Winter is almost here! With the temperatures steadily declining, Indianapolis is being taken over by the holiday season. On my daily walks around Broad Ripple I see lights strung in every neighborhood, Christmas trees through the windows, and everyone walking with a pep in their step. Downtown is bustling with cheer, and local orchestras are preparing for Christmas concerts.
This is my first winter in the Midwest, and my violin, viola and I couldn’t be more excited. With everyone getting into the holiday spirit, now is the perfect time for us musicians to be preparing some carols to play for our loved ones!
Here are my Top 5 Christmas songs for violin that any level of musician can enjoy!
The Christmas carol Deck the Halls dates back to the 16th century. But did you know it wasn’t always considered a Christmas song? The melody comes from a Welsh winter song called “Nos Galan,” which was sung at New Years Eve celebrations.
In 1862 Thomas Oliphant created the English version that we know today. The melody was influenced by a genre of music from the Renaissance called a madrigal. Madrigals were typically sung acapella (without instrumental accompaniment) and included sections for a chorus of people to join in and sing.
Deck the Halls is a great party piece. At your next holiday party, break out your violin and give it a whirl! Your guests will love it and can sing along on the “fa la la’s”!
2. Quelle Est Cette Odeur Agréable
Quelle Est Cette Odeur Agréable, translates to “Whence is That Goodly Fragrance Flowing.” It’s a traditional French carol from the 17th century about the Nativity.
Though rarely sung in the US, this beautiful piece made its way across the channel from France to England, and became a familiar tune in all of Europe. It became a part of John Gay’s, The Beggars Opera of 1728, which only used well known songs to please audiences.
This stunning song would be perfect to play on a quiet night in, while the snow is falling and the fire is roaring. Here is a recording of Sissel; a sensational soprano from Norway, singing the lovely melody in English.
3. Silent Night
The Napoleonic Wars brought a time of great hardship to the country of Austria. The little village of Oberndorf was engulfed by hunger and despair. Citizens of Austria were accustomed to experiencing crime and were at the mercy of prevailing economic and political climates at the time. This is when Reverend Joseph Mohr wrote the poem he called Stille Nacht, translated to Silent Night. He wrote the piece during a time of reflection upon the events he and his fellow citizens faced.
Mohr contacted his friend, Franz Xaver Gruber, who then set the poem to music. The two friends performed Silent Night for the first time on Christmas Eve in 1818 at a church service. After such a difficult time, the song captivated the audience and became a beacon of hope for them.
Through this difficult time, the world’s most famous song of peace was created and it still brings people together to this day. Silent Night would be the perfect song for a violinist to play at a candlelit Christmas Eve service.
4. Jolly Old Saint Nicholas
We all know him, and we all love him. This Christmas song is about none other than Santa Claus. But did you know that our beloved protagonist of this holiday also has a rich history?
Santa can be traced back to over 1700 years ago in Turkey where he was referred to as Saint Nicholas. He was also well known for his generosity, particularly towards children.
The lyrics of this carol are simple and pleasant: a child telling Santa what everyone wants for Christmas. This song is great for a beginning musician to wow everyone at holiday parties!
5. Jingle Bells
Did you know that Jingle Bells was originally a song for Thanksgiving? In 1850, a composer named James Lord Pierpont from Medford, Massachusetts wrote a piece to commemorate the annual sleigh races that took place around the Thanksgiving holiday.
By the 1860’s and 1870’s the piece started to be sung around Christmas time, and in 1889 it was first recorded on an Edison Cylinder. Though this recording is lost, another was made in 1898 that still survives.
Jingle Bells is a great piece of music to perform where the whole family can get involved and sing along.
So whether you’re playing for family and friends, or for your own amusement, make sure to include one of these songs during your next playing session on the violin.
-Emily Waters, Instructor at Vibe Music Academy
