Tis the Season...

I thought I would share with you some history about one of my favorite Christmas songs and give you the list of the "ASCAP (The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers) Top 25 Holiday Songs." What are the holidays without a little music!

1. Santa Claus is Coming to Town (one of the oldest songs of the 25 - 1934)
2. The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting over an Open Fire)
3. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas (Introduced in motion picture "Meet me in St. Louis" in 1944)
4. Winter Wonderland (One of the two oldest songs of the 25 - 1934)
5. White Christmas (Introduced in the motion picture "Holiday Inn" in 1942; The most recorded song with well over 500 versions in dozens of languages)
6. Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow
7. I'll Be Home for Christmas
8. Jingle Bell Rock
9. Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer (Written by Johnny Marks)
10. Little Drummer Boy
11. Sleigh Ride (Originally written as an instrumental piece and first performed in a concert conducted by Arthur Fiedler at Symphony Hall in Boston, MA in 1948)
12. Silver Bells (Introduced in the motion picture (The Lemon Drop Kid in 1950)
13. It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year
14. Feliz Navidad
15. Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree
16. Blue Christmas
17. Frosty the Snow Man
18. A Holly Jolly Christmas
19. I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus
20. Here Comes Santa Claus (Right down Santa Claus Lane)
21. (there's no place like) Home for the Holidays
22. Santa Baby
23. It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas
24. Carol of the Bells
25. Wonderful Christmastime (Newest song of the 25 - 1979)

"Silent Night" was written and first performed on Christmas Eve at St. Nikolas Church, in Oberndort, Salzburg, Austria in 1818. According to legend, the church organ was broken and the town was snowbound. Church vicar Joseph Mohr wrote the lyrics on the spot. Choir Director, Franz Gruber, composed the original melody for two voices and choir with guitar accompaniment, just in time for midnight mass.

On this note, I will end by wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and the joy of the sound of music this holiday season!