jesus christ by Woody Guthrie
Xmas in February by Lou Reed
Merry christmas (I don't want to fight tonight) by The Ramones
I saw mammy f**king santa claus by Kevin bloody Wilson
That should get them singing in the aisles
Sorry, don't know any suitable instrumentals
There are some moody numbers among them, but we always played the goose tunes ~ as an example ~ "The Old Grey Goose" / "Gander in the Pratie Hole" / etc...
Goose is our first choice for Christmas rather than turkey...
We also always played "The Frost is All Over" in a seasonal set... And let's not forget "We Three Kings", a set recently posted here... Since a lot of church music, hymns and carols, were ripped off from dance music, we have often returned the favour and turned them back into dance numbers, with lift and spirit and humour. We even pulled out the bells for the holidays... My mother in law used to give me guff, but I know she really enjoyed the spirit of it all. My other contribution to the festivities was the punch, well spiked...and she soon got in the spirit...
We made a hash of the tune and turned "We Three Kings" into a 32 bar slide... We also used to break into rude lyrics...which you wouldn't want repeated for a Christmas Mass...
Pick a carole. Most of them sound great on traditional instrumentation. We played Jingle Bells and Joy to the World at the session last night, and I am sure we are not the only session to play caroles. It is the one time each that the sacred tiptoes in to join the secular tunes.
The question is, does it mean, "There's frost all over the place" or does it mean, "The frost is all gone, like, finito"?
If it means the latter, then it would be wholly inappropriate for Christmas. On the other hand, if you leave it open to interpretaion, it could serve a dual purpose as a Christmas tune and an Easter tune.
Let's set the season ~ "The praties are dug" ~ and then follows ~ "and the frost is all over"... I've been on the raw bleeding hands side of digging those praties and this is definitely Winter...
Really...try the "Cherry Tree Carol" or "Tomorrow Will Be My Dancing Day" or "The Wexford Carol" or "The King". Any old setting of a "mystery play carol" or "Celtic" carol. "The Boar's Head" is also good.
"The Oxford Book of Carols", and every lover of carols should have a copy, every decent library should have one ~ is bursting with possibilities...glory, glory, glory...hallelujah!!!
I don't have all my carol music out, but here's a couple for the ears, and if you track them down online you'll see the list of tracks and some other ideas:
"Carols & Capers" & "A Tapestry of Carols"
two CDs by Maddy Prior & The Carnival Band
Also, a great gang that includes Tony Barrand & John Roberts
"Nowell Sing We Clear" ~ a series of recordings of seasonal cheer...not forgetting Fred Breunig & Andy Davis...
"Just Say Nowell" ~ GHM-105
"Nowell Sing We Four" (NSWC #4) ~ GHM-201
"The Best of 'Nowell Sing We Clear'" ~ GHM-202
There's a whole tradition of Sheffield Carols that many people know and sing in and around that city. I'm told they are sung in packed pubs and by those for whom there's no room, milling around outside - they must have something going for them, though I don't know any.
Christmas Instrumental
Christmas Instrumental
Hi everyone
Would any of you have any names/suggestions of any nice christmassy instrumentals that would be suitable to play at Christmas Mass??
# Posted on December 17th 2006 by ceolgal
Re: Christmas Instrumental
"What a Waster" by the Libertines. I can't think of ANYTHING more suitable.
# Posted on December 17th 2006 by bodhran bliss
Re: Christmas Instrumental
Nice Shetland tune Christmas Day In Da Morning, also anything of Simon Mayors Winter Mandolin CD.
# Posted on December 17th 2006 by tirvaluk
Re: Christmas Instrumental
Thanks bodhran bliss, you are very helpful altogether!
Tirvaluk thanks for the names of tunes I'll have a look at them.
# Posted on December 17th 2006 by ceolgal
Re: Christmas Instrumental
The Christmas Eve reel doesn't sound at all Christmassy, but it's got a suitable name and it's a great tune
# Posted on December 17th 2006 by RichardB
Re: Christmas Instrumental
"The Frost is All Over" definitely needs more winter playing time.
--DtM
# Posted on December 17th 2006 by Dan the Man
Re: Christmas Instrumental
jesus christ by Woody Guthrie
Xmas in February by Lou Reed
Merry christmas (I don't want to fight tonight) by The Ramones
I saw mammy f**king santa claus by Kevin bloody Wilson
That should get them singing in the aisles
Sorry, don't know any suitable instrumentals
# Posted on December 17th 2006 by strayaway
Re: Christmas Instrumental
There are some moody numbers among them, but we always played the goose tunes ~ as an example ~ "The Old Grey Goose" / "Gander in the Pratie Hole" / etc...
Goose is our first choice for Christmas rather than turkey...
We also always played "The Frost is All Over" in a seasonal set... And let's not forget "We Three Kings", a set recently posted here... Since a lot of church music, hymns and carols, were ripped off from dance music, we have often returned the favour and turned them back into dance numbers, with lift and spirit and humour. We even pulled out the bells for the holidays... My mother in law used to give me guff, but I know she really enjoyed the spirit of it all. My other contribution to the festivities was the punch, well spiked...and she soon got in the spirit...
# Posted on December 18th 2006 by ceolachan
Re: Christmas Instrumental
Oops! ~ yes, we did the three kings, but I meant "I Saw Three Ships" ~ that's the one that is already here:
http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/6494
# Posted on December 18th 2006 by ceolachan
We made a hash of the tune and turned "We Three Kings" into a 32 bar slide... We also used to break into rude lyrics...which you wouldn't want repeated for a Christmas Mass...
