Fa La La La La

I love Christmas music.   I love all kinds of Christmas music. Earthgirl played "What Child is This" and O Holy Night" in her recent piano recital.  I am so pleased that she has an ear to appreciate beautiful music, and that she wants to tackle the challenge of a song she loves that stretches to the limits of her ability.

We have found that some of our favorite Christmas albums have been the least expensive ones - the ones we picked up at Dollar Tree or grabbed from the $2 bin somewhere.  One accidental favorite is Home for the Holidays, Country Style, a 2-album set I picked up for about $2 at Dollar General two years ago.  The song I thought was on it was not, but what a fun bunch of songs we discovered - Vince Gill, Ray Stevens, Amy Grant, Toby Keith Randy Travis and another dozen or more artists are featured in this collection.

Ray Stevens sings "GreatestLittle Christmas Ever Wuz"

 I've just been previewing Sting's new album, If On a Winter's Night.  Not strictly Christmas, it has, as one reviewer notes, "rustic vibrancy enveloped in a haunting winter fog, vividly suggesting the British Isles or Scandinavian mountains in midwinter." I think it could really grow on me. But I'm not buying right now...I have about zero budget for Christmas music. We have lots already, and there are free sources all around - just turn on the radio!

Pandora.com has been playing music on my computer for years now.  We've set up stations with names like "Energy Instrumental," "Instrumental Quiet," "Bluegrass," "Gaelic Storm," "Peaceful Holidays, "Jazz Holidays,"  "Hillsong," and "Bonerama." (I'd link you to Pandora, but I am permanently logged in, and am not sure how that link would work. I dare not log out - who knows what password I used 6 or 7 years ago?)

Amazon is offering 25 Days of Free Christmas Music downloads.  They reveal a new song each day.  I've downloaded 2 offerings so far.  And that is not their only free Christmas music - check it out!