give me choirs singing so I can pick my part (sometimes Alto, sometimes Tenor) and sing along for all I am worth! That’s right, I am one of those “sing along with every song” kind of people.
I also love just pure instrumental music, that way if the words I know are not the words that they are singing, I have no clash of the lyrics! These things are important, you know! Haha!
Today I am sharing some of my most loved “never too early to sing the blues away” music picks for pre-Thanksgiving Christmas listening:
First up, A Scottish Christmas with Bonnie Rideout. This is truly a beautiful album? CD? MP3? All instrumental and all incredibly beautiful. Bonus in that these are all old carols, which I just love.
Next in my Christmas queue is Welcome Yule! Which features Benjamin Britten’s A Ceremony of Carols… I mean, if you like to sing, this is a must have!
Finally, The Chieftains, The Bells of Dublin which has an incredibly diverse group of musicians!
There is one dear friend who loves Christmas maybe even more than I do, and she is sharing her Christmas music favorites on her blog today! So, go stop by Beth’s to see what’s on her list! AND, the singing might be a little better in her house!
I started seeing Christmas commercials and hearing a bit of music on November 1 — way too early, in my opinion! But if you need a pick-me-up and Christmas music does it for you, go for it.
I have a rule for myself about no Christmas music until after Thanksgiving, but even I will make exceptions for Vince Guaraldi, Kate and Anna McGarrigle, The Chieftains, Low, and maybe even David Sedaris. Thanks for some new ones to add to my playlist.
Hello from Scotland!
I didn’t know you had SONOS gear, Kat. I love it! We have three boxes here. Two are standalone, and a speakerless one is wired to the hifi amp in the living room.
Haven’t been listening to Christmas music yet, though, as it really needs to be December for us! But thanks for the tips. The Britten sounds like my kind of thing.
I’m going to add 2 of these to my Google music now. The other one is another thing we have in common!
A Scottish Christmas and The Bells of Dublin are two of my favorites, I never tire of listening to them. I am co-leading a youth choir to sing at the early Christmas Eve Mass this year, we have about 14 kids from kindergarten through 7th grade. We began rehearsals this week and they sound like angels!
Christmas music makes me soooooo happy, no matter what else is happening. But right now I am way too excited about my husband’s BD and Thanksgiving coming up, so Christmas music has to wait. 🙂
But a couple of these I didn’t know about, so thanks for the suggestions. And enjoy listening!
Oh no! I’m a bah humbug when it comes to Christmas music. I love Louie and Ella and a few other jazz renditions during the season, but for the most part, I listen only on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
I’m an infrequent Christmas music flyer too! Maybe while baking cookies or on Christmas day but that’s about it! (I will check out your selections though!)
I broke my rule this year too. When I was ripping up carpeting and tacks I put on the Pentatonix. I need CHEER! But i’ll wait til next week now as is my usual tradition
Oh Welcome Yule is right up my alley … but I’m holding out – at least for now! – until next Friday 🙂
I have enough Christmas music in my collection to listen to one different CD every day from Halloween to Epiphany. It’s my favorite type of music, truth be told.
Dusting off my CDs…fave Christmas Day music : Mormon Tabernacle “Messiah.” I’ll probably start playing music day after Thanksgving.
Cheers~
I’ve started sampling streams of this year’s crop of Christmas albums in search of new pieces to include in this year’s mix. I do it quietly, though, so no one else has to hear it; after Thanksgiving I’ll feel free to play it at normal volume.
I like instrumentals and choirs, but prefer songs to sing along with. You can’t go wrong with The Chieftains, although I do love that they’ve got a cassette of it for sale.
I love Christmas music and I start listening on November 1st! I have some Thanksgiving favorites, too.
I haven’t started playing Christmas music but I’ve been humming it daily 🙂
Leslie Odom’s Christmas album is one of the best!!