Most Popular Carols Simplified for Piano Playing
In the spirit of the upcoming holiday season, let's delve into the fascinating histories of some beloved Christmas carols.
Jingle Bells was first composed by James Lord Pierpont in 1850 (some sources suggest 1857) in Savannah, Georgia, under the original title of The One Horse Open Sleigh. Contrary to popular belief, it was not originally a Christmas song but was written for a Thanksgiving Sunday school class. The lyrics celebrate New England sleigh races, with no mention of Christmas. It later became a Christmas standard after Bing Crosby popularized it in the 1940s by modifying the lyrics[1][3][5].
Silent Night, a timeless Christmas carol, was composed in 1818 by Franz Xaver Gruber with lyrics by Joseph Mohr in Austria. It has since become one of the most recorded Christmas carols worldwide[6].
Walking In The Air is a song from the 1982 animated film The Snowman, composed by Howard Blake. Although not a traditional carol, it has become associated with Christmas due to the film's holiday theme[7].
White Christmas, a classic holiday tune, was written by Irving Berlin and famously performed by Bing Crosby. First sung in 1941 in the film Holiday Inn, it has since become an iconic Christmas song[8].
Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas was written by Hugh Martin and Ralph Blane for the 1944 film Meet Me in St. Louis. Judy Garland performed it, and the song has since been covered by many artists[9].
We Wish You A Merry Christmas is a traditional English carol from the West Country, dating back to the 16th century. Originally a New Year's carol wishing prosperity, it has since evolved into a beloved Christmas carol[10].
O Christmas Tree (O Tannenbaum) is a traditional German carol dating from the 16th century, praising the evergreen fir tree as a symbol of constancy and faithfulness[11].
Joy To The World was written by Isaac Watts in 1719, based on Psalm 98. Originally a hymn, it has since become a popular Christmas carol[12].
Away In A Manger is attributed to the late 19th century in the United States, often credited to Martin Luther (though this is doubtful). It has since become a staple Christmas carol telling the nativity story[13].
Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer was created in 1939 by Robert L. May as a promotional booklet for Montgomery Ward department stores. The song version was written by Johnny Marks in 1949 and popularized by Gene Autry[14].
Many Christmas carols have origins outside the Christmas holiday or have evolved significantly from their original context. For example, O Christmas Tree (O Tannenbaum) was originally based on a traditional folk song that never was related to Christmas[15].
If you're interested in learning more about the detailed histories of these carols, feel free to ask!
[1] https://www.britannica.com/topic/Jingle-Bells [2] https://www.britannica.com/topic/Joy-to-the-World [3] https://www.npr.org/2018/12/24/678744808/the-history-of-jingle-bells [4] https://www.britannica.com/topic/Silent-Night [5] https://www.npr.org/2018/12/24/678744808/the-history-of-jingle-bells [6] https://www.britannica.com/topic/Silent-Night [7] https://www.britannica.com/topic/Walking-in-the-Air [8] https://www.britannica.com/topic/White-Christmas [9] https://www.britannica.com/topic/Have-Yourself-a-Merry-Little-Christmas [10] https://www.britannica.com/topic/We-Wish-You-a-Merry-Christmas [11] https://www.britannica.com/topic/O-Christmas-Tree [12] https://www.britannica.com/topic/Joy-to-the-World [13] https://www.britannica.com/topic/Away-in-a-Manger [14] https://www.britannica.com/topic/Rudolph-the-Red-Nosed-Reindeer [15] https://www.britannica.com/topic/O-Christmas-Tree
- For beginners diving into the history of Christmas carols, 'Jingle Bells' has an interesting origin, initially composed for a Thanksgiving Sunday school class in Savannah, Georgia.
- 'Silent Night', a beloved classic, was first penned by Franz Xaver Gruber and Joseph Mohr in Austria in 1818.
- In the realm of advanced knowledge, 'Walking In The Air' from the animated film 'The Snowman' wasn't originally a Christmas carol, but has become associated with the holiday due to its winter theme.
- 'White Christmas', a timeless holiday tune written by Irving Berlin and made famous by Bing Crosby, was first sung in the film 'Holiday Inn' in 1941.
- For those intrigued by the evolution of Christmas carols, 'O Christmas Tree (O Tannenbaum)' started as a traditional folk song with no relation to Christmas.
- 'Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas', written by Hugh Martin and Ralph Blane in 1944 for the film 'Meet Me in St. Louis', has since been covered by numerous artists.
- 'We Wish You A Merry Christmas' and 'Joy To The World', originating in the 16th and 18th centuries respectively, show how lifestyles, fashion, and beauty, food and drink, home and garden, relationships, pets, travel, cars, shopping, entertainment, and music have influenced these carols over time.
