I've never done anything like an Advent calendar, or anything Advent-related, except perhaps for the traditional latinamerican "novenas", where music is pivotal.
It occurred to me I could post, each day for the next days, a Christmas-adjacent song I like.
December 1st
Noël Nouvelet - performed by The Anúna Collective
December 2nd
In the Bleak Midwinter - by Holst, interpreted by Tenebrae
(recording can be downloaded to support a charity in the UK)
Feeling a bit more festive today.
Shchedryk (original Ukrainian song of what is known as the Carol of the Bells) - by Eileen
The song talks about someone receiving the news of new lambs being born in their flock. It feels very Christmassy to me. Growing up my early self, a city kid who had never seen a real sheep, associated Christmas with a situation where newborn babies get visited by a flock of sheep.
Dec 4th
Winter Solstice Round - by Becky Reardon
https://youtu.be/TzbxYIrfr6c
Yesterday had some rough edges. Today this song felt healing.
Dec 5th
El Burrito Sabanero - La Rondallita
https://youtu.be/xYX6pS3TvcU
This week had some stressful corners, I need today Christmas music you can dance to.
Dec 6th
Today I was looking for a Saint Nicholas specific song, and found .. this.
I find it both, obnoxious and hilarious, but it's making me feel like a superhero after waking up early today to go tippy-toeing like a ninja pass the wildlife camera that the Kid installed in the living room to figure out who fills the stockings.
"Saint Nicholas c'est un ninja, on le vois pas!"
Le Rap de Saint Nicolas - Belguy
https://youtu.be/tgW0Jvdivos
Dec 7th
Blanca Navidad (version mariachi) - interpreted by Natalia Jiménez
She has a wonderful voice.
Dec 8th
Good King Wencelas - interpreted by Crash Test Dummies
The first time I heard this carol was in the Crash Test Dummies' "Jingle all the way" album. In fact, I don't think I've listened to any other version? LOL
I looked a bit into it, and apparently is based in a medieval spring song "Tempus adest floridum". I looked for that one and I also like it, both the Latin and Finnish versions.
Dec 10th
Oh Tannenbaum - interpreted by Günther Wewel
This song reminds me of my grandma. I have special memories of it. The old LP discs in the player, grandma closing her eyes, humming to this song.
Dec 11th
Little Kid is fascinated with music boxes. I have an LP with songs from Christmas Music Boxes and it's his favorite. I don't recall if I inherited from Grandma, or if I bought it used in a store, but the songs are kind of magical.
Dec 12th
Hacia Belén va una Burra - interpreted by Los Rolling Ruana
One of my favorite carols since I was a kid. It narrates Mary's tribulations: someone is eating the chocolate, thieves are stealing the baby's diapers, mice are gnawing Joseph's underwear (yes, this is in the original song, as a kid, this led to much hilarity during Christmas).
This very animated version is a "carranga", a traditional music from the Andean region of Colombia).
December 14th
Deck the Halls - performed by the Village Carolers
Another song with a background I didn't know about. The original Welsh song, Nos Galan, is a New Years song with some advice such as:
"Chilling are the bills that cometh during the holidays / Listen to the sermon in one verse / Never spend more than you earn Falala lalala!"
December 15th
Run Rudolph Run - Chuck Berry
I didn't know this song existed until a week or so ago, when we went to a holiday boat parade. One of the boats passed by blasting off this song, performed live by an animated group of teenagers/ young adults who were having quite a party on the boat.
December 17
A bit frazzled today. Going for my favorite carol growing up, originally from Andalucía.
I like the popular versions better, but I'm posting this one with a classical orchestra for the beautiful job they do with the castanets.
December 19th
I was looking for something soothing, and the song that kept coming to my mind was the Huron Carol as interpreted by the Crash Test Dummies. I love the music but I have issues with the context of the carol.
In doing some research, I found two things:
First, that a Canadian composer worked in team with an ethnomusicologist and a First Nations Wendat artist to create a new version, which honors the point of view of the Wendat.
Second, I learned that the melody the Huron carol is based on, is one of my favorite renaissance songs. I had not made the connection at all, but it may explain the soothing feeling I was getting.
Une Jeune Pucelle
December 20th
We were singing today this villancico: the fish in the river. Original from Spain and very popular across Latinamerica, my favorite versions are the flamenco ones.
I have two versions. This first one, is how it feels for me: when you are an immigrant, you carry the songs with you, but some songs feel lonely when it's only you and your immediate family.
Los Peces en el Río - Performed by Suena Flamenco
Compare with this second version, which is how I think this song is meant to sound.
Los Peces en el Río - performed by Coro Virgen de la Esperanza
December 21st
Music for Yule - Winter Solstice songs (Autumn's End) by Miguel Berkemeier
I went tonight for a moment outside and the sky was completely clear, the stars shining sharp and crisp. Not a common sight in the Seattle area, but when it happens is incredibly beautiful.
December 22nd
Wishing good luck to all of you traveling at this time 🎄
Christmas at the Airport - by Nick Lowe
Dec 23rd
🎵 I'm dreaming of a white Christmas 🎵
... but nooo, we're getting wind instead. A lot of it if the forecast is correct.
White Christmas - Bing Crosby
https://youtu.be/t_xq3Bj_tas
I meant to post this yesterday, but things got busy. The last song for this year:
Stille Nacht
This version is from one of my grandma Christmas vinyl albums [apologies for the youtube link with AI description].
The cover has this colorful gingerbread house over a pink background. As a child, I was often disappointed that this album didn't sound as the cover suggested. I'm not sure what was I expecting... children-friendly music? 🤷♀️
Now I appreciate it.
Mar
