During the holiday season, I’ve been thinking about the seasonal music that I enjoy. During the past week, I’ve listened to several podcasts where musicians are talking about their favorite songs and replays of the Colorado Public Radio Holiday Extravaganza. While listening to these programs, I realized that my preference in holiday music is towards the melancholic. Granted, my general taste in music is weighted towards sad songs (I count Death Cab for Cutie among my favorite bands), but I began pondering what is special about these types of festive songs.
The idea for this post first started germinating while I was listening to a Fresh Air segment with John Baptiste. Baptiste had been playing “God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen”, and the host, Terry Gross, commented that she had not previously noticed that the song was in minor key. Then, I started thinking about other pieces of holiday music that are in minor keys. Many of the songs I was thinking about now were also some of my favorite holiday songs: “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”, “O Come, O Come Emanuel”, and “What Child is This?” among others. Certainly, I enjoy some of the more triumphant and happy Christmas songs such as “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing”, “Here We Come A‘Wassailing”, and others, but I don’t feel that they stick to my feelings in the same way.
I thought about making a longer post, more like a full article, pulling one of these songs apart and examining the specific chord transitions and modes. However, such an article is well beyond my musical theory knowledge. That being the case, the scope of this post is limited to some of my thoughts and feelings.
What the more pensive songs offer to us, I think, is an acknowledgement that our current situation may not be the best. Perhaps we are dismayed or feel captive. Even when we gather with our families and friends, we are don’t know what the next year may bring. We hope to be together again, if the fates allow. The tone and lyrics of these songs acknowledge these uncertainties and anxieties that can haunt us during the end of year.
I grew up in a Christian household, but am not very religious anymore. Nonetheless, I find comfort in sharing ordinary, human concerns with these composers of days past. I hope that you also can find comfort in the depths of winter as we face an uncertain New Year.
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