Top 10 Traditional Christmas Songs

Top 10 Traditional Christmas Songs

Throughout time, many different artists of various genres had made their own impact on the Christmas music scene. However, there's nothing like the classics! Let's count down the top ten traditional Christmas songs!

10. "O Come, O Come Emmanuel"

Originally a Latin hymn, "Veni, veni, Emmanuel," this classic tune was translated to English by priest John Mason Neale around 1850.

9. "What Child Is This?"

Though the lyrics to this song come from a poem by William Chatterton Dix from the late nineteenth century, the music dates back almost 200 years earlier, when "Greensleeves" was first registered to Richard Jones.

8. "God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen"

Dating back to 16th century England, this carol was known for being sung in the streets by municipal employees tasked with entertaining the public. Unfortunately, its original authors and composers remain unknown.

7. "The Twelve Days of Christmas"

This complex carol's lyrics describe a number of increasingly elaborate (and often aviary) gifts given to the singer by their "true love." It was first published in England in 1780.

6. "Deck the Halls"

With lyrics of holiday preparations full of "fa-la-la-la-las," the tune of this song is Welsh, dating back to a sixteenth century winter carol. The current lyrics are American in origin.

5. "Angels We Have Heard On High"

Though various origins have been cited for this Christmas carol, it has been placed as early as 129 A.D., popularized by Telesphorus, the Bishop of Rome. Others tell stories of medieval French shepherds calling "Gloria in excelsis Deo."

4. "Away In A Manger"

Stories of this classic hymn's origins differ from source to source, but its first publication can be traced back to the 1880s.

3. "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing"

This eighteenth century collaboration between Charles Wesley and Felix Mendelssohn was not looked upon fondly by either musician. Various revisions over time have turned it into the hymn we know today.

2. "Joy To The World"

The words to "Joy to the World" were written by Isaac Watts in 1719, based on Psalm 98. Over a century later, Lowell Mason set them to music, creating a classic.

1. "Silent Night"

Legend tells us that Austrian priest Joseph Mohr wrote the lyrics of "Silent Night" in the early 1800s. Franz Gruber, the church choir director, wrote the music. In his "Pop Memories 1890," Joel Whitburn cites "Silent Night" as the most recorded song in history!

Fro more information on Christmas songs and Carols visit http://www.christmas-songs.net, the worlds biggest Christmas music website.

by Simon J Alexander; Saturday, November 26, 2011 @ 10:06 AM [88]

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