What's your favorite CHRISTmas song, and why?

"Hark, the Herald Angels Sing," because of the wonderfully rich theology.

 

I was going to say the same thing. I love that song.

"It came upon a midnight clear" switches between modes, and you can use augmented & diminished chords a lot, it can be a really gtreat song on a guitar & mandolin duet.

 

I played God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen on guitar in church this Sunday, it has a beautiful melody.

I also love Little Drummer Boy and can hack it out on piano.

O Holy Night is one of my favorites.

 

O Holy Night. The whole song gives mee chills, and someone like David Phelps singing it gives me goosebumps. Youtube it.

 

"Our Quest for the King" I guess because I wrote it and I'm the only one who knows it

 

Oh, Come let us adore, Him,
Oh, Come let us adore, Him.

Oh, Come let us adore, Him.
Christ the Lord.

I once heard a church use the first verse and chorus as an opening hymn in the middle of summer. The people were so taken back, but the expressions of understanding were highly encouraged in worship.

 

My favorite is "Joy to the world"

 

I heard the Bells on Christmas Day, i've always liked it because it reminds me that as I look around and see the "already, but not yet" that:

I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day
Their old familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet the words repeat
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

I thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along the unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

And in despair I bowed my head:
"There is no peace on earth," I said,
"For hate is strong and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good will to men."

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
"God is not dead, nor doth he sleep;
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail,
With peace on earth, good will to men."

Till, ringing singing, on its way,
The world revolved from night to day,
A voice, a chime, a chant sublime,
Of peace on earth, good will to men!

Here is some background

http://www.whatsaiththescripture.com/Fellowship/Edit_I.Heard.the.Bells.html

 

There is a great wealth of Christmas hymn texts to be found in the early American shape-note tunebooks. Most of these texts can only be sung at singings where these books are used. There is a nice collection of these texts, some with multiple settings, in The American Christmas Harp, compiled by Karen Willard. You can find ordering information at www.fasola.org. You can probably also find it on Amazon, but you may pay more, so you should compare prices. One of my favorites from this collection is a text by Robert Southwell (1561-1595) set to a beautiful 3-part tune first published in 1791:

Many of these songs have been recorded. Two notable CD's are by the Boston Camerata and the Tudor Choir. Both collections are titled An American Christmas.

As for me, some of my favorites from the hymnal are "I heard the bells on Christmas Day", "O come, O come, Emmanuel", Come, thou long-expected Jesus", "Lo, how a Rose e'er blooming". We sang a new (to me) hymn this year, "The hands that first held Mary's child" (Celebrating Grace Hymnal, p. 115). Being a carpenter myself, I expect it will grow on me.

Tim Reynolds

 

That, and the fantastic melody, a very singable tune.

Joy to the World is a close second, if it isn't a tie.

Just below those two, The Twelve Days of Christmas

 

How about all-time favorite Christmas albums?

Hands down it's The Little Drummer Boy, 20th Century Fox and The Harry Simeone Chorale. It isn't simply a collection of Christmas songs, it's an event, a unified whole. I learned most of the Christmas hymns by listening to this record.

Second, A Christmas Portrait by The Carpenters. Another unified whole with seamless and natural transistions.

A Festival of Carols by the Philadelphia Brass Ensemble

And, though this is a new one, The Time Life Treasury of Christmas: Traditions, but only Disk 2. Disk 1 sounds too operatic.