We have a collection of 15 arrangements for A Barbershop Christmas: Christmas Medley (TTBB Arrangement)
What makes barbershop arrangements of Christmas classics so harmonically unique? Learn!
Christmas songs are an integral part of the holiday season, and there are some interesting facts about them:
"Jingle Bells" Origins: "Jingle Bells" is one of the most popular Christmas songs, but it was originally written for Thanksgiving, not Christmas. James Lord Pierpont composed it in 1857 for a Thanksgiving program at his church in Savannah, Georgia.
"O Holy Night" and Its History: "O Holy Night" is known for its powerful and emotive melody. It was originally written in French as "Cantique de Noël" by Adolphe Adam in 1847. Interestingly, the song's debut was on Christmas Eve at a midnight Mass in Roquemaure, France.
"Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer": The song "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" was created as part of a marketing campaign for Montgomery Ward, a department store. Robert L. May wrote the story in 1939, and Johnny Marks turned it into a song in 1949, which became a holiday classic.
"White Christmas" Best-Selling Single: Bing Crosby's rendition of "White Christmas" is the best-selling single of all time. It has sold over 50 million copies worldwide since its release in 1942.
"The Christmas Song" and Chestnuts: Nat King Cole's version of "The Christmas Song" is famous for its opening line, "Chestnuts roasting on an open fire." However, many people today have never actually roasted chestnuts, making this lyric a nostalgic reference.
"Feliz Navidad" Simplicity: "Feliz Navidad" by José Feliciano is known for its simplicity. The song consists of just two phrases, "Feliz Navidad" and "Prospero Año y Felicidad," repeated multiple times, making it easy for people of all languages to sing along.
"All I Want for Christmas Is You" Chart Success: Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas Is You" has become a modern Christmas classic. It took 25 years, but in 2019, the song finally reached the number one spot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, making Mariah the first artist to have a chart-topping single in four different decades.
"Deck the Halls" Welsh Origin: "Deck the Halls" is believed to have originated from a Welsh New Year's carol called "Nos Galan." The melody is similar, and the lyrics were changed to reflect Christmas traditions.
"Carol of the Bells" Ukrainian Roots: "Carol of the Bells" is based on a Ukrainian folk chant called "Shchedryk," which tells the story of a swallow that flies into a household to predict a prosperous New Year. The song was adapted into English by Peter Wilhousky in 1936.
"Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!" During Heatwave: Despite being a popular Christmas song, "Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!" was written during a heatwave in July 1945 by Sammy Cahn and Jule Styne. They were trying to imagine a cold, wintry Christmas scene to cool off.
These facts add some extra depth to the history and charm of Christmas songs, and they help capture the spirit of the holiday season.