Christmas music

Christmas music comprises a variety of genres of music normally performed or heard around the Christmas season.

History

Early music

Music was an early feature of the Christmas season and its celebrations. The earliest examples are hymnographic works (chants and litanies) intended for liturgical use in observance of both the Feast of the Nativity and Theophany, many of which are still in use by the Eastern Orthodox Church. The 13th century saw the rise of the carol written in the vernacular, under the influence of Francis of Assisi.

In the Middle Ages, the English combined circle dances with singing and called them carols. Later, the word carol came to mean a song in which a religious topic is treated in a style that is familiar or festive. From Italy, it passed to France and Germany, and later to England. Christmas carols in English first appear in a 1426 work of John Audelay, a Shropshire priest and poet, who lists 25 "caroles of Cristemas", probably sung by groups of wassailers, who went from house to house. Music in itself soon became one of the greatest tributes to Christmas, and Christmas music includes some of the noblest compositions of the great musicians.

Christmas Songs (Diana Krall album)

Christmas Songs is a 2005 (see 2005 in music) album by Diana Krall performed with the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra. This is Krall's first full-length album of Christmas songs (not counting 1998's Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas EP), and her first studio album with a big band. It is her ninth album overall. Billboard ranked album at number 14 on the magazine's Top Jazz Albums of the Decade.

Track listing

Christmas Songs (Jars of Clay album)

Christmas Songs is the eighth full-length studio album and first Christmas album from Jars of Clay, that was released on October 16, 2007 through Gray Matters/Nettwerk. This is the first ever release from the band through their newly created Gray Matters imprint via Nettwerk Music Group.

Background

In 2006, Jars of Clay began to seek a new recording contract as their then-current contract with Sony BMG's Christian sub-label Essential Records was due to end a few releases later. The group then decided to create their own label named Gray Matters and formed a partnership with the label and imprint label Nettwerk. The group decided to record their first full length Christmas album to debut on this label. The group previously has released one Christmas EP named Drummer Boy, which contained the classic Christmas carol "The Little Drummer Boy". The group also contributed their original Christmas song "Bethlehem Town" to the Christmas edition of the City on a Hill series. In 2004, Jars appeared on the collection entitled Maybe This Christmas Tree with their lighter "Christmas for Cowboys" alongside artists such as Lisa Loeb, Ivy and Copeland. More recently, in 2005, Jars returned to the Christmas classics to cover "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear" on the collection Come Let Us Adore Him: A Christmas Worship Experience.

Merry Christmas (disambiguation)

"Merry Christmas" is a spoken or written greeting traditionally used on or before the Christmas holiday.

Merry Christmas may also refer to:

Film and television

Music

Albums

Merry Christmas (Kate Ceberano album)

Merry Christmas is the first Christmas album recorded by Australian recording artist Kate Ceberano and was certified Gold The album included a duet with Ronan Keating.

Track listing

The 2009 edition of Merry Christmas had 12 tracks, 11 Christmas classics and 'radiate', which was on her previous album "Dallas et Kate". "Radiate" was composed by Dallas Cosmas and Ceberano

The album was re-released in 2010. The 2010 Edition removed 'Radiate' but included three new tracks including duets with David Campbell and Jimmy Little This was released on 12 November 2010.

Merry Christmas (Paulini album)

Merry Christmas is the fourth studio album and first Christmas album by Australian recording artist Paulini, released through Ambition Records on 30 October 2015. It is the follow-up to her album, Come Alive released five months earlier. It’s also the second Christmas release, following an 8-track Extended Play released in 2004, titled Amazing Grace: Songs for Christmas.

In a statement, Paulini said; “Christmas time is a very special time for me. It represents family, friends, love and the spirit of giving. Every year, I’m lucky enough to perform and share in it with communities all around Australia and this album is my way of saying ‘thank you’ for my gift that I can share with the fans”.

Paulini performed "Jingle Bell Rock" on The Today Show on 7 December and "Ave Maria" live on The Morning Show on 15 December.

Track listing