Merry Christmas Music You Love!!

So –

did you get out to the local mall to hear any of the choirs/groups singing Christmas songs this year??

I have to admit it’s one of my favorite Christmas traditions – hearing all of those voices who’ve practiced together so hard just to bring happiness and a little Christmas cheer to total strangers – how awesome is that??

On that note [terrible pun, I know] I’ve found some [IMHO] really festive music performed by amateur groups and choirs [Youtube] and included them here for your holiday pleasure. Since none of these performances listed here are professionally produced, the video and audio can sometimes get a little shaky but the songs themselves are well performed. Kudos to all the folks who worked so hard to share a Merry Christmas with their friends, relatives, and the world!

All of these songs I’ve had the privilege of either singing or playing or both through the years so they’re all kinda special to me and really have a sentimental way of putting me in the Christmas Spirit. I hope they do the same for you and yours.

Oh, and by the way – MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU!

Keith

IT’S THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR

BRING A TORCH JEANETTE ISABELLA

WINTER WONDERLAND

‘TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS

STILL, STILL, STILL

THE TWELVE DAYS AFTER CHRISTMAS

WHITE CHRISTMAS

ANGELS WE HAVE HEARD ON HIGH

The 2011 Christmas Piano Collection Is Complete!

Yes – it’s true -

I’ve completed the 2011 Christmas Holiday music collection available exclusively on Youtube at channel: RKRPiano

I hope you enjoy listening to the selections as much as I enjoyed recording them – that is, just for fun! Don’t worry, I left a whole bunch of Christmas favorites for next Christmas. These should be available to view on YouTube until December 31, 2011 – then [in the famous words of Disney] back to the vault they go for another year.

Sentimental Christmas Journey

“I’ll be home for Christmas, if only in my dreams…”

So Christmas Day is just around the corner. Friends and family now are planning and preparing for annual gatherings around the Christmas tree and punchbowl of freshly-made eggnog. In my old-fashioned sentimental mind it stirs up images of my childhood . . . waking up early on Christmas morning to dash to the tree to discover what Santa has left for me . . . Christmas morning at Granny’s house listening to her fuss with my Aunts over the Christmas feast . . . Currier and Ives dinnerware, pumpkin pie . . . playing with all of the new toys . . .

WOW!

As I quickly approach the half-century mark, those days are but foggy, howbeit, tearful, heart-filling memories. I sit and listen to the fireplace crackle and let my mind drift over the faces of those I love so dearly who won’t be here this Christmas – they’ve gone over to another home . . . forever. I’m sad and selfish and miss them so!

With these memories fresh on my mind, I present for you I’LL BE HOME FOR CHRISTMAS. I hope it warms you . . .

I dream, you dream, we all dream . . .

…of a white Christmas – that is!

So why do we go out of our way to want snow? I mean – really?

Yes, I know it’s pretty and sentimental and all but I’m the one out in the frigid wind shoveling the fluff off the drive and path (and for some dumb reason my house has the biggest, widest driveway on the block).

On the other hand, I don’t understand how anyone would intentionally miss out on a white Christmas snow if it was available. Visions of hot chocolate with marshmallows, a roaring fire, Jack Frost doing the nipping thing, and dancing sugar-plums all, in their own way, demand some type of heavenly blessing, and what better way to see that blessing than through the peaceful falling of snow.

Wherever you are and whatever your local meteorologist predicts for Christmas Eve, I hope this beautiful song warms your heart – even if you’re not really a Grinch!

Let’s get serious [seriously, please]

One of the great joys of Christmastime [for me, that is] is enjoying traditional Christmas carols. I know the younger crowd likes Bruce Springsteen and Mariah Carey [well, me too] but there’s just something special about those old-time Christmas Carols that says, “It’s Christmas!”

So, in honor of all things old (I heard that snide remark) here’s my version of O Come All Ye Faithful – enjoy!!