Acoustic Christmas Songs, Music and Carols to accompany your holiday or xmas activities. Perfect to set the mood while you bake cookies or visit with the family during the Christmas Holidays
With Austin for Christmas, we decided to record a collection of half ancient and half modern songs. And by modern I refer to the mid-20th-century gems which have become almost as classic as the traditional carols.
As it turns out, the songs in both categories go together beautifully. This owes a lot to Will's loving and masterful arrangements. His delicious jazz harmonies are delivered with a pristine subtlety worthy of a quiet firelit midwinter's eve. We went for less is more: a classical guitar, a violin, a couple of violas, and an occasional trumpet line supporting the vocals. If any music is suited to this crystalline economy, it's Christmas music. - KAREN MAL Read more about us on FACEBOOK and Here.
Christmas and Holiday Music from Karen Mal & Will Taylor Read about, listen to and support our music below.
You listened to it free, but it wasn't free to make this music...so in this new world of the "free music, want to help out, do your part to support our continued creation of great acoustic music?
Read below or just signup to get all of our music as a patron of Strings Attached
See more about it here....
"What Child Is This?" is a Christmas carol whose lyrics were written by William Chatterton Dix, in 1865. At the time of composing the carol, Dix worked as an insurance company manager and had been struck by a severe illness. While recovering, he underwent a spiritual renewal that led him to write several hymns, including lyrics to this carol that was subsequently set to the tune of "Greensleeves", a traditional English folk song. Although it was written in Great Britain, the carol is more popular in the United States than in its country of origin today. - From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
All of the songs in this collection were favorites of my mother. She loved filling the house with Christmas decorations, smells of many varieties of cookies baking, which she'd arrange in spectacular colorful gift trays, and of course Christmas music draped over the top of everything. She'd play the vinyl records on our massive stereo which was as long as our dining room table,.and she'd be as happy as we'd ever see her all year. Her happiness in itself was the best part of the season. It was contagious and it was fleeting. In our household, Christmas music represented the hope of another year, maybe a better year, and a momentary suspension of all things worrisome or sorrowful.
"Yuletide by the fireside and joyful memories there." We chose the songs with an underlying theme of togetherness. No matter where you fall on the religious/ spiritual spectrum, holidays are a time of connection. Of reunion and reflection
and gratitude. And being together as the bustling world mercifully grinds to a halt, creating a glow in the darkness of the long nights of winter. - KAREN MAL
A jazz musician, a folk artist, 20 fingers pulling 14 strings & 19 ancient melodies that time has polished.
A Mandolin Christmas
Deep in the throes of the hottest summer on record in Austin, TX, Karen Mal and Will Taylor decided to make a Christmas album. It was a 112-degree "Silent Night" in their un-airconditioned recording studio in August. Even the cat was sweating. The couple had collaborated on many musical projects; his, hers, and their ensemble's, but a "Mandolin Christmas" is purely a duet in every sense of the word. It's a dance between two partners: the mandolin and the classical guitar. And that's it. Karen and Will are perhaps better-known as vocalist and violinist, respectively, but as the tracks blossomed, the two instruments just didn't seem to want any company. There's a simple elegance in the combination that makes for a classic record. "A Mandolin Christmas" is also a duet between traditional folk music and jazz. The music includes pristine old-style classical arrangements, and also subtle and playful jazz harmonizations, weaving around familiar melodies that sound like home. You can practically smell the sugar cookies coming out of the oven, see the kitchen windows steaming up. Even the packaging is a duet. Karen staged the shots in their vegetable garden. That's a real Calabacita squash with the bow on it. (we ate it for Thanksgiving) Will took the photos and fit everything into the artwork templates. If you like Christmas music even a little, you're going to love this album. You're going to love it again when you dig it out next year, and again and again, every holiday season.
Will and his musical friends from Austin, Texas light up your house with inspiring acoustic music.
WASHINGTON POST–“Imaginatively orchestrated… multi-faceted… darting lyricism, and occasionally pensive moods, Taylor makes the grade with his deft touch and improvisatory skills.”
ESQUIRE MAGAZINE–”As to the quality of the music and the professionalism, this production is far superior over the numerous recordings issued by the major record companies.”
Learn how you can have Karen Mal & Will Taylor in your home here.~!
Anywhere, not just where we live.
Christmas and Holiday Music from Karen Mal & Will Taylor Read about, listen to and support our music below.
