Musical Advent Calendar, Day 15: Russian Christmas Music

My Mission: One holiday-themed, non-carol song every day between now & Christmas. It's my own version of an Advent calendar. I may succeed, I may fail, but there will at least be some good music posted ... music you won't hear at the mall, that hopefully won't make you end up looking like him. ----->

December 15: Russian Christmas Music by Alfred Reed. (A staple of the wind band repertoire, performed by the US Coast Guard Band and posted by the great David Werden.)

(You can see previous songs here. Email me or comment below if you have a tune suggestion!)

Musical Advent Calendar, Day 14: O Magnum Mysterium

 My Mission: One holiday-themed, non-carol song every day between now & Christmas. It's my own version of an Advent calendar. I may succeed, I may fail, but there will at least be some good music posted ... music you won't hear at the mall, that hopefully won't make you end up looking like him. ----->

Number 14: O Magnum Mysterium by Morten Lauridsen. (In both its original version for a cappella choir, and the band transcription by H. Robert Reynolds.)

(Choral version)

(Band transcription by H. Robert Reynolds)

(You can see previous songs here. Email me or comment below if you have a tune suggestion!)

Musical Advent Calendar Bonus!

AlterNet blows up my Google Reader every day, and I typically end up skimming the headlines without reading the articles ... But this one caught my eye:

10 Best Christmas Songs for Athiests

The list is (from 10-1):

• White Christmas
• Jingle Bells
• Sleigh Ride
• Silver Bells
• We Wish You a Merry Christmas
• Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!
• Santa Baby
• Carol of the Bells
• Winter Wonderland
• Deck the Halls

So far none of these have appeared on my list (and none of the free songs Amazon is giving away have either), but it's been hard to not post Sleigh Ride! And I disagree with their list, only because I think there are much better Christmas songs that aren't heard as much ... hence my Musical Advent Calendar.

(You can see previous songs here. Email me or comment below if you have a tune suggestion!)

Musical Advent Calendar, Day 13: Snow

 My Mission: One holiday-themed, non-carol song every day between now & Christmas. It's my own version of an Advent calendar. I may succeed, I may fail, but there will at least be some good music posted ... music you won't hear at the mall, that hopefully won't make you end up looking like him. ----->

Lucky Number 13: "Snow" from White Christmas by Irving Berlin. (Music starts at 1:03)

(You can see previous songs here. Email me or comment below if you have a tune suggestion!)

Musical Advent Calendar, Day 12: Magnificat (El Niño)

My Mission: One holiday-themed, non-carol song every day between now & Christmas. It's my own version of an Advent calendar. I may succeed, I may fail, but there will at least be some good music posted ... music you won't hear at the mall, that hopefully won't make you end up looking like him. ----->

For Sunday, December 12th: "Magnificat" from El Niño by John Adams.

(You can see previous songs here. Email me or comment below if you have a tune suggestion!)