Classical Christmas Music for Kids
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Celebrate the holiday season with these festive classical Christmas music selections for kids!
The Nutcracker Suite
One of the most popular and timeless pieces of classical Christmas music for kids is The Nutcracker Suite. This collection of pieces by Russian composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky has become a holiday classic. The story of The Nutcracker is about a young girl who dreams of a nutcracker that comes to life and takes her on a magical adventure.
“Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy”
One of the most famous and recognizable melodies from The Nutcracker is the “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy.” This upbeat, tinkling dance is performed by the Sugar Plum Fairy in act 2, scene 2 of The Nutcracker. In Tchaikovsky’s original ballet, the “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy” is danced by a ballerina wearing a pink tutu and flowers in her hair.
The music for the “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy” is written in 3/4 time and is played mainly on the high hats, cymbals, and triangle. The opening melody is played on a glockenspiel, which gives the dance its characteristic ‘fairy tale’ sound. The melody is then taken up by the violins, before being passed around to different instruments throughout the piece.
The ‘Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy’ is one of the most popular pieces from The Nutcracker Suite, and has been used in many movies and advertisements over the years. It is sure to get your little ones up and dancing along!
“The Nutcracker and the Mouse King”
The Nutcracker and the Mouse King is a short story written by E.T.A. Hoffmann in 1816. The story was adapted into a ballet in 1892 by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, and has become one of the most popular ballets in the world. The ballet tells the story of a young girl named Clara who receives a nutcracker doll as a present from her godfather, and then dreams that the doll comes to life and takes her on an adventure.
“The First Noel”
The First Noel is a traditional English Christmas carol, most likely from the 18th century. The First Noel is about the Nativity of Jesus Christ. The word “Noel” comes from the French word “Noël” which means “Christmas”.
The story of the song
“The First Noel” is a traditional English Christmas carol thought to be from the early 19th century. The first known print version of the carol appeared in 1833, though it is possible that the carol was written earlier.
The word “Noel” comes from the French word for Christmas, “Noël.” It’s unclear why the word was used in the English version of the carol, though it’s possible that it was simply a mistake that became popular.
The lyrics of “The First Noel” tell the story of the birth of Jesus Christ. The song begins with the announcement of his birth by the angels to the shepherds who come to visit him. The song goes on to describe how Jesus was worshipped by Wise Men and how his birth brought hope and joy to all people.
“The First Noel” is a beautiful and timeless Christmas carol that has been sung by people around the world for centuries. It is a reminder of the true meaning of Christmas and the joy that Jesus brings to our lives.
The lyrics
“The First Noel” is a traditional English Christmas carol, most likely from the early Victorian period, although possibly earlier. Noel is an Early Modern English synonym of “Christmas”. The carol was first published in 1833, though some evidence suggests it may be French in origin. The song is about the birth of Jesus Christ and mentions various Biblical events leading up to and including his birth.
The lyrics of “The First Noel” are as follows:
The first Noel the angels did say
Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay;
In fields where they lay keeping their sheep,
On a cold winter’s night that was so deep.D Noël, Noël, Noël, Noël!
Born is the King of Israel!
“Silent Night”
“Silent Night” is a popular Christmas carol that was written in 1818 by Franz Xaver Gruber. The carol was first performed on Christmas Eve in the small town of Oberndorf bei Salzburg in Austria. It has since become one of the most popular Christmas carols in the world. “Silent Night” is a beautiful and peaceful song that is perfect for children to listen to during the Christmas season.
The story of the song
“Silent Night” (German: Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht) is a popular Christmas carol, composed in 1818 by Franz Xaver Gruber to lyrics by Joseph Mohr in the small town of Oberndorf bei Salzburg, Austria. It was declared an intangible cultural heritage by UNESCO in 2011. The song has been recorded by a large number of singers from every music genre.
The story of the song’s origin is as follows: Joseph Mohr, a young priest at St. Nicholas Church in Oberndorf, had written the lyrics of the song “Stille Nacht” in 1816 at Mariapfarr, the hometown of his father in the Salzburg Lungau region, where Joseph had spent several summers as a child. The melody was composed some two years later by Primary schoolteacher Franz Xaver Gruber in Arnsdorf bei Laufen near Salzburg when he was asked to provide music for the Christmas service because the church organ had broken down and could not be repaired in time.
The lyrics
The lyrics to “Silent Night” were written in 1816 by an Austrian priest named Joseph Mohr. He wrote them in German, and they were translated into English in 1859. The most popular English version of the song was written by John Freeman Young.
The lyrics tell the story of the birth of Jesus Christ. They describe how the baby Jesus was born in a stable, and how he was surrounded by animals. The lyrics also talk about how Jesus was a special child who was sent from God to help people.
“Jingle Bells”
One of the most popular Christmas songs of all time, “Jingle Bells” was written by James Lord Pierpont in 1857. The original title of the song was “One Horse Open Sleigh” and it was meant to be a celebration of the winter season. The song has since been adapted and covered by many artists, but the original message remains the same. Christmas is a time for family, friends, and loved ones.
The story of the song
“Jingle Bells” is one of the best-known and commonly sung American Christmas songs in the world. It was written by James Lord Pierpont (1822–1893) and published under the title “One Horse Open Sleigh” in the autumn of 1857.[1][2] Some area choirs adopted it as part of their repertoire in the 1860s and 1870s.[3] It wasn’t until 1934 that the song’s popularity began to multiply, courtesy of a recording by Bing Crosby.
The song plays an important role in many Christmas traditions around the world. In countries such as Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Germany, Poland and Lithuania, people start singing Christmas carols right after Thanksgiving.[4][5] The only exception is Latvia where, according to tradition, caroling is not allowed until Christmas Eve.
“Jingle Bells” is a Winter song as well; people sing it at parties, concerts and other special events during that time of year. The original version of the song had a different melody and lyrics. The chorus we all know today was added later on.
The lyrics
One of the most popular Christmas songs of all time, “Jingle Bells,” was written by James Lord Pierpont in the mid 19th century. Though it was originally written as a Thanksgiving song, “Jingle Bells” quickly became a holiday classic that has been performed by everyone from Bing Crosby to the Muppets.
The lyrics of “Jingle Bells” are simple and memorable, making it a perfect song for kids to sing along with. The chorus is especially easy to learn, and the repetition makes it perfect for young children:
“Dashing through the snowIn a one-horse open sleighO’er the fields we goLaughing all the wayBells on bob tails ringMaking spirits brightWhat fun it is to ride and singA sleighing song tonight.”