You listened to it free, but it wasn't free to make this music...so in this new world of the "free music, want to help out, do your part to support our continued creation of great acoustic music?
Read below or just signup to get all of our music as a patron of Strings Attached
See more about it here....
All of the songs in this collection were favorites of my mother. She loved filling the house with Christmas decorations, smells of many varieties of cookies baking, which she'd arrange in spectacular colorful gift trays, and of course Christmas music draped over the top of everything. She'd play the vinyl records on our massive stereo which was as long as our dining room table,.and she'd be as happy as we'd ever see her all year. Her happiness in itself was the best part of the season. It was contagious and it was fleeting. In our household, Christmas music represented the hope of another year, maybe a better year, and a momentary suspension of all things worrisome or sorrowful.
"Yuletide by the fireside and joyful memories there." We chose the songs with an underlying theme of togetherness. No matter where you fall on the religious/ spiritual spectrum, holidays are a time of connection. Of reunion and reflection
and gratitude. And being together as the bustling world mercifully grinds to a halt, creating a glow in the darkness of the long nights of winter. - KAREN MAL
A jazz musician, a folk artist, 20 fingers pulling 14 strings & 19 ancient melodies that time has polished.
A Mandolin Christmas
Deep in the throes of the hottest summer on record in Austin, TX, Karen Mal and Will Taylor decided to make a Christmas album. It was a 112-degree "Silent Night" in their un-airconditioned recording studio in August. Even the cat was sweating. The couple had collaborated on many musical projects; his, hers, and their ensemble's, but a "Mandolin Christmas" is purely a duet in every sense of the word. It's a dance between two partners: the mandolin and the classical guitar. And that's it. Karen and Will are perhaps better-known as vocalist and violinist, respectively, but as the tracks blossomed, the two instruments just didn't seem to want any company. There's a simple elegance in the combination that makes for a classic record. "A Mandolin Christmas" is also a duet between traditional folk music and jazz. The music includes pristine old-style classical arrangements, and also subtle and playful jazz harmonizations, weaving around familiar melodies that sound like home. You can practically smell the sugar cookies coming out of the oven, see the kitchen windows steaming up. Even the packaging is a duet. Karen staged the shots in their vegetable garden. That's a real Calabacita squash with the bow on it. (we ate it for Thanksgiving) Will took the photos and fit everything into the artwork templates. If you like Christmas music even a little, you're going to love this album. You're going to love it again when you dig it out next year, and again and again, every holiday season.
Will and his musical friends from Austin, Texas light up your house with inspiring acoustic music.
WASHINGTON POST–“Imaginatively orchestrated… multi-faceted… darting lyricism, and occasionally pensive moods, Taylor makes the grade with his deft touch and improvisatory skills.”
ESQUIRE MAGAZINE–”As to the quality of the music and the professionalism, this production is far superior over the numerous recordings issued by the major record companies.”
Learn how you can have Karen Mal & Will Taylor in your home here.~!
Anywhere, not just where we live.
Christmas and Holiday Music from Karen Mal & Will Taylor Read about, listen to and support our music below.
You listened to it free, but it wasn't free to make this music...so in this new world of the "free music, want to help out, do your part to support our continued creation of great acoustic music?
Read below or just signup to get all of our music as a patron of Strings Attached
See more about it here....
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel is a Christianhymn for Advent and Christmas. It is a translation of a Latin hymn, Veni, Veni, Emmanuel, itself a metrical paraphrase of the O Antiphons, a series of plainchantantiphons attached to the Magnificat at Vespers over the final days before Christmas. The 1861 translation from Hymns Ancient and Modern is the most prominent by far in the English-speaking world, but other English translations also exist. Translations into other modern languages (particularly German) are also in widespread use. - From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
All of the songs in this collection were favorites of my mother. She loved filling the house with Christmas decorations, smells of many varieties of cookies baking, which she'd arrange in spectacular colorful gift trays, and of course Christmas music draped over the top of everything. She'd play the vinyl records on our massive stereo which was as long as our dining room table,.and she'd be as happy as we'd ever see her all year. Her happiness in itself was the best part of the season. It was contagious and it was fleeting. In our household, Christmas music represented the hope of another year, maybe a better year, and a momentary suspension of all things worrisome or sorrowful.
"Yuletide by the fireside and joyful memories there." We chose the songs with an underlying theme of togetherness. No matter where you fall on the religious/ spiritual spectrum, holidays are a time of connection. Of reunion and reflection
and gratitude. And being together as the bustling world mercifully grinds to a halt, creating a glow in the darkness of the long nights of winter. - KAREN MAL
A jazz musician, a folk artist, 20 fingers pulling 14 strings & 19 ancient melodies that time has polished.
