Bacon Scrapins – “Christmas Music – Sacred, Secular, Novelty”
by Barry S. Wolfe
Bacon Scrapins are the little bits of meat left in the greasy fry pan. They’re tasty, but the ‘nutrition’ needs searching for. This tale is a bacon scrapin.
John Donne once said, “No man is an island of itself…”. People are social beings and join together to form small and large groups. People tend to create an identity bigger than themselves, by finding things in common with others. These things, and characteristics, may come to describe a “culture”, a system of people, places, and common practices. Some cultures are formed around geographic and ethnic similarities, and other self-describe based on shared preferences, behaviours, or religion.
All cultures with various religious beliefs have significant ceremonies at various times of the year. The Christian religion recognizes Christmas and Easter, the time recognizing the birth of their spiritual leader Jesus Christ, and the date recognizing his death and resurrection.
A group’s “culture” is passed on from one generation to another. This is done by stories written and oral. These stories are made more relevant to individuals if they are acted in theatrical productions, and television shows, and set to music. The Christian story of Christmas is in print, in various versions of the Bible and other books.
As soon as the festival of ‘Thanksgiving’ is over, much of the world switches to focus on “Christmas”. The story of Christmas is broadcast over TV and radio, and the music is a critical part of that production. After a few weeks of hearing the music, I have chosen to group the radio music into the categories of sacred, secular, and novelty styles.
I define “sacred Christmas music” as music that tells the core religious story of Christ’s birth. Sacred music usually is experienced within or as part of a religious ceremony.
I define “secular Christmas music” as music which has taken an event or character from the core religious story and reinterpreted it for entertainment purposes. Secular music was originally passed on by troubadours or casual performers outside a religious ceremony.
I define “novelty Christmas music” as music which is humourous, whimsical, satirical and has no religious intent or connection. It is strictly for casual entertainment.
Sacred, secular and novelty music at Christmas each informs and entertains people. If you hear a fellow citizen humming the tune to any one of the styles, you are likely to recognize it, and know that it’s “Christmas time”. That brings us all, humming peacefully, together. And that’s good!
Here are my lists. You can easily add your own.
Sacred Christmas Music
“Ave Maria” – Celine Dion
“Angels We Have Heard on High” – Josh Wilson
“Away in a Manger” – Nottingham Arnold Salvation Army
“God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” –Bach Choir
“Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” – Maria Carey
“It Came Upon a Midnight Clear” – Frank Sinatra
“Joy to the World” – Whitney Houston
“Mary’s Boy Child” – Harry Belafonte
“O Come All Ye Faithful” – at Westminster Abbey
“O Come, O Come Emmanuel” – Red Mountain Music
“O Holy Night” – Celine Dion
“O Little Town of Bethlehem” – Elvis Presley
“Silent Night” – Vancouver Youth Choir
“The First Noel” – Lady Antebellum
“We Three Kings” – Kings College, Cambridge
“What Child Is This” – Carrie Underwood
Secular Christmas Music
“Do You Hear What I Hear?” Carrie Underwood
“Happy Xmas (War is Over)” – John & Yoko & Harlem Community Choir
“Hallelujah” – Pentatonix
“Last Christmas” – Wham
“Let It Be Christmas” – Alan Jackson
“The Christmas Song” – Nat King Cole
“The Little Drummer Boy” – The Harry Simeone Chorale
“Please Come Home For Christmas” – Jon Bon Jovi
“Silver Bells” – Michael Bublé
Novelty Christmas Music
“Baby It’s Cold Outside” – Dean Martin & Martina McBride
“Frosty The Snowman” – Gene Autry
“I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus” – Jackson Five
“I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas” – Gayla Peevey (1953)
“I’m Getting Nuttin For Christmas” – Shirley Temple
“Jingle Bells”
“Mele Kalikimaka” – Jimmy Buffet
“Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” – Gene Autry
“Santa Claus is Back in Town”– Dwight Yoakam
“Snoopy’s Christmas” – Royal Guardsmen
“Up On The Housetop” – Jackson Five
“When a Child Is Born” – Susan Doyle & Johnny Mathis
“You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch” – Thurl Ravenscroft
Exuberant
“All I Want For Christmas Is You” – Mariah Carey
“Carol of the Bells” – Trans-Siberian Orchestra
“Carol of the Bells” – Shepherd Boomwacker Style
[Ever wonder what the shepherds do to pass time? 🙂 This hilariously fun, creative approach was done by the KCC Worship Arts in the Christmas Eve services at Kentwood Community Church, a multi-ethnic community of faith in Grand Rapids, Michigan. https://kentwoodcommunitychurch.com]
“Christmas All Over Again” – Tom Petty
“Christmas Cannon” – Trans Siberian Orchestra
[‘Christmas Canon’ is set to the tune of Pachelbel’s “Canon in D”]
“Messiah” Hallelujah Chorus – Handel
It doesn’t matter which radio station you listen to, or which music style you prefer – sacred, secular, or novelty – at this time of year. It doesn’t matter which language you speak, or the religious practices you adhere to – or not. I hope you enjoy humming or singing along to tunes that we all recognize and which may help bring us ‘together’.
“Merry Christmas, and a happy, healthy New Year to you, your family, and all those you are close to.”
“Happy Hanukkah” to my dear friend Elma.
The Bacon Scrapins characters, locations and scenarios are the fictional product of the author’s imagination – usually.
You may email appropriate comments for the writer to thisiswilmot@gmail.com