Favorite Seasonal Music Selections

Every year, I think to myself – how did we already get to December?  It seems that just yesterday, the waning summer sun still warmed the earth.  Now that the holiday season is upon us, its time to pull out favorite seasonal music selections!

Whenever I am feeling overwhelmed by all the tasks and “to dos” that come with this time of year, it helps to put in a holiday new age CD.  There is a wide range of songs that can help you relax, or even inspire you.  You might even want to hum one or two of them if you find yourself stuck in traffic or standing in a long line at the store.

The end of the year is a time of reflection.  Its a time to look inward and plan for the new year ahead.  Ambient new age music can be just the thing to help you turn off the buzz of the everyday life and concentrate on the important stirrings of your soul.

One of my favorite music artists is George Winston.  His new age CD, December, includes a number of gems for this time of year.  If you like piano, you’ll love this rendition of “Carol of the Bells.”

Imagine yourself snuggling before a fire with a loved one:

Many people enjoy the sound of instrumental holiday music.  Sometimes listening to songs without words is exactly what you need during this hectic time of year.

Fortunately, there is a wide range of thoroughly seasonable music selections – beyond the pop artist renditions of the “12 Days of  Christmas,” or “Holly Jolly Christmas.”

If you want to go with a little more lively new age music for the holidays, consider one of many great hits from Mannheim Steamroller!  This group single-handedly re-defined Christmas music back in 1984, bringing it out of the churches to the masses.

This is the song that started it all – a peppy, fun electronic version of “Deck the Halls.”

This next song is from Deviations Project, using a clever play-on-words for their new age holiday music composition: Adeste Fiddles.

If you’ve never heard of this group, let me be the first to introduce you to the British music duo comprised of producer Dave Williams and international violinist Oliver Lewis.  Their inspiring music will have you tapping your toes as you cook dinner for a party, or wrap presents:

I believe that the most enjoyable holiday music is something other than a cover of a classic Christmas tune.  Of course, original seasonal releases this time of year are rare.  Yet, when they are found, they can be even more special than a dusting of new snow, glistening in the morning.

Creative, unusual holiday songs have the ability to move you from the expected, towards self-discovery.  That overall property is what differentiates ambient music from other genres.  When these soulful melodies are placed against the backdrop of a winter theme, you could uncover the most precious gift of all: yourself.

Long considered to be a pop-rock musician, Sting has shown a depth of talent in recent years that transcends these genres.  His new CD release, “If On a Winter’s Night,” appears to best fit within an ambient new age classification.

But, no matter how you classify it, there is something truly magical that occurs when you listen to his music:

I’d love to hear about your favorite new age holiday music selections.  Please let me know if I missed any!

If you enjoyed this post, be sure to see Musical Sounds in Nature and Music for the Changing Seasons.