This is the companion to "Jimmie's Top 500 Ambients". My intention is to provide names (and links) to unusual Christmas music - not the standard Christmas fare. A lot of this is from older albums, such as the gorgeous Narada and Windham Hill compilations.
I have used pretty much the same selection "guidelines" that I used in Jimmie's Top 500 Ambients:
Thus, this is music with "pathos", emotion, depth of feeling.
It might even engage the creative spirit. It'll put you in the Zone, Christmas-wise.
The selections almost all instrumental. Some are quiet, but others are lively.
"Happy", banal stuff is out. You won't find "Frosty the Snowman", "Jingle Bells", "Here comes Santa Claus", "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" and the like here!
They won't "degenerate" into rock or "light" rock.
To listen to or purchase one of the MP3s, or perhaps the whole album, just click one of the grey individual track links or one of the red whole album links. The individual MP3s are usually $0.99 each. Whole albums range from $5.99 to $9.99. Buying from these links will help yours truly maintain The Wrackline Blog as an AD-FREE web site!
(This is not quite finished yet. Among other things, I have not added the gorgeous "Winter Solstice" albums
from the 80's.
I promise to finish this page when I return from Thanksgiving celebrations with the kids!)
Grey box (in first column) indicates recently-added tracks
"You are the music while the music lasts" -- T.S. Eliot, The Four Quartets
 | Individual MP3s |
COMMENTS | Whole ALBUMS |
Album: "A Christmas Festival" by: Arthur Fieldler and the Boston Pops |
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Arthur Fiedler and the Boston Pops: "A Christmas Festival" on "A Christmas Festival" |
A Christmas Festival |
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A Christmas Festival |
Arthur Fiedler and the Boston Pops: "Fantasia on Greensleeves" on "A Christmas Festival" |
Fantasia on Greensleeves |
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Arthur Fiedler and the Boston Pops: "Hansel and Gretel:Dream Pantomime" on "A Christmas Festival" |
Hansel and Gretel |
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Arthur Fiedler and the Boston Pops: "Parade of the Wooden Soldiers" on "A Christmas Festival" |
Parade of the Wooden Soldiers |
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Album: "A Winter Celebration" by: (Compilation) |
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Fowler and Branks: "Good Tidings" on "A Winter Celebration" |
Good Tidings |
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A Winter Celebration |
Margot Krimmel: "Greensleeves" on "A Winter Celebration" |
Greensleeves |
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Flesh and Bone: "Longest Night" on "A Winter Celebration" |
Longest Night |
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Peter Kater: "Peace" on "A Winter Celebration" |
Peace |
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Chris White: Lay Down Your Burden" on "A Winter Celebration" |
Lay Down Your Burden |
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VARIATIONS ON "A SOALIN" |
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Ec Bradley: "A Soalin' - Soulcaking" on "Notes to Bethlehem" |
A Soalin' - Soulcaking |
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Peter, Paul, and Mary: "A Soalin'" on "A Holiday Celebration with the New York Choral Society" |
A Soalin' |
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Schooner Fare: "A Soalin'/Esa Enai" on "Home For the Holidays" |
A Soalin'/Esa Enai |
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The Lyttle Folk: "A Soalin'" on "Classroom Projects" |
A Soalin' |
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Golden Bough: "A Soalin'" on "Celtic Christmas Songs" |
A Soalin' |
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END of A Soalin' Variations |
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VARIATIONS ON "CAROL OF THE BELLS" |
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Angels of Venice: "Carol of the Bells" on "Sanctus" |
Carol of the Bells |
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Arctic Express: "Carol of the Bells" on "Carol of the Bells: A Christmas Experience" |
Carol of the Bells |
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Teja Bell: "Ukrainian Bell Carol" on "Cheery" |
Ukrainian Bell Carol | ***** |
| Leonard Bernstein: "Carol of the Bells" on "The Joy of Christmas" |
Carol of the Bells | *** |
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Paul Cardall: "Carol of the Bells" on "Christmas Hymns" |
Carol of the Bells |
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Christmas Music Experts: "Ukrainian Carol (Carol of the Bells)" on "40 Instrumental Christmas Classics" |
Carol of the Bells |
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Dana Cunningham: "Carol of the Bells" on "Silent night" |
Carol of the Bells |
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Russel Davis et al: "Carol of the Bells" on "The Complete Christmas Collection" |
Carol of the Bells | *** |
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First Baptist Bells: "Carol of the Bells" on "Carol of the Bells" |
Carol of the Bells |
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David Foster: "Carol of the Bells" on "Gift Wrapped (Snowed In)" |
Carol of the Bells |
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Doug Hammer: "Carol of the Bells" on "Noel" |
