It Came Upon A Midnight Clear

The Christmas AlbumThis Christmas carol is a poem written by Edmund Sears in 1849. The poem was set to music by Richard Storrs Willis in 1850. According to “The Complete Book of Hymns,” the writer, Edmund Sears was a minister who believed in the deity of Christ and the angels’ message of “Peace on Earth.”

The hymn describes the night when suddenly the angels appeared to shepherds in the field, declaring the birth of Jesus Christ. (Luke 2:13-14)

The stanzas or verses encourages us to stop and listen to the Christmas message sang by the angels even in the midst of the global challenges we are experiencing today.

It came upon the midnight clear,
That glorious song of old,
From angels bending near the earth 
To touch their harps of gold:
“Peace on the earth, goodwill to men,
From heaven’s all-gracious King!”

The world in solemn stillness lay 
To hear the angels sing.

Still through the cloven skies they come,
With peaceful wings unfurled,
And still their heav’nly music floats
O’er all the weary world: 
Above its sad and lowly plains 
They bend on hov’ring wing,
And ever o’er its Babel sounds
The blessed angels sing.

And ye, beneath life’s crushing load,
Whose forms are bending low,
Who toil along the climbing way
With painful steps and slow,
Look now! for glad and golden hours
Come swiftly on the wing: 
O rest beside the weary road 
And hear the angels sing.

For lo, the days are hast’ning on,
By prophet seen of old,
When with the ever-circling years
Shall come the time foretold, 
When the new heav’n and earth shall own
The Prince of Peace their King,
And the whole world send back the song
Which now the angels sing.

The peace that Jesus Christ brings is “Peace which transcends all understanding.” (Philippians 4:7) This recording truly captures what I could only imagine as the sound of angelic voices singing in a choir. Listen on Spotify if you’re a subscriber or YouTube.

This is the Dec. 17 Song Blog from (my) Julie-Ann Joy’s 2020 Christmas Playlist. Check back everyday until New Year’s Day as I add another song to my playlist.

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The Christmas Song

First recorded in 1946 by the Nat King Cole trio, it was written by Robert Wells and Mel Tormé in 1945.  It’s also sub-titled “Chestnuts roasting on an open fire.” The imagery painted at the beginning of this Christmas classic didn’t become a reality to me until I lived in my first studio apartment in Boston, Massachusetts. While living in New England, I enjoyed an open fireplace and dressing up like an Eskimo every winter. The Christmas Album

Until now, I wasn’t aware that American jazz singer, musician, and legend Mel Tormé, who began his professional singing career at age 4, was  the composer of this song. It’s only fitting then that it’s included in “The Christmas Album” by a vocal jazz quartet.

Your ears will be delighted listening to this recording that’s smooth as silk, just like the velvet voice of its composer, Mel Tormé.

Listen on Spotify if you’re a subscriber or YouTube. This is the Dec. 14 Song Blog from (my) Julie-Ann Joy’s 2020 Christmas Playlist. Check back everyday until New Year’s Day as I add another song to my playlist.

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A Christmas Love Song

Next on the list of my Christmas Love Songs weekend is composed and vocally arranged by Johnny Mandel with lyrics by Alan & Marilyn Bergman. Johnny Mandel was also the co-producer of “The Christmas Album” by The Manhattan Transfer (TMT). The song begins with “All I want for Christmas is you. You’re the gift that’s made my dreams all come true.” The Christmas Album This song captures the kind of love relationship between two people whose love deepens through time and continues to grow each year they celebrate Christmas together. “A Christmas Love Song” is an endearing musical expression of the precious gift of True Love.

In addition to the wonderful harmonies flowing from TMT’s vocal chemistry, you’ll also enjoy the lush orchestral arrangement with bells, chimes, and strings sweeping throughout this romance invoking song.

Listen on Spotify if you’re a subscriber or YouTube. This is the Dec. 12 Song Blog from (my) Julie-Ann Joy’s 2020 Christmas Playlist. Check back everyday until New Year’s Day as I add another song to my playlist.

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Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas

American icon and legend – Judy Garland introduced this song in the MGM musical “Meet Me In St. Louis.” She sang this song in a scene set on Christmas Eve. Her character (Esther) was trying to cheer up her younger sister (Tootie) because of their family moving to New York, right before the 1904 World’s Fair. The Christmas Album

In addition to Judy Garland, this American Christmas Classic has been recorded by several beloved artists including Bing Crosby, Doris Day, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, and recent pop artists – Michael Bublé, Josh Groban, John Legend just to name a few.

The perfectly blended four-part harmony gently & delicately caressing each chord of the song is the reason I enjoy listening to this particular recording by TMT.  While we’ve all experienced a very challenging 2020, my hope is anchored in the Savior of the World, Jesus Christ, the reason we celebrate this season. He is the only True Hope of the world.

You can listen on Spotify if you’re a subscriber or YouTube. This is the Dec. 9 song of the day from (my) Julie-Ann Joy’s 2020 Christmas Playlist. Check back everyday until New Year’s Day as I add another song to my playlist.

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Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow

St. Louis blizzard of 1982 was the first winter I enjoyed in America. I remember playing in at least two-feet of snow in the front yard. My sisters and I didn’t have snow pants just winter coats and snow boots. We didn’t care how cold it was. We built a snow man, had snow ball fights, and laughed to our hearts content. That experience became my definition of Winter. One of the four-letter words I love to say out loud is SNOW and lots of it! That’s why it was very disappointing when the next few years didn’t compare to the 1st Winter Snow I ever experienced. The Christmas Album

To this day, I look forward to the first blizzard or nor’easter. I love to watch snow falling and accumulate. Once the snow storm stops, I enjoy walking around my neighborhood before anyone else so that I get to make the 1st snow tracks. One of my best memories of living in New England was when my roommates and I walked around our neighborhood in the middle of a Nor’easter and then afterwards enjoyed hot cocoa (or maybe it was apple cider).

The Manhattan Transfer’s recording of “Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow” is a romantic ballad to listen and enjoy with your loved-one while slow dancing, or cuddling by the fireplace, or sipping your favorite hot beverage. Just picture the perfect Hallmark movie scene with this recording playing in the background. Listen on Spotify if you’re a subscriber or YouTube.

This is the 12/04/20 Song of the Day from my Julie-Ann Joy Christmas Playlist. Check back everyday until New Year’s Day as I add another song to my playlist.

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The Holiday Season Medley

The Christmas Album

The Manhattan Transfer (TMT) “The Christmas Album” was the first CD album I bought as a young singer living in Boston, Massachusetts where jazz was thriving all-over the city.  They are a world reknown legendary jazz quartet whose been together for over four decades. Released in 1992, this is the second recording I bought from TMT’s illustrious discography. The other album I have in my music library is their Grammy Award winning “Vocalese” album LP (aka phonograph record format).

One of the highlights of my performing life is performing the choral arrangement of “Happy Holiday / The Holiday Season  (Medley)” with the Tanglewood Festival Chorus under the direction of maestro, Keith Lockhart conducting the Boston Pops during one of the Boston Pops Holiday Season at Symphony Hall. The experience was electrifyingly unforgettable!

Listen to this high-octane holiday medley on Spotify if you’re a subscriber, or the full album on YouTube. This is the 11/30/20 song of the day from (my) Julie-Ann Joy’s 2020 Christmas Playlist. Check back everyday until New Year’s Day as I add another song to my playlist.

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