During the holidays, no matter how you celebrate or what your beliefs, music is almost always an important part of the celebration, according to听Thomas Riis, a musicologist and director of the听American Music Research Center听in the University of Colorado at 麻豆影院鈥檚 College of Music.
鈥淪inging brings people together and is a natural and comfortable community activity,鈥� Riis said.
While caroling is thought of as a holiday tradition, historically the carol originated as a dance song and was associated with country life in general and making merry, according to Riis.
鈥淐aroling, the practice of going door to door as we think of it nowadays, probably arose in the 19th century. This is certainly when the images come up in the literature,鈥� he said.
It originated at a time when the English, Germans and Americans were thinking about reaffirming family values and local customs.
鈥淢usic is wonderful for this,鈥� Riis said. 鈥淲e walk door to door, we harmonize, we sing songs that we can all take part in. This is not necessarily highly complicated music, but it鈥檚 certainly music of good spirit and warm feelings. Think about 鈥楯ingle Bells,鈥� think about 鈥楽ilent Night.鈥� These are simple but very moving songs in their own special way.鈥�
Many of the songs we now associate with the season, such as 鈥淛oy to the World鈥� and 鈥淚t Came Upon a Midnight Clear,鈥� were written during this time period, according to Riis.
Holiday songs written more recently, such as 鈥淩udolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,鈥� 鈥淔rosty the Snowman鈥� and 鈥淭he Christmas Song鈥� (known as 鈥淐hestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire鈥�) are more secular in nature and many were written for commercial purposes.
鈥淭he inclusive character and images that come up with these songs are attractive to children as well as adults and have become part of the great nostalgia of the season,鈥� he said. 鈥淭he music of the holiday season is a kind of deep well that many performers, many families and many individuals, of whatever faith and background, will continue to dip into in the years to come.鈥�
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