Christmas Music

I like Christmas music and am always sorry when they fall off the planet on December 26. Christmas songs add so much to the season, filling our days and nights with joy, wonder and hope.

We have been listening to Christmas music on radio station KBAY Gilmore and San Jose, which on the day after Thanksgiving went to a 24-hour Christmas music format.

For the wife and me, it’s one and a half hours of yuletide driving into San Francisco, and one and a half hours returning to San Jose – a total of three hours singing along with the spirit of the season.

This plethora – dare I say, “overexposure” – of Christmas songs has brought to focus some thoughts about the music:

1. The best Christmas music performances are by orchestras and chorales. There’s a magnificence that reaches down into soul and lifts your spirits like none other.

2. Although some of the recordings made since the ‘70s are delightful, in general the recordings by old-timers still rank at the top.

3. Pop singers who adapt Christmas songs to their own particular style usually aren’t successful in producing recordings that I enjoy. There are a few exceptions.

4. The best carols are the traditional ones that all of us are familiar with.

5. Novelty Christmas songs aren’t played enough. They never fail to bring a smile to my face.

I will probably expand upon these thoughts in the coming week. In fact, you can count on it.