Click the title for the listening sample. Additional listening tracks are at CDBaby.com.
The Rebirth of Light The light is born in the dark. The particular hush of winter, of midnight, of a miraculous birth, and of transcendance.
Angels We Have Heard on High French Christmas carol. I arranged this carol with high trills for the sound of angel wings, to denote their presence. Seems like if we’re hearing them, they ought to be here!
God Rest Ye Merry English Christmas carol. This is a pianist’s arrangement! I took away the (tiresome for the piano player) chord change on every melody note that the carol books have, and put in moves that are fun to do on the piano. So that we’d all be merry.
Somebody Talkin bout Jesus African-American spiritual. My friend the fabulous singer Jan Hicks introduced me to this spiritual when she wanted me to accompany her singing it. To me it’s about seeking—“everywhere I go, everywhere I go, everywhere I go, somebody talkin bout Jesus!” Why? The uninitiated soul awakens to a mystery and thus begins a journey.
Come All Ye Shepherds Bohemian folk song. This one is on the keyboard because, let’s face it: it sounds cool.
That Single Star “Ages of endless dark, pierced by that single star, echo with visions lost long ago... All the darkness waits for you, dazzling and holy. Pierce my heart, angel star; sing me the vision lost long ago. Starlight—grow!” Also available in sheet music.
I Wonder as I Wander Appalachian carol. I just love this melody.
Usher in the Morning (I Saw 3 Ships/Good Christian Men) The introduction is Ermuntre dich, mein schwacher Geist, a chorale from the early 17th century with words by Johann Rist and music by Johann Schop. I’ve followed fairly closely JS Bach’s harmonization from the Christmas Oratorio, where the words as translated by John Troutbeck say, “Break forth, o beauteous heavenly light, and usher in the morning.” I Saw Three Ships Come Sailing In has always danced for me, so here’s an almost dizzy jig, now that the morning is ushered in.
The Never-Ending Starlit Road (We 3 Kings) This is really about Epiphany, of course, but that has never stopped us singing it at Christmas! Phyllis requested this one, and she’ll tell you that I never take her suggestions. It is certainly true that I shrugged off the idea at first. But soon after that I found myself wishing for another carol ... hmm ... which one? Oh, obviously: We Three Kings. Complete with camels and a journey. I like journeys.
The Sun’s Lullaby Two versions of Away in a Manger, plus My Dancing Day. This is not a lullaby for a tiny helpless baby; it’s a lullaby for the King of Creation.
The Little Drummer Boy Katherine Davis, Henry Onorati, & Harry Simeone. The very best modern carol, accented with silence instead of continual drumbeats.
Coventry Carol English carol. Again, not really about Christmas, but traditionally sung as a Christmas carol. A song of innocence made holy.
O Holy Night Adolphe Adam. Again, preferring silence to constant motion.
Silent Night w Joseph Mohr, m Franz Gruber. The perfect song, arranged just as simply as I know how. Christmas caroling at our house always ends with Silent Night, and so with this song I wish you joy and peace and a rebirth of the light in your heart.