A Selection Of Seasonal Songs

Introduction

I thought I would do a playlist of seasonal songs, covering faiths and non-faiths but all with a feeling of positive vibration without commercialisation although they may have made the performers a lot.

Jethro Tull - "Christmas Song"

This starts with a story of the Christian Nativity and then lists the real moral teachings of Christianity encapsulated in the lines:

"You're Missing The Point That Shouldn't Need Making

That Christmas Spirit Is Not What You Drink"

Steeley Span - "Gaudete"

Possibly the only chart record I know that was sung in Latin, although I think there have been a few religious records that have flirted with the charts, but is one that I bought as a teenager.

The translated first two lines are:

Rejoice! Rejoice!

Christ is born of the Virgin Mary; Rejoice!

The full lyrics are included on the YouTube video if you click through to listen to it there.

I also loved the flip side, another traditional song "The Holly and The Ivy", which you can enjoy here:

Maddy Prior and The Carnival Band - "The Holly And The Ivy"

I probably first heard this as a child but my first recollection is the Steeleye Span take on it. Maddy Prior was a singer with the band but this is another version of the song with a different band.

XTC - "Thanks For Christmas"

XTC are a favourite band of mine and this is a recommendation by Kendall Defoe

Blackmore's Night - "I Saw Three Ships"

Ritchie Blackmore's band, a little more medieval than Deep Purple for this pleasant rendition of this song that I sang a lot as a child at school.

Annie Lennox - "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen"

An unaccompanied take on this traditional piece from Annie Lennox from her Christmas Cornucopia.

Eimear Quinn feat. Tetiana Mazur - "Oiche Chiuin i mBeithil Fado"

This is the story behind this Irish Carol

This Irish Language Christmas carol reflects the nativity story and Mary's journey, riding on a donkey, seeking shelter to bear her child.

Growing up in Ireland, we always placed a candle in the window on Christmas Eve night as a beacon to those seeking shelter, a practice that is necessary now, more than ever.

In Ireland we have been able to welcome many people from Ukraine to shelter here during the awful war in their homeland.

In solidarity for peace, and looking to the future, I reached out to the beautiful Tetiana Mazur from the Kherson region who plays the Bandura (Ukrainian Folk Harp) so masterfully.

We have collaborated to bring you this message to peace, connection and hope at Christmastime.

Kayka Yano - "Greensleeves"

I found this beautiful piano version of the song while looking for different but appropriate songs to include on this playlist. This is most definitely worth five minutes of your time.

Anúna-Systir-M'Anam with Aisling McGlynn - "The Wexford Carol"

This is beautiful, and am sorry that most of these songs have veered towards standard Christmas Carols, but they are all beautifully played and sung. This is the story behind Anúna:

The Skaldic Bard - "We Three Kings" (in Old English)

I think everyone reading this will have English as one of their languages, but this is an object lesson in how language progresses. Can you listen and understand this? I can just about, but it also sounds incredible as well. Very imposing unlike the normal version of the song that you hear.

You have to listen to this.

Greg Lake - I Believe In Father Christmas

I will leave you with this beauty which borrows the theme from "Troika" from Prokofiev's "Lieutenant Kijé" suite. While it is a wonderful song it is a broadside at the commercialisation of Christmas by Greg Lake.

You can read about it here:

Conclusion

I hope you have enjoyed these songs and Season's Greetings to all of you.