Classic Instrumental Christmas Music to Get You in the Holiday Spirit
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas! Get into the holiday spirit with this classic instrumental Christmas music. From “Auld Lang Syne” to “Jingle Bells”, these holiday classics will have you feeling merry and bright in no time!
What is Christmas Music?
Christmas music is a genre of music normally performed or heard around the Christmas season. Music associated with Christmas may be purely instrumental, or in the case of carols or songs may employ lyrics whose subject matter ranges from the nativity of Jesus Christ, to gift-giving and merrymaking, to cultural figures such as Santa Claus, among other topics. Christmas carols and their lyrics often have a religious theme, and for many Christians, these songs are an important part of the Christmas season.
The history of Christmas music
Christmas music consists of a variety of genres played around the festive season. This may include traditional carols, folk songs, hymns, and modern pop songs. Music associated with Christmas is thought to have its origins in 4th century Rome. Christmas carols began to be composed in Europe during the 12th and 13th centuries. By the 16th century, Christmas carols were being sung in church and by the 18th century, they were widely known and popular. Instrumental versions of carols began to be composed in the 19th century and these continue to be popular today.
One of the most iconic pieces of Christmas music is “Silent Night.” This was composed in 1818 by Franz Gruber with lyrics by Joseph Mohr. The song was first performed on Christmas Eve in a small Austrian village. It quickly became popular and has been translated into many languages. It is now considered a classic Christmas carol.
Other well-known pieces of Christmas music include “Jingle Bells,” “Deck the Halls,” “We Wish You a Merry Christmas,” “The First Noel,” “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing,” “O Come, All Ye Faithful,” and “Joy to the World.” These pieces are often played on radio stations and used in films and television shows set during the holiday season. They are also sung by choirs and performed by orchestras and bands.
The different genres of Christmas music
Christmas music encompasses a variety of musical genres. 44 on Billboard’s Top Holiday Albums chart in November 2018, the highest-ranked holiday album of the year. These genres are often characterized by generally slower tempos and more families brought together sharing joyful Christmas traditions and comfortable holiday cheer indoors.
The most popular type of Christmas music is carols. Carols are songs that have been written specifically about Christmas, usually telling the story of the Nativity or celebrate the season in a general way. They are typically joyful in nature and often include References to winter weather and Christian themes such as hope, peace, love, and joy.
There are also many secular Christmas songs that become popular during the holidays, such as “Jingle Bells” and “Deck the Halls.” These songs are not necessarily about Christmas, but they are commonly associated with the holidays because of their festive nature.
Christmas music can be categorized into several subgenres, including: traditional carols; contemporary carols; modern classical works; hymns; pop, rock, soul, and R&B Christmas songs; soundtracks from holiday films and television shows; comedy and novelty songs; country Christmas songs; jazz Christmas songs; world music Christmas songs; as well as religiousChristmas music including Christian pop/rock, Christian hip hop/rap, Christian metal/hard rock, Christian punk/hardcore punk, Christian ska/reggae/dub/worldbeat/charanga (especially Cuban), Latin Americanrantes y villancicos (usually performed Spanish-style), Gregorian chant), carols sung in church (either traditional Anglican or Protestant carols or more elaborate Roman Catholic settings of traditional carol texts), Processional Anthems for Candlemas (Feb 2nd), Blessing of the Candles on Trinity Sunday (the Sunday after Pentecost when it occurs) or Corpus Christi Processional Anthems for Holy Communion services throughout Ordinary Time.
The Best Christmas Music
Christmas is a magical time of year. The snow is falling, the fires are lit, and the holiday cheer is in the air. What better way to get into the holiday spirit than by listening to some classic Christmas music? In this article, we’ll share some of our favorite Christmas tunes that are sure to get you feeling festive.
The best classical Christmas music
There’s something about classical Christmas music that just gets us in the holiday spirit. Whether it’s the peaceful sound of a solo piano piece or the majestic sound of a full orchestra, classical Christmas music has a way of making us feel warm and fuzzy inside.
If you’re looking for some classical Christmas music to get you in the holiday spirit, we’ve got you covered. We’ve rounded up some of our favorite pieces, from well-known classics to lesser-known gems, all of which are sure to get you feeling festive.
So sit back, relax, and let the holiday feelings flow.
The best pop Christmas music
The best pop Christmas music doesn’t necessarily have to come from a specific genre. In fact, some of the best pop Christmas music comes from artists who don’t even identify as pop artists. So while this list is predominantly populated by hits from the 1950s and 1960s, there are a few contemporary outliers. These are songs that have become synonymous with the holidays, whether they were originally written for the season or not. And while not all of them are happy songs, they’re all undeniably catchy.
