h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

The bad and the ugly will wait for future journals, but here I am including youtube links for music that I particularly like.

Julie Andrews: "See amid the winter snow"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1c3rE-uIYN4

John Rutter/Cambridge Singers: "In dulci jubilo"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ydxH8wETZNU

J S Bach: Christmas Oratorio Overture arranged for brass quintet
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tOhb-7tsq6Q

Gerald Finzi: Christmas Cantata
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UjyP9eMcTsU

J G Eberling: All my heart this night rejoices"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uOiaxE8Yii8

Robert Shaw Chorale, "How great my joy"

Sorru, I should have removed the "s" from all of them, not jst the first two:

Julie Andrews: "See amid the winter snow"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1c3rE-uIYN4

John Rutter/Cambridge Singers: "In dulci jubilo"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ydxH8wETZNU

J S Bach: Christmas Oratorio Overture arranged for brass quintet
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tOhb-7tsq6Q

Gerald Finzi: Christmas Cantata
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UjyP9eMcTsU

J G Eberling: All my heart this night rejoices"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uOiaxE8Yii8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eIUlEUWKloM

"In dulci jubilo" Mike Oldfield's version

http://tinyurl.com/lptgzqv

Whether this is genuine or not, it's a fun video.

One of the most beloved Christmas songs ever the World over is "Silent Night". The story about its origin is also quite good: It was written in 1816 by a young Austrian village priest. Two years later he asked his organist, the local schoolmaster, to compose a tune for it and play it on his guitar on Christmas night since the church's organ had suddenly broken.

For many decades people doubted that the composer was a local schoolmaster and organist of a small Austrian village. Instead both Beethoven and Mozart have been mentioned over the years. The proof that it was indeed Franz Xaver Gruber was first found as late as 1995!
The song has been deemed "intangible cultural heritage" by UNESCO in 2011.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ri2thaAIyA

Thanks, Pierce and TC.

When I was growing up, my village church had a midnight Christmas Eve service every year. It ended with all the congregation being given candles and exiting to the tune of "Silent Night."

here's a jazz version:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9CL8lbDjWwU

My favourite Carol is 'The Holly and the Ivy' . I love the use of nature symbolism in the carol.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l7eHtDtZ7hs

Another favourite is the Power of Love by Frankie goes to Hollywood.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zNpeK7sDLzE

"Holly and Ivy" can be very nice if it's performed well.