Carol of the Bells |
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London Philharmonic: "Carol of the Bells" on "Home for the Holidays" |
Carol of the Bells |
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Michael Jones: "Carol of the Bells" on "Solstice" |
Carol of the Bells |
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Kostia: "Carol of the Bells" on "Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation: More Hope For The Holidays" |
Carol of the Bells |
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Manneheim Steamroller: "Carol of the Bells" on "A Fresh Aire Christmas" |
Carol of the Bells |
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Bob Meuer: "Carol of the Bells (Ukrainian Reprise)" on "Cheery" |
Carol of the Bells | *** |
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Mormon Fishing Tackle Choir: "Carol of the Bells" on "Joy to the World" |
Carol of the Bells | *** |
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Morse and Barruecco: "Carol of the Bells" on "Windham Hill Holiday Guitar" |
Carol of the Bells |
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USAF Concert Band: "Carol of the Bells" on "Make the Season Bright" |
Carol of the Bells |
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Philip Wesley: "Carol of the Bells" on "Comfort and Joy" |
Carol of the Bells |
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Westminster Concert Bell Choir: "Carol of the Bells" on "Christmas at Westminster" |
Carol of the Bells | *** |
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John Williams: "Carol of the Bells" on "Home Alone - 25th Anniversary" |
Carol of the Bells | *** |
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George Winston: "Carol of the Bells" on "December" |
Carol of the Bells | ***** |
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Danny Wright: "Carol of the Bells" on "An Intimate Christmas" |
Carol of the Bells |
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END of Carol of the Bells Variations |
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"Album: Carols of Christmas" by: (Compilation) |
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This Album is only available as CD. Two tracks stand out, but the rest might warrant
purchacing the whole CD. David Darling: "O Holy Night" This is dreamlike and gorgeous. John Boswell: "The First Noel" And so is this. (But see next line.) |
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CD Only |
Carols of Christmas (CD) |
John Boswell: "The First Noel" on "Festival of the Heart" |
The First Noel |
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"Album: Carols of Christmas II" by: (Compilation) |
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Leo Kottke: "Accordian Bells" on "Carols of Christmas II" |
Accordian Bells |
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Willian Ackerman: "In This Still Forest" on "Carols of Christmas II" |
In This Still Forest |
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W.G. "Snuffy" Walden: "Oh Come All Ye Faithful" on "Carols of Christmas II" |
Oh Come All Ye Faithful |
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"Album: Christmas Hymns" by: Paul Cardall |
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Paul Cardall: "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring" on "Christmas Hymns" |
Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring |
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Christmas Hymns |
Paul Cardall: "We Three Kings" on "Christmas Hymns" |
We Three Kings |
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Paul Cardall: "Good King Wenceslas" on "Christmas Hymns" |
Good King Wenceslas |
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Paul Cardall: "Il Est Ne, Le Divin Enfant" on "Christmas Hymns" |
Il Est Ne, Le Divin Enfant |
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"Album: Christmas Magic: Solo Piano" by: Jennifer Haines |
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Jennifer Haines: "Noel Nouvelet Veni, Veni Emanuel" on "Christmas Magic: Solo Piano" |
Noel Nouvelet Veni, Veni Emanuel | Piano solely |
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Jennifer Haines: "Un Flambeau, Jeannette, Isabelle" on "Christmas Magic: Solo Piano" |
Un Flambeau, Jeannette, Isabelle |
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Jennifer Haines: "The Coventry Carol" on "Christmas Magic: Solo Piano" |
The Coventry Carol |
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"Album: Christmas Prayers" by: John Serrie |
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John Serrie: "The First Noel" on "Christmas Prayers" |
The First Noel |
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Christmas Prayers |
John Serrie: "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear" on "Christmas Prayers" |
It Came Upon a Midnight Clear |
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John Serrie: "Midnight Medley" on "Christmas Prayers" |
Midnight Medley |
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John Serrie: "Pat-a-Pan" on "Upon a Midnight Clear" |
Pat-a-Pan (CD) | CD only |
Upon a Midnight Clear (CD) |
"Album: Christmas symphony II" by: Mannaheim Steamroller |
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Mannaheim Steamroller: "Veni Veni" on "Christmas symphony II" |
Veni Veni |
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Mannaheim Steamroller: "Do You Hear What I Hear" on "Christmas symphony II" |
