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Best Classical Christmas Music: 10 Essential Pieces
Udiscovermusic ^ | December 20, 2024 | Alice Benton

Posted on 12/23/2024 11:30:53 AM PST by nickcarraway

Discover our selection of the best classical Christmas music including Handel’s ‘Messiah’ and Tchaikovsky’s ‘The Nutcracker.’

Christmas is steeped in musical tradition, and its classical canon glistens with festive jewels. Our selection of the best classical Christmas music is a snapshot of many Christmases-past: feelings of joy, celebration, reflection and nostalgia are bound up in these beautiful, timeless scores. Pour yourself a glass of mulled wine, relax, and listen to these classical Christmas masterpieces featuring magnificent choral works and orchestral fantasies. Merry Christmas!

10: Berlioz: L’Enfance du Christ

Berlioz’s musical telling of The Childhood of Christ makes for perfect Christmas listening. This oratorio, written in 1854, tells the Holy story from Herod’s decree in Judea to the journey of Mary and Joseph and the birth of Christ. From the drama of ‘The Dream of Herod’ to the lilting tranquillity of ‘The Shepherd’s Farewell’, Berlioz’s warm-blooded romanticism brings depth and color to the biblical story.

9: Britten: A Ceremony of Carols

Britten’s Ceremony of Carols showcases a host of heavenly voices accompanied simply by angelic harp. The use of only treble voices evokes a sense of child-like innocence, creating a warm, magical atmosphere. The piece itself is a selection of medieval carols, still in the original language, preserved in Britten’s refreshing compositional idiom. A wonderful classical stocking filler.

8: Liszt: Weihnachtsbaum

Liszt’s Christmas Tree Suite for solo piano is a classical Christmas delight. The twelve pieces are, by Liszt’s standards, wonderfully simplistic in their composition and not too challenging to play; indeed, they were dedicated to Liszt’s eldest grandchild and sing of childlike wonder and innocence. This connection to younger generations permeates the score which, steeped in festive nostalgia, is a lesser-known gem in Liszt’s piano oeuvre and one of the best pieces of classical Christmas music.

7: Byrd: O Magnum Mysterium

A Christmas message from 400 years ago, delivered in glorious choral counterpoint. Written in 1607, Bryd’s O Magnum Mysterium, is a beautiful motet for a 4-part choir, and is a meditation on the wondrous Holy birth. A warm, subtle blend of ethereal voices with deep, resonant harmonies relay the text:

O great mystery
and wonderful sacrament
that even the animals saw
the new-born Lord
lying in a manger.
Blessed Virgin, whose womb
was worthy to bear
our Lord Christ

There is a tangible profundity to this piece: it feels vast yet intimate, celebratory yet reflective.

6: Finzi: In Terra Pax (On Earth, Peace)

Picture a frosty winter morning. Hazy, muted strings and glowing harp gradually melt away, warmed by the depth of a pure, pristine baritone solo, angelic soprano, and a choir of heavenly voices. In Terra Pax takes its text from St Luke’s account of the first Christmas Eve in Bethlehem, flanked by verses from Robert Bridges’ poem, Noel: Christmas Eve, 1913. The listener is at once swept away by the enchanting narrative and enveloped in a mass of warm strings and voices in this magical Christmas scene-setter.

5: Bach: Magnificat

Johann Sebastian Bach‘s Magnificat is a musical setting of the biblical canticle Magnificat – the Latin text of the story of the Virgin Mary as told in the Gospel of St. Luke. In 1723, soon after he had been appointed the Director of Music and Organist of St Thomas’s Church in Leipzig, Bach set the text of the Magnificat, originally composed in Eb major, which was first performed on Christmas Eve 1723. The following year Bach produced a new version, which he transposed into D major, to be performed at the feast of the Visitation in July. Magnificat is one of Bach’s most popular vocal works.

