Dec 17: Their Old Familiar Carols Play

Music evokes memories for me. Christmas music in particular. I like all kinds - religious, classical, pop -  you name it.

Here are some favorites of mine from the past and present. 

Nat King Cole and the Children's Chorus The Magic of Christmas with Children. I did not fall in love with this album until I fell in love with my husband. He was part of the Children's chorus. His sisters Elna, Orva, and Ann, and his brother John all sang on it too. I believe Elna had a short solo part in one of the songs. It has been hard to find the exact date it was made. Ann was the youngest then, and thinks she must have been about four. That means Ray would have been seven. 

In my family growing up we usually spent the closest Sunday after December 11 (my sister's birthday) decorating the tree and house for Christmas. We would pile the Christmas albums on the stereo and crank up the volume while we decorated. The two albums that always bring that to mind are Ray Conniff's Christmas with Conniff, and We Wish You a Merry Christmas.

When we were first married I bought several Christmas albums with various artists singing all kinds of favorites. Those albums make me think of my own children dancing and singing to songs of the season. 

And what's not to like about Sinatra and Christmas put together?

I have two current favorites. I keep Christmas Eve by Acapriccio in my car, and James Taylor A Christmas Album in my kitchen. These provide an instant holiday-pick-me-up. I can listen to them over and over when no one else is around to be bothered. Meanwhile I can have a great time singing along.

There are currently over 50 Christmas CDs in my CD player. It is no longer hooked up to any speakers. I guess it's about time to come out of the dark ages and learn how to download all those CDs onto my computer. And my Shuffle. And my phone. 

Of course, I'll enjoy every minute.

I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day  words by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow  music by John Baptiste Calkin