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Last year I wanted to recommend some Hanukkah music, but to be honest,
I didn't feel qualified. I can evaluate the music and the quality of the
production, but I can't judge the cultural value of one Hanukkah recording
over another. So this year I enlisted the help of a good friend who agreed
to listen to the recordings that appealed to me musically and give me
some honest feedback in the area of content.
I can now confidently recommend A Child's
Hanukkah (Music for Little People, 1998), a collection of songs performed
by the Jewish Wedding Band, a popular Klezmer/Dixieland jazz band
from California. The band wrote most of the songs, but a few traditional
songs are also thrown into the mix. The result is a sort of A-to-Z of
Hanukkah. This is a good, basic beginning for a home library of holiday
music, according to my friend. I was impressed by the enjoyable songs,
fine musicianship and high quality production. The recording is held together
by the running dialogue of a family celebrating the holiday. For example,
"Variations of a Hanukkah Tune" becomes the instrumental background for
the kids to talk with their Uncle Joe about the story behind the letters
on the dreidel. When Uncle Joe hears the beginnings of a bouncy Dixieland
tune he exclaims, "Now that's my kind of music...clear the floor." He
begins dancing to "The Hanukkah Hop." Other songs include "The Hanukkah
Waltz," "Hey! It's Hanukkah" and "I Have a Little Draydl" with some new
lyrics. There are even some nice instrumental pieces, such as the humorously
titled "God Rest Ye, Jerry Mandelbaum." Helpful liner notes include a
glossary, pronunciation tips and background information on Hebrew, Yiddish
and Ladino.
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Sony Wonder has two re-releases this holiday
season: Rudolph, Frosty and Friends' Favorite Christmas Songs and
A Sesame Street Christmas. Rudolph, Frosty and Friends is a collection
of songs from the original TV Christmas specials that have become holiday
classics, including Burl Ives singing "Rudolph, The Red-Nosed Reindeer"
and "A Holly Jolly Christmas," Jimmy Durante's "Frosty, The Snowman" and
Fred Astaire's "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town." (Seven of the 13 songs
on this recording also can be found on A Classic Cartoon Christmas, a
Nick at Nite release, which I favorably reviewed last year.)
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For holiday favorites the Sesame Street way, there's
A Sesame Street Christmas. Bert and Ernie (with Jim Henson as Ernie's
voice) sing "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas," the Count tells
us that "All I Want For Christmas (Is My Two Front Teeth)," Big Bird offers
up "Winter Wonderland" and, of course, Oscar The Grouch gets his two cents
in with "I Hate Christmas." A couple of medleys, more traditional favorites
and lots of good cheer round out this recording.
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If someone in your family is still tickled by
Elmo, you'll probably want to give a listen to Elmo Saves Christmas:
Holiday Favorites (Sony Wonder, 1998). Elmo sings "Rockin' Around
the Christmas Tree," "I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas" and the title
song "Elmo Saves Christmas." Hoots the Owl joins Elmo for "Jingle Bell
Rock," Rosita helps with "Feliz Navidad" and Telly Monster adds his charm
to the "Most Wonderful Time of Year." And Elmo is joined by Big Bird,
the Count, Grover, Cookie Monster and other Sesame Street characters for
"Sleigh Ride" and "It's Christmas Time Again."
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Another personal favorite is The Soul of
Christmas: A Celtic Music Celebration with Thomas Moore (Upaya/Tommy Boy
Records, 1997). Bestselling author Thomas Moore (Care Of The
Soul) reminds us that by reconsidering traditional holiday stories and
music, we can return the magic and simplicity to Christmas. This two-disc
set features some of today's best Celtic musicians playing 14 of the season's
loveliest carols, and country music star Kathy Mattea singing "Christ
Child's Lullaby." Moore specifically chose the songs for this project
and collaborated on the music. Wonderful arrangements include "We Three
Kings," "Silent Night," "I Saw Three Ships" and "It came Upon a Midnight
Clear." Moore also speaks lovingly about Christmas and its most important
symbols.
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Because I feel music is such a wonderful gift
to give, I'm also recommending a non-holiday recording that not only makes
for great listening but also benefits a good cause. Saving Grace (Hammer
& Lace Records/Polygram, 1998) is a compilation of 14 songs by various
artists including Shania Twain ("God Bless The Child"), Aretha Franklin
("Oh, Happy Day"), Rod Stewart ("Amazing Grace"), Joan Baez ("Forever
Young") and Cat Stevens ("Morning Has Broken"). Proceeds benefit Families
and Schools Together (FAST) programs. FAST is an innovative school-based
relationship-building program devoted to preventing child abuse and neglect.
Currently, there are FAST programs in 400 communities in 28 states.
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All of the recordings mentioned in this issue are major label releases
so they should be easy to find. Online information is also available from
Music For Little People (www.mflp.com)
and Sony Wonder (www.sonywonder.com).
For information about FAST, call 888/FAST-006.
Thanks to those who have taken the time to write or send e-mail--it's
nice to know you are out there reading the column. Keep in touch through
Chicago Parent or send e-mail to fkoch@lfelem.lfc.edu.
And I'm excited to let you know that some of my columns from previous
issues are now on the Internet at www.childrensmusic.org,
a website dedicated to promoting children's music.
Editor's Note: We would be remiss if we didn't remind you that Fred Koch
has an award-winning children's holiday recording of his own: Tis The
Season (Red Rover Records). Call 847/615-0366 or e-mail Fred for ordering
information.
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