It was November 5th when I first heard Christmas music on the radio this year. I thought that was pretty ridiculous. And then I noticed last week that Wynton Marsalis released a Christmas album this year with Wycliffe Gordon, Victor Goines and many others. It made me think about how much jazz has been used in Christmas music. From Vince Guaraldi’s A Charlie Brown Christmas to numerous jazz vocalists producing albums full of Christmas music, jazz has become a mainstay in the American Christmas soundtrack.
Christmas music is a giant industry and we hear it on the radio constantly for 2 months out of the year. Most of what we hear is not religious and just has to do with the modern tradition of being with family and gift-giving. Christmas has become much more of a family tradition than a religious celebration. I know lots of people, myself included, who never go to church, yet keep a pine tree in their living room every December. So Christmas music is no longer sacred, but it’s become a folk tradition.
Jazz began as a folk tradition, learning traditional tunes and telling stories. So it’s only natural that jazz has become such a huge medium for creating an American tradition of telling new Christmas stories. We sing about Santa Claus, chestnuts roasting, and snowy weather and these American stories are best told through America’s own music.
It is important to remember tradition and Christmas and Jazz both have such a rich tradition in America. I think it’s great that we have created our own national version of this widely celebrated holiday, even though a lot of it can be a bit annoying. I’d prefer if we could at least wait until Thanksgiving to start the constant influx of Christmas music.
Yeah tell me about it! I remember even seeing some Christmas decorations, music, stockings, etc in early November or something. It was ridiculous. I thought the same thing...."Thanksgiving hasn't even happened yet!!!"
ReplyDeleteI just played a Christmas gig last Thursday in Weston, MA. It was so strange to walk into this giant mansion to see Christmas, Hanukkah, even some Kwanza decorations. The women hosting the event said "It would be great if you guys could play a few secular Christmas tunes!" I totally agree with the post above about how Christmas has turned into a sort of "Super Thanksgiving". The religious aspect of it seems to be fading more and more and it's turning into a time of giving and receiving and being with family.
I think that some of the most beautiful tunes are Christmas tunes. Many of the secular ones were written during the 1920's-1940's and are some of the most widely recognized Christmas tunes. It's only natural that Jazz music and Christmas music go so well together.
One of my favorite recordings is Bing Crosby's White Christmas and Bill Evan's solo piano version of Santa Claus is Coming to Town. If you listen to these two recordings, I think you will understand what I'm talking about!
Merry Christmas Everyone!!!! Have a great break! See you next year!
Why is Christmas music not sacred anymore? It is to those who still celebrate it with Christ in mind. Also, why are folk song not sacred? Jazz is often times very spiritual and much more than just spicing up popular standards. The making of music is a spiritual process, if not, then it's not really communicating anything and therefore no longer music but just sound. since music is a way to communicate things that can't be expressed in other ways, it is spiritual. Since music is spiritual, it is sacred, because acknowledging our spirit is acknowledging that there is something more to our existence than just our mortal beings. I also think that spending time with family and sharing and giving is based on Christian values. So even though we might not think that we are being religious, we are still practicing Christs teachings by spending time with loved ones' and giving gifts. You are correct that it has become a money making scheme but there are still those who appreciate the "true meaning" of Christmas and Jazz. Jazz musicians in general haven't sold out to make big bucks, they are still keeping the "spirit" of the music alive by trying to make real music.
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