The Virtual Musical Advent Calendar, December 26: St. Stephen’s Day Murders
At last we come to the end, with a song for all those that need an antidote to a month of forced merriment.
Tagged: The Virtual Musical Advent Calendar
The Virtual Musical Advent Calendar, December 25: The Rebel Jesus/Skyline Jig
There may not be a more Ordinary Times-esque Holiday song.
The Virtual Musical Advent Calendar, December 24: Silent Night
My favorite rendition of Silent Night is the one sung by my mother.
The Virtual Musical Advent Calendar, December 23: It Came Upon A Midnight Clear
Our last three days of this Advent Calendar will be closing out over the next three days, as we celebrate Christmas Eve, Christmas and St. Stephens Day in quick succession. This is therefore our last “regular day,” and I thought I’d post a few songs that I associate with the Episcopal church my parents, wife, and son have called home.
The Virtual Musical Advent Calendar, December 22: Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
Has there ever been a more ironically titled Christmas song than Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas? So saccharine is the promise of the phrase “merry little Christmas” that it was not until I was an adult that I realized how achingly sad its message truly is.
The Virtual Musical Advent Calendar, December 20: Good King Wenceslas
More than any other Christmas song, Good King Wenceslas is a mutt of an endeavor. Unlike other carols of more straightforward lineage, John Mason Neale’s classic is practically duct taped together.
The Virtual Musical Advent Calendar, December 20: Angels We Have Heard on High
Three very different versions of the classic French carol.
The Virtual Musical Advent Calendar, December 19: Wynton Marsalis and Clement C. Moore’s Twas The Night Before Christmas
The greatest Christmas recording of all time, bar none. Also, a great companion piece to today’s post on the real War on Christmas.
The Virtual Musical Advent Calendar, December 18: The Holly & The Ivy
Traditional carols which blended the imagery of bloody pagan sacrifices and the coming of Christ on the solstice are making a comeback.
The Virtual Musical Advent Calendar, December 17: Blue Christmas
A look at the Country Western Holiday hit that morphed into a Rock & Roll classic.
The Virtual Musical Advent Calendar, December 16: White Christmas
It’s one of those not so well known facts that Bing Crosby’s recording of White Christmas is the top single record of all time.
The Virtual Musical Advent Calendar, December 15: Donde Esta Santa Claus?
Guster somehow managed to take one of the most annoying songs ever recorded and turn it into a holiday staple.
The Virtual Musical Advent Calendar, December 13: The Smile of Rachael Ray
The Smile of Rachel Ray is the best Christmas song you’ve never heard of.
The Virtual Musical Advent Calendar, December 11: Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow!
Well. After a week of Holiday dysfunction, cynicism, plagiarism and early-morning drinking, I think we’re due to have a little good cheer, don’t you? And there aren’t many Holiday songs more bursting with...
The Virtual Musical Advent Calendar, December 10: Adeste Fideles
If you have sheet music at home for Adeste Fideles , chances are it credits the wrong man as composer. Plus, a sampling of some (very) different versions of the song more commonly known as Oh Come All Ye Faithful for you to choose from.
The Virtual Musical Advent Calendar, December 9: Fairytale of New York
Our first (and only) selection that is NSFW.
The Virtual Musical Advent Calendar, December 8: Merry Christmas Baby
Merry Christmas Baby is the greatest Christmas song of the modern era.
The Virtual Musical Advent Calendar, December 7: Jingle Bells
Jingle Bells may be the world’s least interesting Christmas song, but it was written by Christmas music’s most interesting scoundrel.
Virtual Musical Advent Calendar, December 6: You’re A Mean One, Mr. Grinch
A week into our Advent Calendar, it’s time to stop and take a Bah Humbug moment.
