Songs on this page: 8

Christmas Music:

Christmas is my favorite time of year. I like Christmas movies and I like Christmas songs, so I have written some. I hope to create more. Once I have enough material, I plan to release an album or original Christmas songs called - you guessed it - "Christmas Lights". Can't fool you, can I?

1. The Best Time of the Year - I originally wrote this in 1980, but it's an old favorite, so I re-recorded it with my more modern digital equipment to bring the sound quality up to date. It's a simple, warm, friendly sentimental little song about Christmas.

2. One More Christmas Before You Go - OK, I admit it!! This one was specifically designed to make people cry. I wanted to touch on as much emotion as I possibly could. This tells the story of a couple who have a baby girl and watch her grow from being a tiny toddler at her first Christmas through all the Christmases as she grows older. Now she is in her young adult years and ready to leave home, but they are not quite ready to let her go. They are asking her to stay for just one more Christmas before she goes. When I first let my wife - and daughter - hear this, they bawled their eyes out and couldn't even finish listening to the whole song. They just grabbed the kleenex then hit me with the box for making them cry. Success!!! <rubbing my hands in evil glee like the traditional mad scientist> There are three voice-overs here. The first is from my little baby grand-neice (I can't believe I'm old enough to have such a thing yet!) Lexie (Alexandra). The next is my own daughter, Megan. And the Third is my Neice Stasha (Anastasia). They each portray the daughter in different stages of her growth and life from infant to 8 year old, to young woman of 18.

3. "The Christmas Secret" version 2 12/24/04. This is a story AND a song. The song is the classic "Silent Night" done in a choral form with me doing up to 18 voices (including all the part doubles and ooo's etc.). It starts a'capela with just two voices and then adds in others as it builds. The song is listed separately so you can listen to just that if you like. The story is an adaptation of part of a true story written by Cheryl Veenstra about a special Christmas Eve when she was a young girl. I don't want to spoil the surprise by telling the secret here, so listen to the story for yourself. I hope it is a touching story.

4. "Silent Night" version 2 12/24/04. This is the song part of The Christmas Secret. The song is the classic "Silent Night" done in a choral form with me doing up to 18 voices (including all the part doubles and ooo's etc.). It starts a'capela with just two voices and then adds in others as it builds. Then, it adds organ, then adds guitar and angelic voice/orchestration, then it calms again. This is meant to be added to the Christmas album, "Christmas Lights".

5. "Greensleeves" - A traditional classic for Christmas time.

6. "Carol of the Bells" version 3 01/01/05. I have always loved this traditional Christmas carol. It is actually a Ukranian tune intended to signify the winter time as the beginning of a new year and filled with good fortune. In my arrangement, I have used only three instruments. My classical guitar (Brasil), an occasional church bell and my voice. However, I have recorded 12 tracks of guitar and 16 tracks of voice. There are three sections. The first is all guitar. The second is all voices. The third is both together. It's really fun doing a chorus of voices all by myself. No arguments between different singers that way. *smile* This also is included on my Christmas album, "Christmas Lights".

7. "Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire (The Christmas Song)" version 1, 02/17/07. This is my version of the old Nat King Cole classic Christmas tune. It's just a single nylon string guitar and a single voice. Very straightforward, with a slightly Jazz feel. Simple, but complete.

8. "White Christmas" version 1, December, 2007. My version of the classic irving Berlin tune from my two favorite Christmas movies of all time. White Christmas and Holiday Inn, where the tune first appeared. Bing Crosby. Those were the days.