4: Handel: Messiah

An epic rumination on the birth, death, and resurrection of Christ, Handel’s 1742 oratorio is a stalwart fixture in both Easter and yuletide programs and one of the best pieces of classical Christmas music. The first part, often referred to as the ‘Christmas’ part, features the iconic choruses ‘And He Shall Purify’ and ‘For unto us a Child is Born.’ Performances of the Christmas part of the work are often concluded with the endlessly joyful ‘Hallelujah Chorus.’

3: Prokofiev: ‘Troika’ from Lieutenant Kijé suit

This exultant orchestral melody is probably best known as the climax of Greg Lake’s ‘I Believe in Father Christmas’, but it was originally written by none other than Prokofiev for his Lieutenant Kijé suite. A ‘troika’ is a three-horse Russian sled: the excited flurry of strings, shimmering bells, and festive brass depict a magical sleigh ride through the glistening snow. What could be more Christmassy?

2: Bach: Christmas Oratorio

This almost three-hour choral festive extravaganza is one of the best pieces of classical Christmas music. Bach’s Christmas Oratorio is divided into six cantatas, each to be performed in the days following Christmas. The first part, performed on Christmas Day, pronounces the Holy birth; the second, for the 26th, describes the annunciation to the shepherds; the third, the adoration of the shepherds, and so on. Each section has its own distinctive character, brought to life in Bach’s masterful composition, and is in equal parts intense, reflective, and jubilant.

1: Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker

Tchaikovsky’s timeless ballet, The Nutcracker, is top of our list. A Christmas Eve ball, toys that magically come to life, the enchanted land of the Sweets, waltzing snowflakes, and dancing sugar plum fairies – this is a Christmas cracker of a piece. Tchaikovsky’s score captures the childlike wonder of this festive fairy tale with resplendent orchestra, twinkling percussion and, at moments, a soft sweeping choir. The Nutcracker is an absolute classic – no Christmas would be complete without it.


TOPICS: Music/Entertainment; Religion
KEYWORDS: classical; music
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Handel: Messiah, HWV 56 / Pt. 2: XLII. "Hallelujah"

J.S. Bach: Magnificat in D Major, BWV 243: I. Chorus: "Magnificat"

Byrd: O magnum mysterium

1 posted on 12/23/2024 11:30:53 AM PST by nickcarraway
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To: nickcarraway

Are they 10 Easy Pieces?.............


2 posted on 12/23/2024 11:32:08 AM PST by Red Badger (Homeless veterans camp in the streets while illegals are put up in 5 Star hotels....................)
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To: nickcarraway

Adoration of the Magi - O Magnum Mysterium - St Paul’s Choir School
https://youtu.be/yc4Gy0Rf5Os


3 posted on 12/23/2024 11:34:56 AM PST by mairdie (GreenwichVillage ArmyPoet: https://www.iment.com/maida/family/father/oldsoldiersdrums/frontcover.htm)
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To: Red Badger

Wait just one dang minute. What about Grandma got run over by a Reindeer? 😏


4 posted on 12/23/2024 11:35:59 AM PST by Georgia Girl 2 (The only purpose of a pistol is to fight your way back to the rifle you should never have dropped)
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To: nickcarraway

Thanks for these. I’m always looking for good Christmas music and this list seems very useful. Remember singing O Magnum Mysterium in choral. One of my absolute favorites. Occasionally find myself singing it to myself at odd moments.


5 posted on 12/23/2024 11:37:43 AM PST by mairdie (GreenwichVillage ArmyPoet: https://www.iment.com/maida/family/father/oldsoldiersdrums/frontcover.htm)
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To: nickcarraway
What about Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer?
6 posted on 12/23/2024 11:37:52 AM PST by fso301
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To: Georgia Girl 2

Nero Wolfe - Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer - Elmo and Patsy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=55YN0q0IJuw

Name a song, I might well have a Christmas video for it.


7 posted on 12/23/2024 11:42:57 AM PST by mairdie (GreenwichVillage ArmyPoet: https://www.iment.com/maida/family/father/oldsoldiersdrums/frontcover.htm)
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To: nickcarraway
Ok, minority report here for another “O Magnum Mysterium” by the great Spanish Renaissance composer Tomas Luis de Victoria.

