Looking for some classical Christmas music to enrich your holiday playlist? We have you covered with a list of our top ten picks! Give these beautiful works a listen and share the joy with your family and friends!
1. Handel’s Messiah
Composed in the year 1741, this glorious oratorio on the life of Jesus is a cornerstone of classical music. The grandeur of the music and a deeply spiritual text make it a favorite for the holiday season. Go here to watch a full performance by the American Bach Soloists, or if you want to enjoy just a sampling, the pieces especially associated with Christmas include “For Unto Us a Child is Born,” “Glory to God,” and the magnificent “Hallelujah Chorus.”
2. The Nutcracker by Tchaikovsky
Taking in a performance of The Nutcracker is a Christmas tradition for many families. The ballet, first performed in 1892, is set on Christmas Eve and tells a magical story of a young girl’s adventure with a Nutcracker Prince. The suite from the ballet, with iconic pieces like the Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy and Waltz of the Flowers, captures the wonder of the holiday season. Watch the entire performance here, featuring the NYC Ballet.
3. Bach’s Christmas Oratorio
Johann Sebastian Bach’s Christmas Oratorio, written in 1734, is a masterful six-part work written to be performed during the Christmas season. Each part corresponds to a specific day of the church calendar, beginning with Christmas Day. The oratorio combines uplifting choruses, intricate arias, and orchestral brilliance, reflecting the joy and reverence of the season. The entire performance, nearly three hours long, is a stunning work of art.
4. Corelli’s Christmas Concerto
Arcangelo Corelli’s Concerto Grosso in G Minor, commonly known as the Christmas Concerto, was composed around 1690 and is a classic example of Baroque holiday music. The work’s gentle pastoral movements evoke the tranquility of a winter night and the wonder of the Nativity.
5. In the Bleak Midwinter by Gustav Holst
This delicate carol, based on a poem by Christina Rossetti that was set to music by Gustav Holst in 1906, is a poignant reflection on the humility of Christ’s birth. The serene melody offers a moment of quiet introspection during the busy holiday season. If you’re looking for a choral version, here’s a lovely one, though I’m partial to this spectacular instrumental version by the Kanneh-Masons.
6. Sleigh Ride by Leroy Anderson
American composer Leroy Anderson’s orchestral treat, Sleigh Ride, has become synonymous with Christmas festivities. Composed in 1948, its jingling bells, fun sound effects, and lively rhythm evoke the joy of a snowy winter day and the playful spirit of the holidays. It was one of my favorites as a child, and still is! This orchestral version is the original, but it’s also fabulously fun as a piano ensemble!
7. Fantasia on Christmas Carols by Vaughan Williams
In 1912, Ralph Vaughan Williams composed this lush medley of traditional English carols. Characterized by his pastoral style, it features flowing melodies and rich harmonies, capturing the nostalgia of the English countryside at Christmastime.
8. Fantasia on Greensleeves
Vaughan Williams popularized the 16th century English tune “Greensleeves” in his 1934 Fantasia on Greensleeves. It’s often associated with the holiday season, perhaps because the melody is shared with the Christmas carol, “What Child is This?”
9. Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring by J.S. Bach
This beloved work by Bach is from an Advent cantata he wrote in 1723. The original German text extols the joy of knowing Jesus, and is paired with a graceful melody that is one of the most performed in the world. Originally scored for ensemble and chorale, it’s just as beautiful in solo form – click here for guitar, harp and piano versions.
10. Bach’s Magnificat
Based on the Latin text of the Virgin Mary’s song of praise from the gospel of Luke, Bach composed his Magnificat in 1723. The extensive work has twelve movements and was written for choir, five soloists, and Baroque orchestra. This incredible performance by the Netherlands Bach Society on period instruments is well worth your time!
And that’s our top ten! Merry Christmas from Classical Clips!