[Christmas] Classical music to listen to at Christmas: recommended sacred Christmas songs

Star CarolJohn Rutter

Star Carol – John Rutter, The Cambridge Singers, City of London Sinfonia

Composed in 1972 by the distinguished British composer John Rutter, this work is characterized by an atmosphere brimming with the joy of Christ’s Nativity.

Its easily memorable melody and the story of people guided by the Star of Bethlehem beautifully capture the essence of Christmas.

Since its premiere at London’s Royal Albert Hall in 1972, it has remained beloved by many choirs.

The performance by the Cambridge Singers under Rutter’s own baton is especially well known.

How about listening to this piece on a quiet Christmas night with your family? You’re sure to enjoy a special time enveloped in a sacred atmosphere.

God is With UsJohn Tavener

King’s College Cambridge 2014 #18 God is with us, John Tavener

When it comes to music that quietly and majestically celebrates the arrival of Christmas, this piece is indispensable.

Composed by John Tavener, a composer renowned for sacred music, and released in 1987, it is based on the Orthodox Church’s Christmas Eve liturgy.

The lyrics, which include quotations from the Book of Isaiah in the Old Testament, proclaim the birth of Christ the Savior with the central theme of the “presence of God.” Its interplay of stillness and grandeur beautifully conveys the sacredness of Christmas.

Written as an homage to the choirmaster of Winchester Cathedral, the piece is often performed at Christmas Eve services and continues to move many listeners deeply.

It’s a perfect recommendation for those who wish to spend Christmas in a solemn atmosphere.

Midnight MassMarc-Antoine Charpentier

Messe de Minuit (Charpentier) | Deutsch-Französischer Chor Dresden

A sacred work by Marc-Antoine Charpentier, a composer who represents the high Baroque period in France.

Rather than evoking a bright and joyful Christmas, it perfectly suits a Christmas filled with a strong desire—one that would compel you to go and pray even at midnight for a wish you desperately want fulfilled.

Though it conveys a generally dark tone, it is a perfect match for a solemn mass setting.

If you have a wish that makes you want to pray even in the middle of the night, be sure to give it a listen.

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SAKI

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Christmas Eve: Orchestral SuiteNikolai Rimsky-Korsakov

Rimsky-Korsakov – Christmas Eve: Orchestral Suite (1895)

This work by Rimsky-Korsakov is an orchestral suite arranged from an opera, vividly portraying fantastical scenes such as the glitter of starry skies and witches’ dances.

Based on an opera premiered in 1895, it tells a story drawn from Ukrainian folklore.

The love story of a young blacksmith unfolds alongside supernatural elements.

Incorporating Russian folk tunes and Christmas songs, its richly colored orchestration is especially captivating.

It’s recommended for those who wish to immerse themselves in a fantastical sound world while reflecting on the solemn spirit of the holy night.

Concerto Grosso in F minor “Christmas”Pietro Antonio Locatelli

Locatelli – Concerto Grosso in f, Op 1/8 – Christmas Concerto

This piece was composed by Pietro Locatelli, an Italian late-Baroque composer and violinist.

Despite its title, “Christmas,” the melody in a minor key is striking.

While the minor mode keeps it from being bright, it’s not merely solemn—you can also feel the strength inherent in string instruments throughout.

If you’re spending a somewhat lonely Christmas, try enjoying the timbre of strings with this piece crafted by a violinist.

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“December – Christmas” from “The Four Seasons”Pyotr Tchaikovsky

Seong-Jin Cho – Tchaikovsky The Seasons, Op. 37 bis: December: Christmas Week (2011)

This is the depiction of December from The Seasons, a piano piece by the Russian composer Tchaikovsky that portrays the sights of the Russian year.

In Russia as well, Christmas is a hallmark of December.

Although the 3/4-time melody sounds somewhat wistful, its gentle character also suits the warm scenes of families spending Christmas together.

There are no large developments, but it is a piece that invites you to listen leisurely to the piano’s timbre.

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SAKI

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TroikaSergei Prokofiev

Prokofiev: Troika · Sokhiev / Berliner Philharmoniker

This is a piece from the symphonic suite Lieutenant Kijé, composed by the Russian composer Sergei Prokofiev.

In 1933, Prokofiev wrote the music for a film of the same name, and after the film’s release he reworked its themes and orchestration to complete the piece as a symphonic suite.

A troika is a Russian three-horse-drawn carriage.

The tambourine’s bell-like jingling evokes the image of a sleigh carrying Santa Claus racing through the snow, making it a work well suited to Christmas.

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yuri

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