[Christmas] Classical music to listen to at Christmas: recommended sacred Christmas songs
With sparkling illuminations and decorations coloring the city, it’s hard not to feel excited—yet Christmas is originally a sacred day celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ.
In Europe, it’s common to attend Mass and spend quiet time with family.
Over the centuries, many pieces of music have been composed for Christmas.
Considering that classical music began as church music, you could say that many works are fitting; but here, we’ve gathered some especially recommended pieces.
They may not suit a glitzy party, but isn’t it lovely to let your thoughts drift to a solemn European holy night?
Playlist
| [Christmas] Classical music to listen to at Christmas: recommended sacred Christmas songs | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| show_chart | Title | Playlist | Review |
| 1east | All ye faithful, make hasteLowell Mason |  play_arrow | As one of the most representative Christmas hymns, it is known all around the world… |
| 2east | We Wish You a Merry Christmas |  play_arrow | A traditional Christmas carol from western England... |
| 3east | Hymn No. 312: “What a Friend We Have in Jesus”Charles C. Converse |  play_arrow | As a song that sings of trust in our friend Jesus, the world… |
| 4east | Hymn No. 115: “O Little Town of Bethlehem”Lewis Redner |  play_arrow | A beautiful song of the holy night that soothes the heart... |
| 5east | The Nutcracker “Trepak”Pyotr Tchaikovsky |  play_arrow | Tchaikovsky’s ballet music The Nutcracke |
| 6east | Agnus DeiSamuel Barber |  play_arrow | Sámihy—known for its serene, prayerful music— |
| 7east | Rocking Carol |  play_arrow | A Christmas song originating from a Czech lullaby... |
| 8east | Hallelujah from the oratorio MessiahGeorg Friedrich Händel |  play_arrow | I think I sang it in chorus back in middle school or high school... |
| 9east | In the City of DavidHenry Gauntlett |  play_arrow | Singing of the scene of the Nativity of Jesus Christ… |
| 10east | Symphony No. 9 “Choral,” Fourth MovementLudwig van Beethoven |  play_arrow | Considered a year-end classic in Japan's classical music scene... |
| 11east | Chorale: Jesu, Joy of Man’s DesiringJ.S.Bach |  play_arrow | Bach ... for the service on July 2, 1723 |
| 12east | “Waltz of the Flowers” from the ballet The NutcrackerPyotr Tchaikovsky |  play_arrow | Composed by Pyotr Tchaikovsky... |
| 13east | This child is truly the Son of God (the newborn Jesus).furansu min’yō |  play_arrow | In a traditional French Christmas carol... |
| 14east | Let’s decorate with holly.sanbika |  play_arrow | "Let's deck with holly" is the Christmas season… |
| 15east | Miniature Overture from The Nutcracker (ballet music)Pyotr Tchaikovsky |  play_arrow | The opening of the ballet The Nutcracker... |
| 16east | March from The Nutcracker (ballet)Pyotr Tchaikovsky |  play_arrow | Performed at orchestras around the country during the Christmas season… |
| 17east | Violin Concerto “Peace (Christmas Concerto)”Antonio Lucio Vivaldi |  play_arrow | The violin concerto composed by Vivaldi... |
| 18east | Concerto Grosso in G minor, Op. 6 No. 8 “Christmas”Arcangelo Corelli |  play_arrow | Arcangelo Corelli was an Italian compo... |
| 19east | Noel at MidnightYoshimatsu Takashi |  play_arrow | The collection of works “Pre...” by Japanese composer Takashi Yoshimatsu |
| 20east | sleddingLeroy Anderson |  play_arrow | Composed by Leroy Anderson in 1948… |
| 21east | Concerto for Two TrumpetsAntonio Lucio Vivaldi |  play_arrow | For two trumpets, Vivaldi… |
| 22east | Concerto grosso No. 8 “Christmas”Arcangelo Corelli |  play_arrow | A set of 12 ensemble pieces composed by Corelli… |
| 23east | Ave MariaGiulio Caccini |  play_arrow | A popular classical piece that’s often heard in Japan… |
| 24east | Stella Natalis – I. CelebroKarl Jenkins |  play_arrow | Perfect for the holy night of Christmas is the ca... |
| 25east | sleddingWolfgang Amadeus Mozart |  play_arrow | Mozart, who has given the world numerous masterpieces... |
| 26east | Ave MariaFranz Schubert |  play_arrow | Ranked alongside Bach/Gounod and Caccini as one of the world’s three greatest… |
| 27east | Christmas hymnAdolphe-Charles Adam |  play_arrow | In Japanese, it is also called “Sayaka ni Hoshi wa Kirameki”… |
| 28east | Christmas OratorioJ.S.Bach |  play_arrow | To perform at church during the Christmas season... |
| 29east | Merry Christmas Mr. LawrenceSakamoto Ryuichi |  play_arrow | A masterpiece in which the musical elements of the East and the West are splendidly fused… |
| 30east | Adeste Fideles / O Come, All Ye Faithful |  play_arrow | As the Christmas season approaches, suddenly the city... |
