Here We Come A-Caroling

We once were part of a civilized radio station that refused to play Christmas music before December 15. Now stations fall over each other trying to be the first to go "all Christmas." Some start the day after Hallowe'en. And then comes the avalanche of bad pop tunes and albums hammered together for seasonal sales. So far we have escaped "Christmas with Keith Richards."

One should hear Bach's Christmas Oratorio at least once this season, and there are other choice works to enjoy, including Andre Previn's recording of "The Nutcracker" with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Menotti's charming "Amahl and the Night Visitors," and Baroque Christmas concerti by Il Giardino Armonico and Les Violons du Roy. The most interesting new recording may be "Cantica Nova" by the choir of Victoria's Christ Church Cathedral, ten new carols by Canadian composers, including Stephen Chatman and Paul Halley.

And now, in response to an overwhelming absence of requests, we bring you again our recommended playlist for jollity 'round the wassail bowl:

"Sleighride," a runaway version of the Leroy Anderson number by Art Pepper and Richie Cole. Roger Kellaway steers the sled thru some scary curves and over some crazy bumps.

"England's Carol," which is really "God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen," as interpreted by the Modern Jazz Quartet.

"Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas." Hard to top Judy Garland's wistful performance of this Hugh Martin-Ralph Blane ballad, but there is a tougher reading by Rosemary Clooney. Our choice, again this year: the Dexter Gordon version. Long tall Dexter gives the song a more upbeat treatment.

"An Appalachian Christmas." Mark O'Connor's party. James Taylor is here, along Renee Fleming and a string band, but the pick is Jane Monheit's "The Christmas Song," the hippest (apologies to Nat Cole) version of the Mel Torme-Bob Wells standard.

"Away in a Manger," George Shearing and Don Thompson give a Brahmsian depth to the children's carol. It's on the 1983 "Top Drawer," one of the Shearing-Torme live performance albums.

"Midnight Sleighride" by the Sauter-Finnegan Orchestra. Yet another romp thru the snow, with this variation on the Troika from Prokofiev's "Lieutenant Kije" suite by the clever, eclectic ensemble led by Eddie Sauter and Bill Finnegan.

"'Zat You, Santy Claus?" Hey, it's Louis. What more do you need?

Yes, thank you--we will take one more mince tart and another mug of mulled wine.