Christmas music

Music is an important part of Christmas and whether you like contemporary or classical, the library has something for all tastes.

Christmas events

Many people also enjoy the Christmas church services and carol singing events at this time of year. We list local Christmas events, and our community directory CINCH has listings for many church and religious groups. Some Christmas musical events are advertised on library noticeboards.

New Zealand Christmas music

New Zealand recordings of Christmas music come in a surprising variety:

• Christmas songs translated into Māori and performed in various folk, funk and reggae styles on Meri Kirihimete.
• Hayley Westenra has several Christmas albums.
• Sir Howard Morrison and Rob Guest both have cruisy, easy-listening Christmas CDs in the collection.
• For opera buffs we have Christmastime by Malvina Major, recorded in the chapel of Christ's College with collected Christchurch Choirs and the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra, or Christmas with Kiri Te Kanawa.
• Christmas a Cappella by Musica Sacra, on the other hand, provides a slightly more adventurous selection, as does Carols for Christmas by Christchurch singer Christopher Bruerton.
• For the more traditional performance, the Christchurch Cathedral Choir has recorded Memento.
• Check our catalogue for many more New Zealand Christmas albums.

Christmas music for children

A selection Christmas music for children can be found at all libraries. A pukeko in a ponga tree is an old favourite to read and sing with children.

Love to sing Kiwi kids' favourite Christmas songs is another favourite, and Christmas funtime contains a lovely collection sung by children. It also comes with a karaoke CD and fun time DVD. And of course the Wiggles Christmas is always popular.

Carols

We all have our favourite carols and there are plenty of versions to be had, both in traditional form, or in any number of alternative styles.

Away in the Manger can be heard played by classical guitar, or panpipe; sung easy-listening style by Frank Sinatra and Bing Crosby; in country versions by Chet Atkinson, Olivia Newton John, Johnny Cash; or in styles as various as the Irish Rovers, Michael Crawford, Dave Brubeck, or The Blind Boys of Alabama.

Likewise Silent Night comes sung by crooners, R&B artists, Pop artists like Josh Groban or Elvis, Disco by Boney M, country legend Dolly Parton, Brian Wilson, and many more.

Scores

If you fancy a sing-a-long there are also scores of Christmas music.