Christmas Music

Christmas music is one of the most cherished elements of the season. Name any other day or season on the calendar that celebrates with music. Nothing matches Christmas in its celebration through song. Those traditions date back hundreds of years long before the advent of modern recording technology. Like all things associated with the season Christmas music dovetails with history and tradition that makes celebrating Christmas a rich and satisfying part of our lives. We approach holiday music in two ways here at My Merry Christmas: in the features of this section and in the Merry Podcast — where Christmas music isn’t just explained it is shared. And because it continually evolves and expands we also explore new releases coming out every holiday season.

Carol of the Bells
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Carol of the Bells

The story of Carol of the Bells is hardly as well known as the song itself. It has been re-interpreted over and over by a variety of artists -- most recently by Lindsey Stirling: Stirling, who seems to command you watch as much as listen,…
In Dulci Jublio

The Christmas Song and Dance with an Angel

Imagine the scene -- a man deep in the throes of despair weeps in prayer to God, asking for forgiveness of his many sins. But he is not a man one would think to be burdened down by the guilt of wrong doing. He was a monk. But life was not…
An Elf Named Moe

An Elf Named Moe

Every once in a while a Christmas song comes along that speaks such truth we just have to share it. That's way it is with Carl Stuck's new song, An Elf Named Moe. Moe, you see, is one hard working elf. Carl bumped into him at the airport one…
Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing
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Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing

Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing has become for many an anthem of Thanksgiving -- as close to a Thanksgiving carol as there can be. The song was written in the mid-18th century by a 22-year old theology student. His name was Robert Robinson. As…
Ode to Joy to the World

Ode to Joy to the World

Tis the season for new Christmas videos and the Piano Guys just released their newest Christmas tune titled Ode to Joy to the World. Yes, it's a mash-up as only the Piano Guys do it and it's a great, if not joyful, set-up to the season ahead.…
Pentatonix
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The Christmas Beat Goes on for Pentatonix

Every third week of October for the past several years Pentatonix has debuted a new Christmas single. This year is no different. But this Christmas single features just four singers -- an odd thing for a group whose name is based on "five".…
It's a Marshmallow World

A Marshmallow World

It's a Marshmallow World was introduced by Bing Crosby, of course, way back in 1950. It was a golden era for new Christmas music and Bing cranked them out better than anyone. It was a hit, but a minor one for Crosby, at least compared to his…
Herb Alpert
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Herb Alpert Releasing New Christmas Album

Fans of trumpeter Herb Alpert have waited 50 long years – okay, well, 49 long years – for the follow up to his 1968 LP, Christmas Album. On September 29th, Alpert releases the long-rumored holiday album titled The Christmas Wish. And it…
Mahalia Jackson

What You Do Not Know About Sweet Little Jesus Boy

Few of the songs of Christmas so directly conveys the personal appeal of Jesus Christ like the song Sweet Little Jesus Boy. Mistaken by many to be an old American spiritual sung by slaves of the south in the 19th century the song was actually…

The Five Greatest Christmas Albums of the 1960s

By D. Lon Nichols, Guest Blogger at MMC Many people consider the 1940s and 1950s to be the golden era of Christmas music. But to me the 1960s was a time when Christmas music broke out of traditional molds and brought us true classics. We…
O Holy Night
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The Story of O Holy Night

O Holy Night is like the national anthem of Christmas songs. Hauntingly beautiful but so difficult to sing it is often presented a cringe-worthy performances by even the best of singers (Celine Dion is perhaps the best example of one who over-sings…
How Great thou Art

How Great Thou Art as Christmas Music

We continue to witness great songs of praise coming out as Christmas music this year. Below is a viral video from vocal band Home Free with their rendition of How Great Thou Art, on this year’s re-release of their Christmas album, Full of…
Anthem Lights
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This Christmas and Jingle Bells Mashup by Anthem Lights

Something old and something new...ish. The video below by Anthem Lights is a mashup of Jingle Bells (old) and This Christmas (newish). Surprisingly, it's a good fit with this talented arrangement: Anthem Lights is a Christian pop group…
Amazing Grace
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Songs of Praise as Christmas Music

In the most recent episode of the Merry Podcast we discuss a trend in Christmas music that sees traditional songs of praise released on Christmas albums. Here is a great example of that in the latest video from Peter Hollens and his new Christmas…
Christmas carol
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The Best Christmas Carol You Have Never Heard

Some Christmas carols are so old it is hard to tell which is older -- the lyrics or the tune. Below is a carol thought to be one of the oldest Christmas tunes ever. Few today know it well and it is presented here as something new and fresh to…