Welcome to day 2 of the Christmas Carol/Song list! Catch up with Part I here. Traditional Pick of the Day: O Little Town of Bethlehem - performed by the Marsh Chapel Choir directed by Dr. Scott Allen Jarrett
There's no question that this is a wonderful Christmas carol. But to be honest, I'm including it on the list both because of the beauty of the carol itself, and because I wanted to post a performance by the Marsh Chapel Choir and conductor Scott Jarrett.
Until a couple of weeks ago I didn't know anything about the Marsh Chapel Choir, but I was fortunate enough to attend their annual Lessons and Carols service and it completely blew me away. It's an amazing ensemble, with one of the most sensitive and talented conductors I have seen in a long time.
See for yourself: (P.S. Keep watching if you like "In The Bleak Midwinter" and/or "Hark the Herald Angels Sing.")
Guilty Pleasure Pick of the Day - Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer - Harry Connick, Jr.
Fun, classic song with a wonderful arrangement by Harry Connick, Jr. It makes the list because the opening of Connick's arrangement is maybe the best opening of any Christmas song arrangement I have heard. It's so good, it's "bad" in jazz lingo. So bad... so bad.
Here's a recording where someone out there created a synchronized show between the music and the Christmas lights on their house. Would I do this with my free time? Probably not. But the song still rocks.