So what are some other Christmas works besides Nutcracker, Messiah, and the Christmas Oratorio? Not counting general "winter themed" works
That’s a good question. I may or may not make posts about these works.
The first that comes to mind is Liszt’s “Christmas Tree” which is a suite of carol arrangements. Most of them are after Christmas carols, and a handful are original works. A lovely suite, very “Victorian” feeling you know? Like the melodies come with dense consonant chords. Unfortunately not super popular. I’ll definitely make a post about this work, but for now you can listen here
Another is a large organ…mass [?] by Messiaen, the Birth of the Lord, which is a really hard work to follow along with. At least, in my opinion. One of my online friends is an organist and he absolutely loves 20th century French stuff. I haven’t listen to much Messiaen so I will check it out more. You can listen here.
Britten arranged some carols in contemplative ways. You can listen here.
A really cool and gorgeous work I heard last year on the radio was Whitbourn’s Missa Carolea. Unfortunately I cannot find a better quality version of it, but it feels very archaic, in a good way. Like Medieval. You can listen here, just the beginning.
oh also? How can I forget, Berlioz’ choral work “The Infant Christ”, which is a setting of the Nativity story.
Will keep my ears open for more. And I may write up about these works, and a few more.
