Accessibility links
Holiday Music NPR presents a mix of live concerts and other music to help get you in the spirit of the season.
The Beatles on a toboggan in Austria in 1965.
Special Series

Holiday Music

NPR presents a mix of live concerts and other music to help get you in the spirit of the season.

What Makes A Great Christmas Song?

Ever since Jose Feliciano wrote and recorded "Feliz Navidad" in 1970, it has been a Christmas mainstay; nearly 40 years later, it remains one of the top 25 most-played Christmas songs around the world. Music expert Bill Adler weighs in on what makes a Christmas song successful.

What Makes A Great Christmas Song?

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/98695311/98710810" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

An Irish Christmas With Dervish And Friends

One of the biggest traditional bands in Ireland, Dervish took its act to Lissadell House in County Sligo — a favorite spot of W.B. Yeats — to make a special Christmas recording. Piper Paddy Moloney of The Chieftains and vocalist Roisin O'Reilly guest star.

Listen Now: Dervish Feature On Morning Edition

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/98525717/98674071" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
The Pure Power Of Handel's 'Hallelujah Chorus'

Simplicity, it turns out, is the secret to the success of Handel's ever-popular "Hallelujah Chorus." istockphoto hide caption

toggle caption
istockphoto

What Makes It Great

The Pure Power Of Handel's 'Hallelujah Chorus'

American Public Media

Composer-commentator Rob Kapilow examines what makes Handel's "Hallelujah Chorus" one of the best known — and best loved — pieces in all of music. He says the exuberance is powered by a few deceptively simple techniques.

Hear What Makes The 'Hallelujah Chorus' So Great

  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/98517850/98509970" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Rosie Thomas: A Very Quiet Christmas
Courtesy of artist

Rosie Thomas: A Very Quiet Christmas

XPN

Thomas performs stand-up comedy in her spare time, and sometimes between songs. But her new album, A Very Rosie Christmas, is often thoughtful — even reverent. Her music is gentle, sincere and just right for those who wish the holidays were a little less noisy.

Rosie Thomas: A Very Quiet Christmas

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/98619380/98627264" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

John Rutter: The Art Of The Christmas Carol

With so many classic Christmas carols to choose from, creating brand new ones can be daunting, but English conductor-composer John Rutter has been at it for nearly 50 years. He shares his tips on what makes a good carol.

John Rutter: The Art Of The Christmas Carol

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/98469801/98564270" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Trio Mediaeval's Norwegian Christmas

The Oslo-based trio of vocalists introduces a Norwegian Christmas tune, as well as a few traditions from their homeland, in NPR's Studio 4A. The group's latest recording has just been nominated for a Grammy Award.

Trio Mediaeval's Norwegian Christmas

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/98406314/98435479" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

John Flynn In Concert

XPN

Based in Philadelphia, country songwriter turned socially conscious folksinger John Flynn recently joined Arlo Guthrie and Willie Nelson on tour to benefit victims of Hurricane Katrina. An award-winning children's recording artist, he's heard frequently on WXPN's Kids Corner, and as a singer at Philadelphia Phillies games.

John Flynn in Concert on XPN Live Fridays 12/19/08

  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/98453316/98518765" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

A Holiday Gift From Marian McPartland

Renee Fleming, Mimi Fox, Blossom Dearie and Suzanna McCorkle join Piano Jazz host Marian McPartland to celebrate the season with new holiday recordings. McPartland also reprises her improvised score to the classic O. Henry story, The Gift of the Magi.

Marian McPartland's Holiday Offerings

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/17358732/98192763" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

The Seasonal Sounds Of The Singing Saw

It's an instrument that sounds like Halloween — a ghostly whine from another dimension. But it doesn't take long to hear the familiar melodies of Christmas: "The First Noel," "Silent Night," even "Frosty the Snowman." The music comes from an album called The Singing Saw at Christmastime.

The Seasonal Sounds Of The Singing Saw

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/98215492/98255021" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

All Songs Considered

Holiday Music From All Songs Considered

Pour yourself some eggnog, throw on the shawl, and cozy up to the computer for our annual mix of holiday music, featuring fresh takes on old classics and a few new surprises.

Holiday Music From All Songs Considered

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/98225556/98210534" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

A Jazz Piano Christmas 2008

NPR presents an annual holiday tradition — with a Latin twist this year. Pianists Arturo O'Farrill, Eliane Elias, Rebeca Mauleon, Angel Echevarria and Ellis Marsalis visit the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., for jazz improvisations on holiday classics.

A Jazz Piano Christmas 2008

  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/98183538/98103577" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Cajun Carols: New Orleans Christmas Jazz

Album cover of Putumayo's New Orleans Christmas. Courtesy of Putumayo World Music hide caption

toggle caption
Courtesy of Putumayo World Music

Cajun Carols: New Orleans Christmas Jazz

90.5 WESA

In New Orleans, December brings only faux snow, so Papa Noel packs his presents on a pirogue pulled by alligators. Feux de Joie bonfires are lit along the Mississippi River to light his way to the bayous. Papa might not have a stereo on board, but if he does, you might hear a few of these Cajun carols around the Crescent City area.