No question that “Our Fenix, Mr. Byrd” is one of the greatest composers (if not THE greatest) England ever produced. But I think Sr. Victoria edges him out here. Tighter construction and clearer counterpoint.

O Magnum Mysterium

8 posted on 12/23/2024 11:47:20 AM PST by AnAmericanMother (Ecce Crucem Domini, fugite partes adversae. Vicit Leo de Tribu Iuda, Radix David, Alleluia!)
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To: mairdie

rocking around the christmas tree by brenda lee...


9 posted on 12/23/2024 11:47:49 AM PST by heavy metal (smiling improves your face value and makes people wonder what the hell you're up to... 😁)
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To: mairdie

Great minds think alike!


10 posted on 12/23/2024 11:48:10 AM PST by AnAmericanMother (Ecce Crucem Domini, fugite partes adversae. Vicit Leo de Tribu Iuda, Radix David, Alleluia!)
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To: nickcarraway

https://www.yout-ube.com/watch?v=r9URPvejWHk


11 posted on 12/23/2024 11:56:54 AM PST by BipolarBob (As it was in the days of Noah they were feasting, drinking egg nog and celebrating Christmas.)
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To: heavy metal

Sorry. Missed that one. Closest I’ve got is

O Christmas Tree (Harry Potter, Bones, Star Trek, Lord of the Rings, NCIS LA, Smallville, JAG, NCIS) - Tom Hall
https://youtu.be/xepLsxi6jQo


12 posted on 12/23/2024 11:57:01 AM PST by mairdie (GreenwichVillage ArmyPoet: https://www.iment.com/maida/family/father/oldsoldiersdrums/frontcover.htm)
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To: mairdie

ok... thank you for your effort and Merry Christmas...


13 posted on 12/23/2024 12:05:05 PM PST by heavy metal (smiling improves your face value and makes people wonder what the hell you're up to... 😁)
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To: nickcarraway

Link below for beautiful live stream sacred Christmas music.

https://www.wqxr.org/shows/holiday-music/


14 posted on 12/23/2024 12:15:21 PM PST by Jim W N (MAGA by restoring the Gospel of the Grace of Christ (Jude 3) and our Free Constitutional Republic!)
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To: heavy metal
Happy Christmas, please!

During the early research on the authorship of Night Before Christmas, Don Foster found that Happy Christmas was not in much use when Henry Livingston used it in his letter to his fiancee, Sally Welles in 1773. Happy Christmas was the original text in the 1823 first printing of the poem.


15 posted on 12/23/2024 12:15:29 PM PST by mairdie (GreenwichVillage ArmyPoet: https://www.iment.com/maida/family/father/oldsoldiersdrums/frontcover.htm)
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To: Georgia Girl 2

The entire soundtrack to Charlie Brown Christmas


16 posted on 12/23/2024 12:17:25 PM PST by woodbutcher1963
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To: Georgia Girl 2

Wait just one dang minute. What about Grandma got run over by a Reindeer? 😏

><

I’ve always thought that that is a stupid and unattractive song.


17 posted on 12/23/2024 12:22:48 PM PST by laplata (They want each crisis to take the greatest toll possiWe neve hear of gambling paying off $billioble.)
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To: nickcarraway
Jackson Berkey's Cantorum Christmas - The Anniversary Carols

https://www.amazon.com/Jackson-Berkeys-Cantorum-Christmas-Anniversary/dp/B00000HF2U

Still, Still Night, Jackson Berkey

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2eSc823q9rc

18 posted on 12/23/2024 1:15:34 PM PST by Oorang (Politicians:-a feeble band of lowly reptiles who shun the light and who lurk in their own dens. )
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To: nickcarraway

Great post, thanks
Merry Christmas to all


19 posted on 12/23/2024 5:11:08 PM PST by orlop9
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To: nickcarraway

Switch #1 and #2 and put Handel #3 and you are good to go.


20 posted on 12/23/2024 5:27:21 PM PST by Captain Compassion (I'm just sayin')
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