From simple but iconic traditional carols to symphonious ballets with a more narratively involved structure, Christmas and classical music is a pairing that has gone hand-in-hand for centuries now. With the holidays dawning upon us, 'tis the season for Christmas classics to grace your ears once more-for that, below are some of the best compositions for the upcoming festivities, in no particular order.
1. 'The Nutcracker Suite' by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
This won't be a Christmas list without the inclusion of Tchaikovsky's "The Nutcracker Suite," as it essentially underscores a perennial tale of festivities about the iconic toy soldier that was magically brought to life. This classic story has been the subject of many adaptations across different mediums but at the heart of it therein lies Tchaikovsky's compositions, the "magic" that moved the little "Nutcracker."
2. 'Sleigh Ride' by Leroy Anderson
As you hear "Sleigh Ride," written by Anderson in 1948, one immediately thinks of the Christmas season. This tune oozes in festive "energies," this is in large part thanks to Anderson's utilization of sleigh bells and woodblocks to paint that classic imagery we all think about when it comes to the holidays. In fact, towards the end of the piece, Anderson even wrote in a trumpet part to specifically mimic a horse's neigh.
3. 'A Ceremony of Carols' by Benjamin Britten
This mainstay Christmas choral is one of Britten's most popular works, scoring it for a choral ensemble that includes 3-part treble, vocal soloists, and a harp. This piece is largely a reference to old medieval carols. Originally, Britten intended for the treble parts to be played by women, but he eventually found out that the boys' treble tone suits the child-like theme that the song is trying to embody.
4. 'Oratorio de Noël' by Camille Saint-Saëns
Saint-Saëns reportedly wrote this piece in just one night and submitted the piece only 10 days before its 1858 performance. He wrote the piece to be played by soloists, a chorus, an organ, strings, and a harp. Saint-Saëns was heavily inspired by old traditional Christmas liturgies for this composition and divided it into a total of 10 movements comprising one prelude and nine vocal pieces.
5. 'Christmas Eve: Orchestral Suite' by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov
This orchestral suite was inspired by its namesake and four-act opera that Rimsky-Korsakov also wrote, aptly named "Christmas Eve", which was penned around 1894 and 1895. The opera itself was also inspired by a literary work, which was similarly named "Christmas Eve," authored by the Russian novelist, Nikolai Gogol. Its narrative revolves around the cold backdrops of Dikanka, Ukraine, and tells the story of the devil, witches, wizards, and spirits.
6. 'L'Enfance du Christ' by Hector Berlioz
Berlioz penned this oratorio in 1854 and was a ginormous undertaking that took over four years to complete. It depicts a gripping narrative surrounding the early childhood days of Christ and also touches upon the chilling mass murder of infants that Herod committed in Judea, an event that prompted Joseph, Mary, and Christ to leave the city. Its main section, 'The Shepherds, is a holistically sounding composition comprising a well-blended conglomeration of woodwind, choral, and orchestral parts.
7. 'Carol Symphony' by Victor Hely-Hutchinson
Hely-Hutchinson's very festive and celebratory tunes were written in 1972 and include some of the most well-known Christmas carols to have ever been penned, in "O Come All Ye Faithful", "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen," and "The First Noël."
8. 'Winter' by Antonio Vivaldi
Although this piece is not strictly about Christmas, per se, it still embodies the narratives that are best applied during the holiday season. For one, it perfectly encapsulates the often tumultuous nature of its namesake, 'Winter,' while also offering a peaceful and calming resolution to the listener in its 'Largo' movement. Vivaldi's Fourth Season is a masterfully crafted composition that brings forth the violin's tonal and melodic capabilities to its utmost peak, as can be heard in the frenzied bowing and high-pitched plucking of the strings.
