Holiday Music

Paul Winter performing with the Forces of Nature ensemble. Clifford A. Sobel/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

Let it snow. Keene and Chesire County Historical Photos/via Flickr hide caption

All Songs Considered hosts Bob Boilen and Robin Hilton set out on a road trip to find the true spirit of the holiday season. Along the way they stop at the Silent Night Motel, where they meet Wayne Coyne of The Flaming Lips, St. Vincent (Annie Clark), Josh Ritter, and more. Michael Huey/Mastery Of Maps hide caption

Duke Ellington signs his biography in London in 1958, with Billy Strayhorn in the background. Ellington and Strayhorn collaborated to create 1960's The Nutcracker Suite. Reg Davis/Getty Images hide caption

The Chipmunks, left to right: Simon, Theodore, Alvin. Courtesy of the artist hide caption

A sampling of one listener's cherished classical Christmas albums from a few years back. Mito Habe-Evans/NPR hide caption

From left: Kathryn Montoya, Jackie Moran, Hanneke Cassel, Ryan McKasson, Sue Richards and Carolyn Surrick. Courtesy of the artist hide caption

Medellín, Colombia is famous for its Christmas lights. Raul Arboleda/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

Of "Christmas Time is Here," Kem says, "It's one of those songs that I hear and it's like, 'I wish I wrote that.' " Anthony Mandler/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

Geri Allen watches as Taylor Eigsti, Jason Moran and Ellis Marsalis, from left, perform in a round robin at A Jazz Piano Christmas 2012. Brendan Hoffman for NPR hide caption

Tracey Thorn's album Tinsel and Lights was released Oct. 30. Edward Bishop/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

KEM's first holiday album, What Christmas Means, was released Oct. 16. Courtesy of the artist hide caption