Early morning in George Square in Glasgow
It’s December 1st! Whether you’re on the “bah humbug!” side of the fence or the “bring it on from about September” side (you can probably guess which side I’m on!), you surely can’t argue that now December is finally here, Christmas is on its way.
I’m not entirely sure when I started getting really big on Christmas, it’s certainly not something that’s a big deal in my family - in fact it’s the exact opposite.
I think it was my first year working in a head office in retail. Our big conference was held in September each year, and the main function of it was to launch all the gorgeous glittery party accessories and celebrate the wonderful staff we had. The anticipation and excitement around seeing what our incredible design team had come up with was fantastic and I really loved working there.
That year, I separated from my husband and things were looking rather grey. I moved back in with my parents for a couple of weeks while I waited to move into a houseshare. My nephew was born just before Christmas, and my mum and dad went off to help my brother and sister-in-law with the new arrival while I looked after my parents’ dogs. It was my first ever Christmas on my own and I actually really loved it.
The first year on my own in the house I had previously shared with my ex husband, I bought the biggest, glitteriest tree I could find and themed the decorations to match the fabulous and extremely rare motorbike I’d just bought and which lived next to the tree. Red white and blue, stars, sparkles, the lot!
A super rare Ducati 998S Bostrom - one of only a handful left in the UK now. No longer mine sadly!
I think it was a way of trying to celebrate when things were actually pretty bleak. Something I am really good at is making a celebration out of pretty much nothing.
Anyhoo...as I’ve met more and more people who are totally over Christmas and everything it seems to stand for right now, I’ve had to think about why I love Christmas so much.
And apart from the excuse to cover everything that is dark in glitter and fairy lights, for me it’s about the music.
I love the bringing out and then putting away of tunes for another year, and the “is it too early?” feeling when it comes to unpacking them again. I love the sensation of slight cliche when I hear the same old songs, and I love how it rubs up against the comfort and familiarity of tradition.
I love the anticipation of new Christmas songs and the inevitable frustration when the pop machine cranks out yet another terrible cover of a mediocre song with a compulsory key change around two thirds of the way through.
One of my biggest ambitions is to write a really excellent Christmas song. I have a theme in mind, but the pop world will be pleased to know it can rest easy for another year because I have a different Christmas Thing in mind for this year...but more on that another day.
And so on to the first thing behind our advent calendar door.
Three excellent harp Christmas albums - one old, one newer and one brand spanking new.
The first is The Gift by Deborah Henson-Conant.
DHC - I wouldn’t be writing this without her. I nearly gave up the harp (yet again) in 2016 but she helped me find my way through. I found this gorgeous album last year - I’ve no idea how I didn’t find it earlier because it was released in 1995, but it turned up via YouTube and I’m head over heels in love with it. It’s jazzy, it’s funky, it’s sooo clever and cool. There’s old stuff, there’s some fabulously unexpected twists on old stuff and it’s a total must-have.
My favourites - ALL of them! If I had to choose - Joy to the World, Carol of the Bells, Deck the Halls
Listen to short snippets here: https://www.hipharp.com/pdct_pgs/gift_pdctpg.html
To buy an actual CD - https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/dhc4
Or you can buy via iTunes/Amazon etc
The second album is At Christmas by 4 Girls 4 Harps
(Full disclosure - 2 of my all time harp idols/crushes are in this group. I love everything they do.)
This album is more traditional/classical in terms of what people think of when they think of a harp, but if you love harp, and you believe more harps can only be a good thing, you’ll adore this.
The arrangements are stunning (all by the girls themselves who are internationally renowned harpists in their own right) and they really show off the capabilities of the instrument.
The other thing is....the ensemble playing. It’s absolutely spot on which is super hard with the harp. Everyone lifts their arms differently, squeezes the strings at different times and with four of you, you have to look at your own strings AND at three other people while you’re playing.
You have to keep all the harps bang in tune with each other…. which is not easy when all four harps have 47 strings EACH.
You wouldn’t normally notice differences in tuning and timing in a Live situation, but in a recording where everything is in stereo and super high quality ... just wow.
This must have been a total labour of love getting it all just so. As if this wasn’t enough, the singer is superb!
My favourites - ALL of them but especially Silent Night - those harmonics!, Il est Ne (harmonics, arpeggios, soooo harpy!), In The Bleak Midwinter and What Child Is This.
Buy an actual CD here:
Or you can buy via iTunes etc
You can listen to Gaudete here:
Finally! Christmas Star by The Outside Track
This is the most recent - in fact it’s brand new and already there are only a few physical CDs left if you want to buy one. It’s completely different to the other two albums mentioned above but it’s BRILLIANT, I have it on in my car at the moment on my commute and sitting in traffic on the M8 and the Clydeside Expressway has never been such a joy!
The Outside Track are a traditional/Celtic music band with the incredible Ailie Robertson on harp. I saw them live for the first time at Celtic Connections last year and I just was blown away - engaging stage chat, brilliant arrangements, and all instruments given their fair share of presence. I can’t wait to see them again in January!
This album is best played LOUD and I guarantee you won’t be able to sit still while you’re listening!
My favourites - of course ALL of them but especially the first track Christmas in Killarney, Winter Jigs, and Carol of the Bells (I’m addicted). Hanky warning for Auld Lang Syne though….
To buy an actual CD - go here quickly as they’re almost sold out!
Listen to Auld Lang Syne here: https://www.theoutsidetrack.com/media
Also available via iTunes etc
You can listen to a wee snippet of Christmas in Killarney and hear more about the music they make in this video.
Any of these albums would be a great way to get your Christmas spirit warmed up. I’d love to hear which one is your favourite.
See you tomorrow for Day 2!