More Christmas Time Is Here

[ragman1]

This is quite interesting, not that I'm expecting much interest in it!

'Christmas Time Is Here' is a well-loved tune by Vince Guaraldi which has become a standard. Everybody apparently loves it, a lot of people play it, and it's probably more popular with vocals. And a number of people have played it here.

So I thought I'd look at it. I have to say, and I apologise to those who adore it, that I find it a desultory tune, by which I mean the melody. It's dull, and somewhat of a non-event to my ear. In the original version, Guraldi certainly spiced it up with his twinkly soloing which was lovely. But that's not the melody against those changes.

As I said, it's improved with the lyrics by Lee Mendelson (there's a surname) and it probably sounds much better done rubato, although quite a few players seem to have found a way to make it sound rubato even when playing together as a band. Which is quite clever.

So I approached it with interest and enthusiasm but couldn't make it 'beautiful', as a lot of people describe it. I just did the changes and played the melody as it appears on all the leadsheets but it resisted all attempts to make it sound magical or Christmassy. So I'm afraid I couldn't do the improv any differently; that's the way that tends to work.

So if you have any comments about all this (not just my clip), let's hear 'em. Speak as you find, I won't mind at all.

[Mick-7]

Like simple melodies in general, it's how they're harmonized and played that makes them interesting. The lyrics and music of this song evoke bittersweet emotions, which is difficult to express musically, even more so without the lyrics. I heard Vince Guaraldi's instrumental version for the first time last week and it struck me that even he did not capture the simple spirit of the song. I imagine that Bill Evans could have achieved it but he never recorded it.

[alltunes]

Many people (myself included) associate this song with “A Charlie Brown Christmas” and the scene with kids skating in the silent snow. It invokes a sense of wistful longing. It’s bigger then the sum of its parts.

[ragman1]

Many people (myself included) associate this song with “A Charlie Brown Christmas” and the scene with kids skating in the silent snow. It invokes a sense of wistful longing. It’s bigger then the sum of its parts.

I hear what you say and I think you mean the vid below. It's the first time I've seen it and it seems to have a young childrens' feel to it, with the choir and all that. That would explain the simplicity of the melody. What I'm wondering is why it then became such a much-recorded jazz standard, vocally and otherwise.

[Danny W.]

This gives me an excuse to post this again:

Danny W.

[Mick-7]

I hear what you say and I think you mean the vid below. It's the first time I've seen it and it seems to have a young childrens' feel to it, with the choir and all that. That would explain the simplicity of the melody. What I'm wondering is why it then became such a much-recorded jazz standard, vocally and otherwise.

I think it's just due to the popularity of Peanuts and the Peanuts Christmas movie, it's become a holiday cartoon classic like Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer or the original How the Grinch Stole Christmas film.

[ragman1]

I get it, but there are so many people of all ages doing it that I'm not convinced that it's because they listen to it with dreamy memories of watching Charlie Brown at their mommy's knee :-)

[lawson-stone]

I get it, but there are so many people of all ages doing it that I'm not convinced that it's because they listen to it with dreamy memories of watching Charlie Brown at their mommy's knee :-)

I dunno... almost everyone I know connects that song with the Charlie Brown Christmas scene. Interesting how some songs, like "Stella" get loosened from the moorings of their original appearance in a movie or musical, others seem to carry it along

I think your treatment of it is solid, though as you note, workman-like. Still, you play it well, the improvisation is nice. If you were playing Christmas songs at a Christmas party gig, it would be appreciated by most there, I think.

[ragman1]

Interesting how some songs, like "Stella" get loosened from the moorings of their original appearance in a movie or musical

Well, that's just it, but I'm not sure I'd equate Stella with this one! Stella is such a good tune in itself, surely, like most of the old show tunes. I'm quite old and I certainly haven't heard most of them in their original settings.

On the other hand, I was mostly abroad during my early years (military family) and didn't have TV. The nearest I came was open-air cinema in Aden and watching Lassie films on a troop ship.

But I remember 'Listen With Mother' when I was very young. 'Are you sitting comfortably? Then we'll begin'. Once heard, never forgotten

workman-like

Oh, definitely :-)

I think it works better as a well-played chord-melody, to be honest.

[Mick-7]

It's not like it's a nursery rhyme, does have a few interesting chord changes....

[ragman1]

Well, it's certainly bigger, or maybe longer, than a nursery rhyme and does have jazz changes. Perhaps it's the changes that attract people!

But what about you, Mick? Aren't you from the States? Is this tune etched into your consciousness and associated with watching Charlie Brown at Xmas? Would you say it's 'beautiful' as so many people have described it?

Do share your thoughts.

[Mick-7]

Well, it's certainly bigger, or maybe longer, than a nursery rhyme and does have jazz changes. Perhaps it's the changes that attract people!

But what about you, Mick? Aren't you from the States? Is this tune etched into your consciousness and associated with watching Charlie Brown at Xmas? Would you say it's 'beautiful' as so many people have described it?

Do share your thoughts.

Thing is, the entire Charlie Brown Christmas movie soundtrack was composed by Vince Guaraldi, who is a jazz pianist.

I played the song for the first time a couple of weeks ago, basing it on the sheet music, without listening to anyone's rendition of it. I posted a recording here -- Christmas Time is Here

I did do a little reharm of the changes. I think I'll keep it in my repertoire and try and reinvent it, ask myself, "what would Bill Evans do?" It has possibilities....

We were not big animated Christmas movie fans as kids, mostly watched the adult classics like It's a Wonderful Life, Miracle on 34th Street, etc.

[ragman1]

Thanks, I must have missed your recording before. Some interesting different changes there.

Same here. We weren't always abroad and I don't remember what we watched, to be honest. Like you, I suspect it was Xmas-type movies, obviously rather forgettable

[ragman1]

This is good. Looks like I was missing quite a lot. Apparently 'Christmas Time Is Here' is meant to be melancholic, referencing Charlie Brown's search for meaning at Christmas, etc.