the music

As I bake and make and plan and play there is a soundtrack to the Christmas fun and games. On December 1st (and not before) I pull out and dust off the cd's and playlists of my favourite Christmas music. The songs of Christmas go way back - when I was a child in grade school there was carol singing in the gym before school every morning for those who wanted to come early, and you can be sure I didn't miss a morning even though I don't sing well. As I learned to play the piano, playing carols was a huge motivator to practise and I loved to play them while the family stood around the piano and we all sang together. 


Jonathon always had a special love for music - when he was three years old the only item on his Christmas Wish List was a music stand (so he could pretend to lead a choir or orchestra), when he was four the item was a trumpet (toy trumpet that is), and when he was seventeen I was overwhelmed when he sang "O Holy Night" and "I Wonder As I Wander". He has been blessed with more than a love of music - he has a beautiful singing voice and the willingness to share it. From the first time I heard "OHoly Night" as a child - and I do remember the occasion well - the song touched my heart. When Jonathon started singing it it became an even more tender and very special part of each Christmas for me. Now he is a man and sadly he rarely sings publicly anymore. It has been a few years since I have heard him sing that special Christmas song but still whenever I hear it, I think of him singing - and it makes my heart happy.


This year I am loving the new Michael Buble "Christmas" album as well as my old friends. A few old favourites:
Harry Connick Jr "When My Heart Finds Christmas"
Handel's "Messiah"
Nat King Cole "The Christmas Song"
Jewel "Joy: A Holiday Tradition"
Michael MacLean "The Forgotten Carols"


and of course Tchaichovsky's "The Nutcracker".


December 5th is counted down with music in the background.