| 31east | Coventry Carol |  play_arrow | If you let your thoughts wander to the solemn holy night of Europe... |
| 32east | There is No Rose of Such Virtue |  play_arrow | A medieval English ca… made in the 15th century |
| 33east | fir tree |  play_arrow | Based on a folk song that has been passed down since ancient times in northern Germany… |
| 34east | The Son of God, this very night |  play_arrow | As a hymn sung during the Christmas season… |
| 35east | At the End of the Wasteland |  play_arrow | Even those who aren’t familiar with classical music have probably heard of... |
| 36east | Christmas OratorioCamille Saint-Saëns |  play_arrow | When you think of the Christmas Oratorio, it’s Bach… |
| 37east | Festival of CarolsEdward Benjamin Britten |  play_arrow | A Festival of Carols begins with harp and singing voices... |
| 38east | a small treeEric Whitacre |  play_arrow | Eric Whitacre’s released CD “Holy Sa… |
| 39east | Glory in the highestFelix Mendelssohn |  play_arrow | Charles, said to be one of the four great hymns of Britain… |
| 40east | Christmas treeFranz Liszt |  play_arrow | This piece is one that Liszt composed from 1874 to 187... |
| 41east | Ombra mai fuGeorg Friedrich Händel |  play_arrow | A song composed by the German-born musician Handel… |
| 42east | The Childhood of ChristHector Berlioz |  play_arrow | It’s often forgotten in Japan, but Christmas and… |
| 43east | Ave MariaJ.S.Bach/Gounod |  play_arrow | The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book I, by Bach… |
| 44east | CanonJohann Pachelbel |  play_arrow | A popular classical piece often heard at weddings... |
| 45east | Air on the G StringJ.S.Bach |  play_arrow | Bach’s compositions are used as background music for TV shows and movies even in Japan... |
| 46east | Chorale: Come, Savior of the NationsJ.S.Bach |  play_arrow | A hymn composed by Bach, the father of music. The An… of Milan… |
| 47east | MagnificatJ.S.Bach |  play_arrow | A master of Baroque music who elevated sacred music to… |
| 48east | Star CarolJohn Rutter |  play_arrow | John Rutter, a renowned British composer… |
| 49east | God is With UsJohn Tavener |  play_arrow | Celebrate the arrival of Christmas quietly and solemnly… |
| 50east | Midnight MassMarc-Antoine Charpentier |  play_arrow | A composer who represents the high Baroque music of France… |
| 51east | Christmas Eve: Orchestral SuiteNikolai Rimsky-Korsakov |  play_arrow | This work undertaken by Rimsky-Korsakov... |
| 52east | Concerto Grosso in F minor “Christmas”Pietro Antonio Locatelli |  play_arrow | An Italian late Baroque composer… |
| 53east | “December – Christmas” from “The Four Seasons”Pyotr Tchaikovsky |  play_arrow | Russian composer Tchaikovsky, in Russia... |
| 54east | TroikaSergei Prokofiev |  play_arrow | The Russian composer Sergei Prokofiev... |
| 55east | Carol SymphonyVictor Hely-Hutchinson |  play_arrow | Even if you're not interested in the hustle and bustle of Christmas... |
| 56east | Christmas Prelude for Chamber OrchestraVítězslava Kaprálová |  play_arrow | Christmas, when the whole town is wrapped in a festive atmosphere... |
| 57east | O Magnum MysteriumWilliam Byrd |  play_arrow | William Byrd, who was born in England, 1… |
| 58east | Sleigh Ride (No. 3 from Three German Dances)Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart |  play_arrow | Mozart composed it on February 2, 1791... |
| 59east | Ave verum corpusWolfgang Amadeus Mozart |  play_arrow | A four-part mixed chorus composed by Mozart. Moz… |
| 60east | In Terra PaxOgikubo Kazuaki |  play_arrow | This piece is a choral work composed by a Japanese person. The histo… |
| 61east | “Winter” from The Four Seasons, a violin concertoAntonio Lucio Vivaldi |  play_arrow | An intense bio that evokes a severe cold... |
| 62east | Christmas GreetingEdward Elgar |  play_arrow | Elgar, known for pieces such as “Salut d’Amour,” in 19... |
| 63east | Glory in the highestFelix Mendelssohn |  play_arrow | It is a representative Christmas hymn, and in Engla... |
| 64east | Silent Nightfranz Xaver Gruber |  play_arrow | Joseph, who is also well known for a song sung at Christmas, … |
| 65east | I hear a voice calling me to awaken.J.S.Bach |  play_arrow | Cantata No. 140 by Bach. A total of seven movements... |
| 66east | HodieRalph Vaughan Williams |  play_arrow | Every year, as the Christmas season approaches, the air of the city... |
| 67east | Christmas OvertureSamuel Coleridge-Taylor |  play_arrow | Gaining popularity in the United States as a conductor who also composes... |
| 68east | Fantasia on GreensleevesRalph Vaughan Williams |  play_arrow | Originally, it was by Vaughan Williams, 19... |
| 69east | The Skaters’ WaltzÉmile Waldteufel |  play_arrow | Waldteufel, also known as the Waltz King of France… |