Tag: 2020s

Tweed/Street Big Band | Deck The Halls

This Christmas medley built around “Deck The Halls” was arranged by Karen Tweed (who also plays keys and sax in the video) and performed by the members of two extended families. It begins in F and modulates down to Db at 1:01. After wandering through a few different tonal areas with strains of “Good King Wenceslas” and “Jingle Bells,” we land in D at 2:45 where it stays through to the end.

Thanks to JB for this obscure find!

Regina Belle | Away In A Manger

Grammy-winning singer/songwriter Regina Belle released her first Christmas album, My Colorful Christmas, last month.

Discussing the album’s genesis, Belle said, “This Christmas record, My Colorful Christmas, will be my greatest of Christmas gifts this year and for many years to come. It was always an idea of my brother (Bernard Belle) that we should do one together, and now it’s complete. Two of my daughters are singing (Sydni and Nyla), my son’s on drums (Jayln), one of my brother’s best friends (Ronald Scruggs) and my niece (Janah Belle) are singing backgrounds, and my nephew (Jahmel Belle) is producing and playing drums as well. Bernie, this one’s for you!” Her brother Bernie passed away while the album was being recorded.

Belle’s arrangement of this standard is full of inventive reharmonization in addition its two modulations: from the home key of C up to Db at 0:43, and up another half step to D at 1:26.

Pentatonix (ft. Lea Salonga) | Christmas In Our Hearts

MotD mainstay Pentatonix released their sixth holiday album in October, Holidays Around the World. The record is a collaborative effort celebrating songs from different cultures around the world. “Christmas In Our Hearts,” written and originally recorded by Filipino singer/TV host/songwriter Jose Mari Chan, features Filipino singer and actress Lea Salonga. The track modulates up a half step from F to Gb at 2:43.

Brett Eldredge | O Come All Ye Faithful

This is the final track on American country singer Brett Eldredge’s 2021 holiday album Mr. Christmas. Entertaintment Focus critic Pip Ellwood-Hughes wrote that Eldredge is “making a convincing case to be mentioned in the same breath as Michael Bublé and Mariah Carey when it comes to Christmas music” in his review of the album. “Closing track ‘O Come All Ye Faithful’ is another standout with Eldredge stripping things back so his voice steals all of the spotlight – and good lord what a voice he has,” Ellwood-Hughes continued.

There is a whole step modulation from F up to G at 2:35.

Joel Waggoner & Julia Mattison | Stable Girl

“Stable Girl” is featured in Joel & Julia‘s Haunted Holiday Singalong, a variety special which premieres and is available on-demand online tomorrow. “They’ve been awoken from permanent sleep by Santa and they’ve found themselves in a cabin owned by the Christmas Witch,” says the website describing the show. “They find out that the Christmas Witch’s clams have lost their dingle bongle (aka. Christmas Spirit) and they set out on a musical journey to help them get their dingle bongle back.”

The track begins in Ab and modulates up a half step to A at 2:47. Thanks to long-time MotD fan and first-time contributor Leah Pye for this find!

Jacob Collier | In the Bleak Midwinter

MotD mainstay Jacob Collier’s arrangement of “In the Bleak Midwinter,” originally written by Gustav Holst based on a poem by 19th century English poet Christina Rossetti, is a modulatory feast. While the melody is mostly still discernible amidst the dense harmonic texture, there is extensive reharmonization.

You can follow the sheet music in the video below, which features an astounding feat of transcription by June Lee, an “internationally recognized transcription specialist and arranger who has worked with Jacob Collier, Chick Corea, Steve Vai, U.S. Air Force Bands, and various collegiate programs around the world.”

Jim Brickman & Matt Doyle | When It Snows

Grammy-nominated and songwriter pianist Jim Brick released a new holiday collection titled A Very Merry Christmas in October, and is currently on a nationwide tour performing selection from the album. “When It Snows,” featuring vocalist Matt Doyle is the opening track; it begins in G and dramatically modulates up a third to B at 2:51.

Joss Stone | What Christmas Means to Me

“What Christmas Means to Me,” written by Allen Story, Anna Gordy Gaye, and George Gordy, has been covered by artists ranging from Stevie Wonder to Jessica Simpson to Train. English singer Joss Stone released the tune as her first single for her 2022 Christmas album Merry Christmas, Love. It modulates from C up to Db at 1:50.