Sweet Sounds Of Christmas

Liner Notes
(no author mention)

With the arrival of the Christmas holiday season there comes a bevy of all sweet things to brighten the thoughts of children and grown-ups alike: sweet sights, sweet tastes, sweet dreams and the sweetest sounds. Here on this album we have a sampling of some of the finest carols, hymns and songs from some of the many lands where Christmas is celebrated.

Just as the sweet sounds of Christmas differ greatly from country to country, so do the festive customs. And each nation has its own traditional taste treats associated with the season. As we listen to the sweet sounds of Christmas from points around the globe, it's fun to think about the sweets and "goodies" that the people in the various lands are enjoying as their own special customs.

Eggnog, as we know it, is probably the "American" of the holiday sweets although it bears a marked resemblance to a spiced wine and milk mixture the English call syllabub. However, our first sounds for the holiday are those of an American carol that has indeed become a classic, "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear." And it is hauntingly performed by Billy Vaughn.

Next a song from the land where the traditional treat is the buche de Noel - a mouth-watering cake in the form of a yule log. The French composer Adolphe Adam's love "O Holy Night" is sung by Pat Boone.

Moving on to a lighter moment, the Anita Kerr Singers provide a "Little Drummer Boy" that's as crisp as a candy cane. Next comes one of the tenderest songs of the season's fare. In praise of the Mother of the Christ Child is "Ave Maria" interpreted most movingly by Eddie Fisher.

In Germany at Christmastime there are too many hundreds of cakes, cookies and other assorted goodies to count. Pfeffermusse, Printen and Lebkuchen are just a few of the sensational things to think about while Liberace plays "Oh, Tannenbaum." The Christmas Tree, so the story goes, resulted from an old German legend which told of people seeing a single tree in the forest in full bloom on Christmas Eve with a lovely child seated among its glowing branches.

Eddie Fisher returns with "Do You Hear What I Hear?" which is followed by the close, sweet harmonizing of the Mills Brothers singing one of the all-time favourites of the Christmas hymns, "O Little Town of Bethlehem."

England is justifiably famous for its Christmas Pudding. Or Plum Pudding or Figgy Pudding... call it what you will... there aren't as many names as there are variants in recipes over the centuries. Just look up whatever recipe you have handy because this is a steamed dessert the whole family can enjoy helping put together. You'll all soon discover why it's been a mainstay in England even longer than the "Coventry Carol," one of the earliest of the true English carols dating back to the fifteenth century and heard here in Liberace's timeless rendition.

Two more classics bring this platter of festive sweets to a close: "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" with the Anita Kerr Singers and "Joy to the World" sung by Pat Boone.

If these treats set you thinking, play the album again, Get the family all together in the kitchen to whip up some of our favorite family sweets or some treats that are special favorites at your house. For isn't the family together on the sweetest of all the many real joys of Christmas?

Track List

1. Billy Vaughn - It Came Upon a Midnight Clear
2. Pat Boone - O, Holy Night
3. The Anita Kerr Singers - Little Drummer Boy
4. Eddie Fisher - Ave Maria
5. Liberace - Oh, Tannenbaum
6. Eddie Fisher - Do You Hear What I Hear?
7. The Mills Brothers - O Little Town of Bethlehem
8. Liberace - Coventry Carol
9. The Anita Kerr Singers - Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
10. Pat Boone - Joy to the World