“Miraculum,” an arrangement of We Three Kings, is featured on Christian pastor and musician Lincoln Brewster’s 2012 Christmas album Joy To The World. It is the only instrumental track on the record, which reached #6 on the Christian Albums Billboard chart.
The tune begins in Eb minor and glides into Ab minor during the more subdued middle section at 3:15. A sudden return to Eb minor occurs at 4:52
Thanks to MotD contributor Peter McCutcheon for this submission.
“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!
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.”
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.
The Backstreet Boys released their first Christmas album, A Very Backstreet Christmas, in October. The record debuted in the #1 spot on the Billboard Holiday Album chart and #17 on the Billboard 200 chart. “Silent Night” is the ninth track and features an unorthodox modulation from Eb up to Ab at 1:41
“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.
American singer Thomas Rhett released his first holiday music, the EP Merry Christmas, Y’all last October. This is the second track, and modulates from D up a half step to Eb at 2:11.
Switchfoot, a Grammy-winning band based in San Diego, CA, have released twelve studio albums. “Hometown Christmas,” which also features the rock band Needtobreathe, is the final track on the group’s first Christmas record, This is Our Christmas Album, which was released last month. The tune begins in C, modulates up to D at 1:59, and returns to C at 2:44.
We conclude this year’s holiday season with the a cappella group Voctave’s rendition of “The Christmas Song,” featured on their new album The Spirit of the Season (Deluxe Edition) released earlier this year. Drew Ochoa is the soloist on the track, which modulates from E up to G at 1:46.
Emmy and Tony-winning actress and singer Kristin Chenowith released her second holiday album, Happiness Is…Christmas, in October. “I hope that they smile, and I hope that they are eating food and opening presents…and I hope they just are happy,” Chenowith said in an interview with The Christophers blog, discussing what she hopes people take away from the album. “And then when they come upon a song like ‘The Stories That You Told,’ I hope they remember somebody that they’ve lost and their smile…There’s been so much to be bummed out about and you have to really look – seek and ye shall find – and you will find happiness. That’s what I want people to find in this album.”
“Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” is the penultimate track on the album, and modulates from G to Ab at 2:54.
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