So crank up the volume, put on your ugly Christmas sweater, and get ready to sing along to some of the best pop Christmas music of all time.
1. “All I Want for Christmas Is You” by Mariah Carey
2. “Last Christmas” by Wham!
3. “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” by Band Aid
4. “Happy Xmas (War Is Over)” by John Lennon & Yoko Ono
5. “Merry Xmas Everybody” by Slade
6. “Step Into Christmas” by Elton John
7. “Frosty the Snowman” by The Ronettes
8. ” Wonderful Christmastime” by Paul McCartney
9. ” Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town” by Bruce Springsteen
10. “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” by Frank Sinatra
The best jazz Christmas music
There are plenty of great jazz Christmas albums out there, but these are some of our favorites. If you’re looking for some swinging holiday tunes, check out these albums.
-A Charlie Brown Christmas by the Vince Guaraldi Trio
-Miles Davis & John Coltrane: The Classic Quintet by Miles Davis and John Coltrane
-The Gil Evans Orchestra Plays the Music of Frank Sinatra by the Gil Evans Orchestra
-Thelonious Monk Quartet with John Coltrane at Carnegie Hall by Thelonious Monk Quartet with John Coltrane
-A Very Swingin’ Basie Christmas by the Count Basie Orchestra
The best rock Christmas music
The holidays are a time for family, friends…and music. Lots and lots of music. If you’re looking to add some variety to your holiday playlist this year, why not try some rock Christmas music?
From classic rockers like Bruce Springsteen and John Lennon to modern bands like Foo Fighters and Weezer, there are plenty of artists who have released Christmas songs that are sure to get you in the holiday spirit. And what’s more, many of these songs are actually quite good!
So if you’re looking for something a little different this holiday season, check out our list of the best rock Christmas songs. You might just find a new favorite.
Bruce Springsteen – “Santa Claus Is Coming To Town”
This classic Christmas song was written by Springsteen in 1980 and originally released on his album “The River.” It was re-released as a single in 1985 and has since become a holiday staple.
John Lennon – “Happy Xmas (War Is Over)”
This song was written by John Lennon and Yoko Ono in 1971 as an anti-war protest song. It was originally released as a single in 1972, but it wasn’t until 1974 that it began to gain popularity as a Christmas song. It has since been covered by numerous artists and is now considered a holiday classic.
Weezer – “We Wish You A Merry Christmas”
Weezer released this cover of the traditional Christmas carol in 2008 as part of their “YES! We Are Santa’s elves!” campaign. The song is catchy and upbeat, making it the perfect addition to any holiday playlist.
Foo Fighters – “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)”
Foo Fighters released this cover of the Darlene Love classic in 2012 on their compilation album “Medium Rare.” The song is a fun and festive addition to any holiday playlist.
How to Listen to Christmas Music
Christmas music is a must-have during the holiday season. It gets you in the holiday spirit and brings back memories of past holidays. It’s the perfect background music for wrapping presents, baking cookies, or just relaxing by the fireplace. There are so many great holiday classics to choose from.
Where to find Christmas music
Looking for some great Christmas music to get you in the holiday spirit? Check out these classic instrumental Christmas songs. You’re sure to find something you love!
– “O Come, All Ye Faithful” by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir
– “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” by the Boston Pops Orchestra
– “The First Noel” by Mannheim Steamroller
– “Joy to the World” by the London Symphony Orchestra
– “Silent Night” by the Vienna Boys’ Choir
– “Jingle Bells” by the Montreal Symphony Orchestra
How to create a Christmas playlist
Whether you’re entertaining guests or just want to get into the holiday spirit, playing some festive music is a great way to do it. But with so many Christmas songs out there, how do you know which ones to choose?
One way to create a Christmas playlist is to focus on a certain genre of music. If you’re a fan of classical music, for example, you might want to put together a playlist of classical Christmas songs. If you prefer more contemporary tunes, you could make a list of pop or rock Christmas songs.
Another way to choose your Christmas playlist is to focus on a specific era of music. If you’re nostalgic for the sounds of the 1950s, for instance, you might want to create a playlist that focuses on that decade. Or if you’re looking for something more modern, you could put together a Christmas playlist that highlights songs from the past few years.
No matter what kind of Christmas music you’re in the mood for, there are plenty of great songs to choose from. So get started on your playlist today and get into the holiday spirit!
Conclusion
We hope you enjoyed our list of classic instrumental Christmas music to get you in the holiday spirit. We wish you all a very merry Christmas and a happy holiday season!
