American singer Lea Michele released her holiday album Christmas in the City in 2019, which includes traditional carols as well as original song, “Christmas in New York.”
“Silent Night” begins in G and modulates up to A at 1:57.
Tag: holiday
Jordin Sparks | O Come, All Ye Faithful
American Idol winner Jordin Sparks released the holiday EP The Gift of Christmas last year, and “O Come, All Ye Faithful” is the first track. It begins in Db and shifts up a step to Eb at 2:29.
Jessica Vosk & Neil Patrick Harris | Let It Snow/Winter Wonderland
Broadway singer Jessica Vosk released her first holiday album, Sleigh, last month. This mash-up of “Let It Snow” and “Winter Wonderland” features her fellow Broadway performer Neil Patrick Harris. It begins in Eb and modulates up a step to F at 2:29.
NewSong | The First Noel
The American contemporary Christian group NewSong released a holiday album titled The Christmas Shoes in 2001. Their cover of “The First Noel” begins in F and modulates up a half step to Gb at 3:06.
Little Big Town | Evergreen
The Alabama-based country vocal group Little Big Town released their first holiday album, The Christmas Record, earlier this year. “Evergreen” is one of five original tracks featured on the record. It begins in B, modulates to Db at 1:10, and again up to Eb at 2:30.
Home Free + Straight No Chaser | Somewhere In My Memory
Home Free, an American country a cappella group, released Any Kind of Christmas, their third holiday album, earlier this year. The group rose to prominence after winning the fourth season of the NBC reality-singing competition The Sing-Off in 2013.
“Somewhere In My Memory,” originally written by John Williams for the 1990 film Home Alone, was nominated for a Grammy and an Oscar. Home Free’s cover features the Indiana-based a cappella group Straight No Chaser, and is the final track on the album. It begins in Bb and modulates up to C at 4:12.
Michael W. Smith (feat. Jennifer Nettles) | Christmas Day
We conclude this year’s holiday season at MotD with Michael W. Smith’s “Christmas Day,” featuring American singer Jennifer Nettles and the Nashville Children’s Choir. The track was first recorded for Smith’s 2007 album It’s A Wonderful Christmas; this new arrangement appears on the 2014 record The Spirit of Christmas.
Beginning in F, there is a downward modulation to D at 0:42, and another to B at 1:17. We return to D at 1:30, and land in Gb at 1:44.
Brian McKnight (feat. Take 6) | Bless This House
“Bless This House,” originally published in 1927 and written by Helen Taylor and May Brahe, is the final track on American singer Brian McKnight’s 2008 album I’ll Be Home For Christmas, his second holiday record. The track also features the a cappella group Take 6, known for their synthesis of jazz and spiritual themes.
The tune begins in Bb and shifts up to B at 1:48. A subtle transition to C major occurs around 3:29.
John Stoddart (feat. Lalah Hathaway) | Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
**This is the third installment in a three-part series featuring covers of “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”**
American R&B/gospel singer John Stoddart featured five-time Grammy winner Lalah Hathaway (and daughter of Donny Hathaway) for this tune on his 2013 album Only On Christmas Day.
There are too many modulations to count in this cover, and throughout the album.
Chris Mann (feat. Martina McBride) | Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
**This is the second installment in a three-part series featuring covers of “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”**
American singer/songwriter Chris Mann featured country singer Martina McBride on his cover, the second track on his 2013 record Home for Christmas. Beginning in A, the tune modulates deceptively to D at 1:33 and then up a fourth to G at 2:31.
modulationoftheday.home.blog 