Every Nov/Dec near where we live we have a Dicken’s Fair, sort of a Rennaissance Faire with a Victorian England at Christmas theme. They do up this huge auditorium as a Victorian winter street scene, have people impersonating characters from Dickens wandering around, and lots of music. My favorite Christmas music are some of the traditional carols (esp God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen) as sung by small, slightly drunken amateur choirs in Victorian clothinng at this fair. Talk about holiday atmosphere! In general I’m not a fan of big, nooming, organ-heavy Christmas music, flights of angels singing and all that. Oh, and Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer is another favorite.
[ Edited: 22 November 2007 09:50 AM by mckenzievmd ]
Well, “Santa Baby” by Eartha Kitt, another one of my favourites, isn’t heavy with organ music. I don’t think the others I listed are either, if you listen to the specific singers’ versions. The organ isn’t pronounced at least.
I figured not, Mriana. I was mostly responsding to George, who as cultured and European as he is probably likes much grander music than a provincial pleb such as myself.
Oh ok. I think, and I need to listen again this year, Barbra and Donna’s voices are more pronounced than the instruments in their versions. Plus, Barbra’s diction is impeccable- as always.
I didn’t know any of the popular Christmas music before coming to Canada. Now, I couldn’t imagine my Christmas without Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin. When in Rome, do as the Romans do.
We tend to listen to a cappella Renaissance music, like from the Tallis Scholars. Good opportunity for food, family and a nice party, although I must admit to not being terribly invested in the process at this point in my life. As a child, of course, I loved the presents.
My older son loves “The Nutcracker Suite”. They only perform it here around X-mas time, so that is the only time he gets to see it, but I got him the CD, with Swan Lake which he also loves, and he listens whenever he feels like now.
My wife was kind enough to volunteer to take our daughter to Nutcracker with her Brownie Troupe this year, even though I generally do those sorts of activites with her. I have to admit to loathing ballet, so I skip this particular holiday tradition. There I go showing my plebian colors again.
Well… You can blame me for my son liking ballet. I took dance lessons- tap, jazz, modern, and yes even ballet in my younger years. I never really gave it up and while I was pregnant with them, I listened to all types of music and even after they were born, it was a variety of music. Appreciation for the arts has always been my thing. My older son can single out a variety of instruments in an orchrastrated recording. So, they learned an appreciation for it too. :-D
My wife was kind enough to volunteer to take our daughter to Nutcracker with her Brownie Troupe this year, even though I generally do those sorts of activites with her. I have to admit to loathing ballet, so I skip this particular holiday tradition. There I go showing my plebian colors again.
Even though blue blood runs through my veins, I have no patience for ballet. You’ll have to blame it on something else, Brennen.
I don’t think the others I listed are either, if you listen to the specific singers’ versions. The organ isn’t pronounced at least.
