Thursday, December 13, 2007

Thursday Thirteen - 34 - 13 of My Favorite Musical Pieces From Christmas Specials



1 - Christmas Time is Here

'A Charlie Brown Christmas'

Couldn't get a clip from the animated special that played the entire piece of music, so I went with a snowy montage instead.





2 - Walking in The Air

Raymond Briggs' 'The Snowman'










3 - You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch

'How The Grinch Stole Christmas'












4 - Snow Miser/Heat Miser Song

'The Year Without a Santa Claus'
















5 - Put One Foot In Front Of The Other

'Santa Claus is Coming to Town'










6 - What's This?

'The Nightmare Before Christmas'











7 - There's Always Tomorrow

'Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer'











8 - Believe In Your Dreams And They'll All Come True





'The Little Mermaid', narrated by Richard Chamberlain







9 - Snow, Frost, The North Wind and Hail arrive in the Garden

'The Selfish Giant'










10 - Good King Wenceslas




'The Christmas Messenger'







11 - Welcome Christmas/Trim Up the Tree"

'How The Grinch Stole Christmas'









12 - A Holly Jolly Christmas

'Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer'






13 - Grand Pas de Deux

'The Nutcracker'

If you watch this one, my favorite music actually starts at 1:45 into it. As soon as the two principals begin the pas de deux, those glorious strings start up, my heart squeezes and I'm in shivery heaven no matter how many times I've heard it or watched it. What is this lush, romantic music doing in a children's ballet?

Enjoy the greatest dancer ever!

21 comments:

Amy Ruttan said...

OMG!!! The SELFISH GIANT. I totally remember that, but I sooooo totally forgot about it.

I'm going to go on You Tube and watch it RIGHT NOW!!!! Thanks for that.

Susan Helene Gottfried said...

Hee! Malcolm included "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch" on his list, too!

I need to let #2 watch the ballet. That's her thing these days.

Toni said...

Okay, is it scary that I sing most of these songs often? Yep, and I love love love to watch all the Christmas shows too. It's just that connection with childhood that I cannot let go.
Blessings,
~Toni~

Wylie Kinson said...

Oh , HEAT MISER!! My fave character (call me nuts,yup). Thanks for the memories...

Anonymous said...

This is a great list. I have several of these on video and break them out this time of year. In fact we should be watching some of them soon!

On a personal note, have a safe trip to Toronto. I'll be thinking of you and your family over the holidays. Best wishes to your FIL and may he get better soon.

Gabriella Hewitt
www.gabriellahewitt.com

Red Garnier said...

Oh Julia I can't bear to remember without wanting to be a CHILD again!! I LOVE these!! And I loved the pics. Thanks for transporting me. ;)

Anonymous said...

You're a Mean One!!! Great stuff!!!

Julia Phillips Smith said...

Thanks for the FIL wishes Gabriella.

Toni said...

There's a spirit of Christmas award waiting for you at my blog, friend.
Blessings,
~Toni~

M. said...

needed a bit of a pick-me-up this morning, so i came here. i can always rely on you.

my sons have just discovered the charlie brown and grinch holiday shows that i used to watch as a kid - i love it that these 'classic' shows are still going strong in the age of superhitech entertainment

Karina said...

Well, what this list did for me today was make me realize that I really need to watch some of these Christmas specials, because believe it or not, I haven't seen most of them ever. Would you believe I've never seen "A CHarlie Brown Christmas"?

Sandee said...

I love how you did this. Very well done. Have a great TT. :)

Darla said...

I love these! Reminds me I really need to dig out those Christmas movies.

Akelamalu said...

Great post that Julia. x

Julia Phillips Smith said...

Karina - I hope you enjoy 'A Charlie Brown Christmas'. It's so entwined with winter and Christmas for me, there are so many times the sky will look a certain way and I can only think of the Charlie Brown neighborhood in the special.

Carrie Lofty said...

I love the Arabian Dance from The Nutcracker. It shows how tormented Tchaikovsky was through his life--couldn't keep the darkness away from his work.

Unknown said...

I love all of these songs, too. Thanks for collecting all my favorites in one place.

Donna said...

Great minds!!! I did almost the same thing on my blog! Have a Merry Christmas...

Julia Phillips Smith said...

Carrie - it's hard for me to pick a favorite piece from any Tchaikovsky ballet, believe me...

Ann said...

Great list. Love the youtubes, especially the ballet.

Barbara said...

I love every single one and I watch them every year. I don't think I recall a specific song in the Happy Prince but it rounds out the list.