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It's beginning to sound a lot like Christmas. Just like all the other unwelcome yuletide things, how did cheesy seasonal music come to be and what is its true value?

The office party... unwelcome relatives... indigestion... alcoholic overindulgence... hideous decorations... Among all the inevitable woes that accompany the festive season, yuletide music is surely one of the most annoying and pervasive. But what are its origins, its essential ingredients and intrinsic worth? And has the commercial always been a major element of most Christmas music? On a mission to find out, Tom Service has been listening to a lot of it, so you don't have to. Including contributions from Judith Flanders, author of 'Christmas: a Biography' and some of those whose perennial Christmas hits invariably provide the season's soundtrack.

David Papp (producer)

Available now

30 minutes

Last on

Christmas Eve 2021 16:30
大象传媒 Radio 3

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Music Played

  • Rea

    Driving Home for Christmas

    Performer: Michael Ball.
    • UNIVERSAL MUSIC TV.
    • 153-710-2.

  • Mel Torm茅

    The Christmas Song

    • VERVE.
    • 549-067-2.

  • Hugh Martin

    Have Yourself A Merry Christmas

    Composer: Ralph Blane. Performer: Alfie Boe.
    • Decca.
    • B00PM205EM.

  • Bing Crosby

    Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow

    • WARNER.
    • W-1484.

  • Franz Xaver Gruber

    Silent Night

    Performer: Kenny G.
    • ARISTA.
    • 07822 18767-2.

  • Willson

    It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas

    Performer: Michael Bubl茅.
    • Warner.
    • N/A.

  • James Lord Pierpont

    Jingle Bells

    Performer: Barbra Streisand.
    • CBS.
    • CBS-4605362.

  • Justin Bieber

    Santa Claus is Coming to Town

    • Olivet.
    • USUM71116391.

  • John Francis Wade

    O Come all ye faithful

    Music Arranger: Stephen Cleobury. Performer: Luther Vandross.
    • Epic.
    • B009G3S4K0.

  • Franz Xaver Gruber

    Silent Night

    Composer: Josef Mohr. Performer: Dj Santa Klaus.
    • dieffe.
    • dieffe.

  • Mickey Mouse And Friends

    The Little Drummer Boy

    • Disney.
    • B00000E9LJ.

  • Alice Cooper, Billy Sheehan & Vinny Appice

    Santa Claws is Coming to Town

    • Armoury Records.
    • ARMCD502P.

  • Felix Mendelssohn

    Hark! The herald angels sing

    Conductor: Stephen Cleobury. Performer: King's College Cambridge Choir.
    • King's College.
    • KGS0036.

  • 搁耻苍鈥怐.惭.颁.

    Christmas Is

    • A&M 3911.
    • A&M 3911.

  • Francesco Manfredini

    Concerto grosso in C minor Op.3`12 (per il santissimo natale)

    Conductor: Herbert von Karajan. Performer: Berliner Philharmoniker.
    • DG.
    • 4793926.

  • Irving Berlin

    White Christmas

    Performer: Bing Crosby. Performer: Michael Bubl茅.
    • N/A.
    • N/A.

  • Henry John Gauntlett

    Once in royal David's city - carol

    Conductor: Stephen Cleobury. Performer: Henry Websdale. Performer: King's College Cambridge Choir.
    • King's College.
    • kgs0036.

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Weihnachts-Oratorium BWV.248

    Conductor: Stephen Layton. Performer: Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment. Performer: Trinity College Cambridge Choir.
    • Hyperion.
    • CDA68031/2.

  • Arcangelo Corelli

    Concerto grosso in G minor Op.6`8 (Christmas night)

    Conductor: Herbert von Karajan. Performer: Berliner Philharmoniker.
    • DG.
    • 4793926.

  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Ave verum corpus - motet K.618 for chorus and strings

    Performer: Rudolf Scholz. Performer: Wiener Singverein.
    • DG.
    • 4793926.

  • Michael Praetorius

    In dulci jubilo - motet [based on trad. melody; 1619 no.34]

    Performer: Dietmar Keller. Performer: Fritz Neumeyer. Performer: Fritz Wunderlich. Performer: Hans鈥怗eorg Renner. Performer: Helmut Bocker. Performer: Robert Bodenroder. Performer: Wolfgang Neininger. Performer: Wolfgang Stert.
    • DG.
    • 4795055.

  • Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, Ambrosian Singers & Philharmonia Orchestra

    I saw three ships - carol, arr. Mackerras for soprano & chorus

    Conductor: Charles Mackerras.
    • WARNER.
    • 2564600379.

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Suite no. 3 in D major BWV.1068 for orchestra

    Conductor: Herbert von Karajan. Performer: Berliner Philharmoniker.
    • DG.
    • 4793926.

  • Christopher Lee

    The Little Drummer Boy

    • Charlemagne Productions Ltd.
    • na.

  • James Lord Pierpont

    Jingle Hell

    Performer: Christopher Lee.
    • Charlemagne Productions Ltd.
    • na.

  • Helmut Lachenmann

    Das Madchen mit den Schwefelholzern - Musik mit Bildern

    Conductor: Lothar Zagrosek. Performer: Stuttgart State Opera Orchestra.
    • kairos.
    • KAI0012282.

  • John Rutter

    Star carol for chorus & organ [brass & perc ad lib]

    Conductor: John Rutter. Performer: The Cambridge Singers.
    • Collegium.
    • CSCD510.

Broadcasts

  • Sun 22 Dec 2019 17:00
    大象传媒 Radio 3
  • Fri 27 Dec 2019 16:30
    大象传媒 Radio 3
  • Christmas Eve 2021 16:30
    大象传媒 Radio 3

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