Brass instruments, such as those featured in the Hallelujah Chorus of George Frideric Handel’s The Messiah—arguably one of the most iconic pieces of classical Christmas music—have become a staple of the holiday season. The powerful, resonant sounds of horns, tubas, trombones, and trumpets are now synonymous with the festivities, helping to define the unique atmosphere of Christmas music.
As a result, brass musicians often have their schedules packed during this time of year. Charlie Schuchat, tuba player for the Birch Creek Music Performance Center’s brass quintet, shared his thoughts on the busy season. “I fear one of the members of the group getting sick this week, and then what am I going to do?” he laughed. “Because everybody I know is working.”
Along with the bold brass sounds, bells—whether hand bells or jingle bells—are another prominent feature of holiday music. These twinkling, jingling tones add to the festive mood and contribute to the sense of joy that pervades Christmas music.
A third hallmark of the genre is the sound of people singing together, evoking memories of long-held traditions like caroling. “Music starts taking on a more central role during the holidays,” said Allyson Fleck, Executive Director of Midsummer’s Music. “Traditionally, people would move indoors and share songs.”
To keep this tradition alive, Midsummer’s Music, through its affiliate the Griffon String Quartet, organizes pop-up caroling events across the county in December. The quartet performs in public spaces like Piggly Wiggly in Sister Bay or the Door County Maritime Museum in Sturgeon Bay, encouraging the audience to join in singing well-known holiday tunes such as Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and We Wish You a Merry Christmas.
“A lot of times, people don’t even need a lyric sheet anymore because they’re so familiar with these tunes,” Fleck added. The accessibility of these classic songs, combined with the warmth of communal singing, helps create the unmistakable “Christmassy” feeling that resonates with so many during the holiday season.
Related Topics
- Musicians and Community Rally to Help Recover Guitars Stolen After Syracuse Show
- Violinist James Ehnes Returns to Sarasota for Special Artist Series Concert
- Rabab: The Oldest Musical Instrument Earns UNESCO Recognition as World Heritage
