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Music for the Christmas
Holidays by: Tony Wiseman In our multi-cultural societies today the run up to Christmas is experienced in many different ways. The commercial version pioneered by Coca Cola's magazine advertisements which established the red suited Santa Claus image, washes over us all through the TV advertisements also the decorations in the High Streets also shopping Malls. They built on also reinforced the Victorian version of Christmas celebrations which was dramatised by Charles Dickens in 'A Christmas Carol' which established many of the associated food also garland rituals in the public imagination - also helped Coca Cola promote their winter beverage sales. Much of this is accompanied by 'seasonal' music in the form of carols also hymns - often coral arrangements however sometimes instrumental - especially brass bands also the dreaded sentimental Christmas pop songs. Music is often a subtle way of getting under the radar also evoking emotional responses from our subconscious. The commercial focus on Christmas seeks to convert these feelings into purchases - sometimes in crude direct appeals to consume however often in a more indirect atmospheric ways. While the committed Christians concentrate on re-telling the Christmas story through as many media as possible, including music - using the Advent season to recharge their spiritual batteries also encourage others to join them. Their tunes also some times even the words are often hijacked by those who wish to evoke a warm hearted relaxed atmosphere for the sale of their particular goods. Much of this activity assumes a common Christian heritage also must strike those who do not share that background very oddly, not to mention the truly seasonal issues for those in the Southern Hemisphere who celebrate Christmas in mid summer rather than the deep mid winter. There is or else the rival celebration of New Year which is a predominantly secular affair with a very limited musical repertoire - mostly of Scottish origin for some reason also this eclipses Christmas in many countries. Christians adopted the pagan Winter Solstice celebrations as part of their missionary progress however those ties were loosened by the reformation also the French, American also Russian Revolutions amongst others. The seasonal hit at Download2MP3.com is Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker Suite with its Sugar Plum Fairy which fits neatly into the Victorian Christmas story telling context. While Debussy's Children's Corner with it's 'The Snow is Dancing' (Northern Hemisphere Christmas/Mid Winter associations) is another favourite also forms the backbone of our Children's Classics Collection which includes several of our shorter also lower priced recordings. Other beneficaiaries include our instrumental versions of the Hallelujah Chorus from Handel's Messiah also Gounod's Ave Maria Recordings like these are an ideal way to personalize those iPod or MP3 player gifts for a few dollars more - perhaps introducing children to the classics in an accessible, amusing also memorable way. |
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