Xmas music recommendations--not your standard collections

[Woodsheal]

Loreena McKennit; To Drive the Cold Winter Away

[Dixiecat]

http://www.amazon.com/Meowy-Christma.../dp/B000001UEP

Best Christmas present ever (thanks sis!). This is the most oft requested Christmas music in our household.

Anybody pick up that tool cd of Christmas songs from Lee Valley?

[Kilt_Em_All]

There's quite a few that don't fall in to the "typical Christmas music" category that I enjoy. In no particular order:

Merry Axemas - A Guitar Christmas vol 1 & 2 by various popular guitar players (Alex Lifeson, Brian Setzer, Ted Nuggent, etc)
The Jethro Tull Christmas Album by Jethro Tull
The Christmas Attic by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra
Christmas Eve and Other Stories by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra
The Lost Christmas Eve by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra
Night Castle by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra

I know I have others that fall into this category, but these are my favorites.

-Elliott

[Mark Keeney]

Favorite CD of all time
A Christmas Delight - Oklahoma Woodwind Quintet
favorite track - Stille, Stille, Stille

Close behind
He Is Christmas - Take 6
and
Our Hearts Joy, A Chanticleer Christmas

Other favorites
Ceremony of Carols - Benjamin Brittan
Handel's Messiah - A Soulful Celebration

[fluter]

Loreena McKennit; To Drive the Cold Winter Away

Thanks, Brian! I was a bit surprised it had not yet been mentioned.

The Boston Camerata, An American Christmas Music mainly from the 18th-19th centuries, shows some interesting connections to English music of the same period. Best of all, much of it fits an Advent theme, and thus is a good antidote to the (ahem) schlock with which we are bombarded in public spaces this time of year.

Chanticleer Our Heart's Joy: a Chanticleer Christmas Includes the ravishing 7-part version of "Ave Maria" by Franz Biebl, among other gems from Praetorius to Britten via folk carols and spirituals.

Last and probably least, Dr. Demento Presents: Greatest Christmas Novelty CD of All Time. From Stan Freberg and the Chipmunks, to Cheech and Chong, to Bob and Doug McKenzie.