# Posted on December 18th 2006 by ceolachan
Re: Christmas Instrumental
Oh yes we would !!
# Posted on December 18th 2006 by strayaway
Re: Christmas Instrumental
Kevin bloody Wilson (see above) also does a great version of my grandfathers clock, always dropping his Ls, that man!
# Posted on December 18th 2006 by strayaway
Re: Christmas Instrumental
Here's an early Christmas gift from me to you all:
http://www.elfyourself.com/
# Posted on December 18th 2006 by Rudall the time
Re: Christmas Instrumental
No problem, Ceol, always ready to help.
# Posted on December 18th 2006 by bodhran bliss
Re: Christmas Instrumental
If It Doesn't Snow For Christmas by Vincent LaGuardia Gambini
aka Joe Pesci
http://www.amazon.com/Vincent-LaGuardia-Gambini-Sings-Just/dp/B00000DCHN
# Posted on December 18th 2006 by Lint - upon - Tweed
Re: Christmas Instrumental
I posted this at the end of another thread and either it was so bad everyone ignored it, or maybe it disappeared into a black thread-hole.
Just worked out a version of Jingle bells as a Reel or something similar:
X:1
T:Really Jingles
R:Reel
K:D
f2 f2 fgfe|f2fe fgfe|fefg afde|fdge a2 af|
g2 g2 gbag|f2 fe fagf|edef gfed|e2e2 agfe|
f2 f2 fgfe|f2fe fgfe|fefg afde|fdge a2 af|
g2 g2 gbag|f2 fg afdf|abag fgec|d2 dc d2 (3dcB||
Adfd efdB|ABAG F2 FG |Adfd efdA|B2 BA ~B3 A|
Bdge fded|c2 cB cefg|a2 a^g ab=ge|f2 fe ~f3 d|
Adfd efdB|ABAG FAdB|Adfd efdA|B2 BA ~B3 A|
Bdge fg (3efg|a2 ab ag (3fga|bgaf gecA | d2 dc d4||
# Posted on December 18th 2006 by Donough
Re: Christmas Instrumental
The Holly Bush??
# Posted on December 18th 2006 by wormdiet
Re: Christmas Instrumental
Pick a carole. Most of them sound great on traditional instrumentation. We played Jingle Bells and Joy to the World at the session last night, and I am sure we are not the only session to play caroles. It is the one time each that the sacred tiptoes in to join the secular tunes.
# Posted on December 18th 2006 by AlBrown
Re: Christmas Instrumental
"The Frost is All Over"
The question is, does it mean, "There's frost all over the place" or does it mean, "The frost is all gone, like, finito"?
If it means the latter, then it would be wholly inappropriate for Christmas. On the other hand, if you leave it open to interpretaion, it could serve a dual purpose as a Christmas tune and an Easter tune.
# Posted on December 18th 2006 by CreadurMawnOrganig
Re: Christmas Instrumental
Let's set the season ~ "The praties are dug" ~ and then follows ~ "and the frost is all over"... I've been on the raw bleeding hands side of digging those praties and this is definitely Winter...
# Posted on December 18th 2006 by ceolachan
Re: Christmas Instrumental
Really...try the "Cherry Tree Carol" or "Tomorrow Will Be My Dancing Day" or "The Wexford Carol" or "The King". Any old setting of a "mystery play carol" or "Celtic" carol. "The Boar's Head" is also good.
# Posted on December 19th 2006 by yekdeli
Re: Christmas Instrumental
"The Oxford Book of Carols", and every lover of carols should have a copy, every decent library should have one ~ is bursting with possibilities...glory, glory, glory...hallelujah!!!
# Posted on December 19th 2006 by ceolachan
Re: Christmas Instrumental
I don't have all my carol music out, but here's a couple for the ears, and if you track them down online you'll see the list of tracks and some other ideas:
"Carols & Capers" & "A Tapestry of Carols"
two CDs by Maddy Prior & The Carnival Band
Also, a great gang that includes Tony Barrand & John Roberts
"Nowell Sing We Clear" ~ a series of recordings of seasonal cheer...not forgetting Fred Breunig & Andy Davis...
"Just Say Nowell" ~ GHM-105
"Nowell Sing We Four" (NSWC #4) ~ GHM-201
"The Best of 'Nowell Sing We Clear'" ~ GHM-202
http://www.goldenhindmusic.com/
# Posted on December 19th 2006 by ceolachan
Re: Christmas Instrumental
Thanks everyone for your help!
# Posted on December 19th 2006 by ceolgal
Re: Christmas Instrumental
There's a whole tradition of Sheffield Carols that many people know and sing in and around that city. I'm told they are sung in packed pubs and by those for whom there's no room, milling around outside - they must have something going for them, though I don't know any.
# Posted on December 19th 2006 by nicholas
Re: Christmas Instrumental
Oh yeah - I remember them doing that in pubs in Crookes and Walkley, when i lived there. Glad it's still going.
# Posted on December 19th 2006 by Rudall the time
Re: Christmas Instrumental
Drive the Cold Winter Away is a nice tune. Was played by Horselips and is the name of one of their CDs. It sounds kind of English folky.
# Posted on December 19th 2006 by MollyB