Wordfull Wednesday......

Wordfull Wednesday is hosted by Cocoa over at Chocolate On My Cranium

This weeks Wordfull Wednesday Topic is: Favorite Christmas Song, Carol or Hymn.

I pretty much like all Christmas music. I grew up listening to various artists that mom would have playing at the holidays. I loved the Andrew's Sisters and their version of "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" or Bing Crosby singing "White Christmas" and I also loved the Chipmunks Christmas albums. One of the first songs that I learned to play on the piano was "Away in a Manger" and it is probably the only song that I can still play today. But when it comes right down to picking a favorite, I would have to say that my favorite song is "Carol of the Bells." I like the traditional well enough, but my favorite version is one done by The Trans-Siberian Orchestra. (you can go down to the bottom of my playlist to hear this song.) I love this version of the song....no lyrics, just instrumental and oh how it can lift my mood! Their version is not what most would call traditional Christmas music....maybe that is why I like it so much. Here is a bit of history from Wikipedia about the song "Carol of the Bells."

"Carol of the Bells" (also known as the "Ukrainian Bell Carol") is a choral miniature work originally composed by the Ukrainian composer and Ukrainian autocephalic orthodox priest Mykola Dmytrovych Leontovych. Throughout the piece, a 4 note motif is used as an ostinato and was taken from an ancient pagan Ukrainian New Year's chant known in Ukrainian as "Shchedryk". The original work was intended to be sung a cappella.
The composition was premiered in December 1916 by students at Kiev University and was introduced to Western audiences by the Ukrainian National Chorus during its concert tour of Europe and the Americas. It premiered in the United States on October 5, 1921, at Carnegie Hall and was later adapted into English language version by Peter Wilhousky in the 1930s.

Happy Holidays to all and Enjoy your Christmas Music......