Christmas Music

The two Sufjan Stevens collections - the first (Songs For Christmas 1-5) being the slightly better. Both have a nice mixture of traditional stuff and his own whacky compositions.

I loved my now-departed Mother-In-Law dearly, but we'd have to suffer Jim Reeves Christmas album several times every year...

The Christmas offering from Barenaked Ladies always gets my toes tapping

A Charlie Brown Christmas by the Vince Guaraldi Trio

Christmas Album by Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass

Christmas with the Academy, Academy of St Martin in the Fields conducted by Sir Neville Marriner.

I've also got a soft spot for Back Door Santa by Clarence Carter which appears on his Best Of album

Actually, one of their better later albums and enjoyable at any time of year.

Hi Eloise -

I really like this new album by Katie Melua.  It is available for steaming via Tidal.

ATB.

Hook

I hate Christmas albums. But I am always forced to listen to something like choir music or Andre Rieu when I visit my mother for Christmas.

I tend to avoid this type of music and listen to all kind of music. In general it's a period around Christmas for listening to a lot of music.

Tis a shame, there is great choir music for all year round, not just over sung syrupy carols.

AAAAAAAAAARRRRRGGGGHHHHHH - I'm with Bert (apart from listening to choir music!) 

Christmas at King's (with Sir David WIllcocks).

Handel's Messiah.  Lots of great recordings out there but try this one, it's a favourite:

This is my favourite Christmas album.

Various artists - The Dark Side of the Christmas Tree.

This CD is a little different from your usual christmas fare. It an esoteric blend of easy listening, beatnik jazz, electronic folk and soulful strings from the 50's and 60's. Definitely worth a listen If you fancy a Cool Yule.. 

Any one of Kate Rusby While mortals sleep, The frost is all over, Sweet Bells. Tracey Thorn Tinsel and Lights, Christmas with Puppini Sisters.....I could go on.....but I won't as I don't want to be barred from the forum.....

Simon-in-Suffolk posted:

Tis a shame, there is great choir music for all year round, not just over sung syrupy carols.

Simon, i am also not so much into choir music that much. For instance the passions they leave me quite cold. It's in the same category as country music and hip-hop for me....., the no go zone.....

Perhaps I should give it some go and start with the passions as they are somewhere closer to what I appreciate....

Brings back such great memories, reminds me of having Christmas dinner with the whole family at my Grandmothers house. Just a very special album.

Well, many of us seem to be repeating recommendations from this similar thread last year, but I suppose a good recommendation is probably worth repeating:

https://forums.naimaudio.com/to...96#50422349541959496

At the risk of not repeating myself, though, I've now listened to all three albums on the Telarc Three Wise Men box-set that I mentioned last November, and they're all highly enjoyable. An Oscar Peterson Christmas has some sedate playing (not surprisingly given this was a post-stroke recording) but it's very tastefully done, Christmas with the George Shearing Quintet is similar in some ways, but possibly a bit more inventive, not least the version of God Rest Ye, Merry Gentlemen in 5/4 time. The final track has George on vocals, which I don't think was a good call, though. A Dave Brubeck Christmas is all solo piano so rather more intimate but sounds lovely with a nice fire going.

All the discs are 1990s Telarc recordings, so the sound quality is fabulous. At around a tenner for all three from the Usual Tax-Avoiding Website, it's exquisite value and yet another nice change from the usual tripe that pumps out of every second shop door at this time of year.

Mark

Simply what's going on when there's madness going on everywhere.

Hely-Hutchinson's Carol Symphony; Cantate Domino; JS Bach Christmas Oratorio; Christmas With The Rat Pack

This Is not strictly a Christmas album but it feels very seasonal... 

Can someone advise the best version of JSB's Xmas Oratorio?

Thanks.

Lindsay