Merry Christmas Tonight

A collection of original and traditional Christmas songs, demonstrating Caribbean, Irish, and African-American rhythms, played on violin, guitar, pennywhistle, mandolin, bass, banjo-ukulele, banjo-guitar, harmonica and percussion instruments.

In Stories of Christmas Carols, Ernest K. Emurian defines three types of Christmas music: hymns are religious poems written to be sung to “one of the Persons of the Holy Trinity”; carols are not as formal or spiritual as hymns, and songs are more secular in nature. William Studwell in The Christmas Carol Reader says that the word “carol” is probably derived from the Greek word “choros”, meaning “dance.” So, it is fitting that these Christmas carols are put to various styles of folk dance music.

Click on any of the following song titles to read a description of the song and to hear a brief sample.

Merry Christmas Tonight 2:36
Here Comes Santa Claus 2:03
Raise Your Spirits Jig 1:41
Mary's Boy Child 3:03
Santa Claus Is Coming To Town 2:24
Ave Maria 4:14
Holiday Spirit / Holiday Reel 2:41
The Snow Lay On the Ground 4:17
Winter Wonderland 2:13
The Little Drummer Boy 2:59
Holiday Spirit Jig 1:43
Night of Silence / Silent Night 4:08
Angels We Have Heard on High / Jingle Bells 2:56
Christmas is Coming / Christmas is Here 2:14
Go Tell It On the Mountain 1:56
O Holy Night 4:10

— Kevin Sanders, April 2009

Musicians

Kevin Sanders - Guitar, acoustic bass guitar, banjo-ukulele, banjo-guitar, harmonica, percussion.
Pat Ireland – Violin.
Keith Van Winkle – Mandolin, penny whistle, (violin on Merry Christmas Tonight)
Paul Mast – Vocals.
Theresa Gergick – Vocals.
Dave Partin - mandolin on Merry Christmas Tonight

Produced and arranged by Kevin Sanders

Thanks to: Debby Sanders; Francois Delhalle; Lee Davidson; Kathy Ross; Rick & Kat Estes; Guiliano Mingucci; and Smiley Wallace. In memory of Helen Wallace, always a strong supporter of local musicians.

Sources

Berlin, Edward A., King of Ragtime: Scott Joplin and His Era, New York: Oxford University Press, 1994
Blesh, Rudi & Hariett Janis, They All Played Ragtime, New York: Oak Publications, 1950
Collins, Ace, Stories Behind the Best Loved Songs of Christmas, Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2001
Collins, Ace, More Stories Behind the Best Loved Songs of Christmas, Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2001
Kantor, Daniel, from the composer’s website: www.danielkantor.com
McAleer, Dave, Hit Singles Top 20 Charts, 5th Edition, San Francisco: Backbeat Books, 2004
Mendez, Albert J. & Shirley C., Christmas Songs Made in America, Nashville, TN: Cumberland House, 1999
Pash, Dennis, CD notes, Bonne Humeur, The Etcetera String Band, ESBCD202, 1994
Richliano, James Adam, Angels We Have Heard: The Christmas Song Stories, Chatham, NY: Star of Bethlehem Books, 2002
Roberts, John Storm, The Latin Tinge, New York: Oxford University Press, 1999
Sawyers, June Skinner, Celtic Music: A Complete Guide, New York: Da Capo Press, 2001
Slonimsky, Nicolas, The Music of Latin America, New York: Thomas Y. Crowell Co., 1945
Studwell, William E., The Christmas Carol Reader, New York: Harrington Park Press, 1995
Whiturn, Joel, The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits, 8th Edition, New York: Billboard Books, 2004
www.coloredreflections.com for information on Jester Hairston (author unknown)

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This album on IndieRhythm