Do You Hear What I Hear |
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Mannaheim Steamroller: "Traditions of Christmas" on "Christmas symphony II" |
Traditions of Christmas |
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Mannaheim Steamroller: "Pat a Pan Fum, Fum, Fum Medley" on "Christmas symphony II" |
Pat a Pan Fum, Fum, Fum Medley |
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Album: "December" by: George Winston |
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George Winston: "Carol of the Bells" on "December" |
Carol of the Bells | Piano solely |
December |
George Winston: "Night Pt 1: Snow" on "December" |
Night Pt 1: Snow |
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George Winston: "Night Pt 2: Midnight" on "December" |
Night Pt 2: Midnight |
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George Winston: "Night Pt 3: Minstrels" on "December" |
Night Pt 3: Minstrels |
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Album: "Emmanuel" by:David Nevue |
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David Nevue: "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel" on "Emmanuel" |
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel |
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David Nevue: "A Coventry Carol" on "Emmanuel" |
A Coventry Carol |
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"Album: For Christmas" by: Peter Kater |
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Peter Kater: "Have Yourself a Merry Christmas" on "For Christmas" |
Have Yourself a Merry Christmas | Piano solely |
For Christmas |
Peter Kater: "Do You Hear What I Hear" on "For Christmas" |
Do You Hear What I Hear |
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Peter Kater: "What Child is This" on "For Christmas" |
What Child is This |
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"Album: Joy! A Christmas Album" by: Kerri Sherwood |
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Kerri Sherwood: "Coventry Carol" on "Joy! A Christmas Album" |
Coventry Carol | Piano solely |
Joy! A Christmas Album |
Kerri Sherwood: "Love Came Down at Christmas" on "Joy! A Christmas Album" |
Love Came Down at Christmas |
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Kerri Sherwood: "Pat-a-Pan" on "Joy! A Christmas Album" |
Pat-a-Pan |
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Album: "O Come Emmanuel and Other Classic |
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Christmas classics Collection: "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel" on "O Come, O Come Emmanuel and Other Classic Christmas Favorites" |
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel |
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"Album: Narada Christmas Collection" by: (Compilation) |
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John Doan: "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" on "Narada Christmas Collection" |
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen |
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Narada Christmas Collection |
Eric Tingstad and nancy Rumbel: "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear" on "Narada Christmas Collection" |
It Came Upon a Midnight Clear |
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Nancy Rumbel: "Patapan/Noel Noubelet" on "Narada Christmas Collection" |
Patapan/Noel Noubelet |
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Willian Ellwood: "Return of the Magi" on "Narada Christmas Collection" |
Return of the Magi |
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Friedemann: "The Man from Ceasaria" on "Narada Christmas Collection" |
The Man from Ceasaria |
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"Album: Narada Christmas Collection III" by: (Compilation) |
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Wayne Gratz: "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear" on "Narada Christmas Collection III" |
It Came Upon a Midnight Clear |
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Ralf Illenberger: "The First Noel" on "Narada Christmas Collection III" |
The First Noel |
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David Arkenstone: "Silver Bells" on "Narada Christmas Collection III" |
Silver Bells |
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"Album: The Season" by: Peter Kater |
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Peter Kater: "Arms Open Wide" on "The Season" |
Arms Open Wide |
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Peter Kater: "Silent Night" on "The Season" |
Silent Night |
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Album: "Silent Night" by: Dana Cunningham |
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Dana Cunningham: "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel" on "Silent Night" |
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel | Piano solely |
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Dana Cunningham: "Once in Royal David's City" on "Silent Night" |
Once in Royal David's City |
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Dana Cunningham: "In the Bleak Midwinter" on "Silent Night" |
In the Bleak Midwinter |
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"Album: Songs of December" by: Eric Lautenbach |
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Eric Lautenbach: "Hailee's Moment" on "Songs of December" |
Hailee's Moment |
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Copyright © 2019 J.A.