A Mandolin Christmas
Deep in the throes of the hottest summer on record in Austin, TX, Karen Mal and Will Taylor decided to make a Christmas album. It was a 112-degree "Silent Night" in their un-airconditioned recording studio in August. Even the cat was sweating. The couple had collaborated on many musical projects; his, hers, and their ensemble's, but a "Mandolin Christmas" is purely a duet in every sense of the word. It's a dance between two partners: the mandolin and the classical guitar. And that's it. Karen and Will are perhaps better-known as vocalist and violinist, respectively, but as the tracks blossomed, the two instruments just didn't seem to want any company. There's a simple elegance in the combination that makes for a classic record. "A Mandolin Christmas" is also a duet between traditional folk music and jazz. The music includes pristine old-style classical arrangements, and also subtle and playful jazz harmonizations, weaving around familiar melodies that sound like home. You can practically smell the sugar cookies coming out of the oven, see the kitchen windows steaming up. Even the packaging is a duet. Karen staged the shots in their vegetable garden. That's a real Calabacita squash with the bow on it. (we ate it for Thanksgiving) Will took the photos and fit everything into the artwork templates. If you like Christmas music even a little, you're going to love this album. You're going to love it again when you dig it out next year, and again and again, every holiday season.
Will and his musical friends from Austin, Texas light up your house with inspiring acoustic music.
WASHINGTON POST–“Imaginatively orchestrated… multi-faceted… darting lyricism, and occasionally pensive moods, Taylor makes the grade with his deft touch and improvisatory skills.”
ESQUIRE MAGAZINE–”As to the quality of the music and the professionalism, this production is far superior over the numerous recordings issued by the major record companies.”
Learn how you can have Karen Mal & Will Taylor in your home here.~!
Anywhere, not just where we live.
Christmas and Holiday Music from Karen Mal & Will Taylor Read about, listen to and support our music below.
You listened to it free, but it wasn't free to make this music...so in this new world of the "free music, want to help out, do your part to support our continued creation of great acoustic music?
Read below or just signup to get all of our music as a patron of Strings Attached
See more about it here....
"O Tannenbaum" (German:[oː ˈtanənbaʊm]; "O fir tree", English: “O Christmas Tree”) is a German Christmassong. Based on a traditional folk song, it became associated with the traditional Christmas tree by the early 20th century and sung as a Christmas carol. - From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
All of the songs in this collection were favorites of my mother. She loved filling the house with Christmas decorations, smells of many varieties of cookies baking, which she'd arrange in spectacular colorful gift trays, and of course Christmas music draped over the top of everything. She'd play the vinyl records on our massive stereo which was as long as our dining room table,.and she'd be as happy as we'd ever see her all year. Her happiness in itself was the best part of the season. It was contagious and it was fleeting. In our household, Christmas music represented the hope of another year, maybe a better year, and a momentary suspension of all things worrisome or sorrowful.
"Yuletide by the fireside and joyful memories there." We chose the songs with an underlying theme of togetherness. No matter where you fall on the religious/ spiritual spectrum, holidays are a time of connection. Of reunion and reflection
and gratitude. And being together as the bustling world mercifully grinds to a halt, creating a glow in the darkness of the long nights of winter. - KAREN MAL
A jazz musician, a folk artist, 20 fingers pulling 14 strings & 19 ancient melodies that time has polished.
A Mandolin Christmas
Deep in the throes of the hottest summer on record in Austin, TX, Karen Mal and Will Taylor decided to make a Christmas album. It was a 112-degree "Silent Night" in their un-airconditioned recording studio in August. Even the cat was sweating. The couple had collaborated on many musical projects; his, hers, and their ensemble's, but a "Mandolin Christmas" is purely a duet in every sense of the word. It's a dance between two partners: the mandolin and the classical guitar. And that's it. Karen and Will are perhaps better-known as vocalist and violinist, respectively, but as the tracks blossomed, the two instruments just didn't seem to want any company. There's a simple elegance in the combination that makes for a classic record. "A Mandolin Christmas" is also a duet between traditional folk music and jazz. The music includes pristine old-style classical arrangements, and also subtle and playful jazz harmonizations, weaving around familiar melodies that sound like home. You can practically smell the sugar cookies coming out of the oven, see the kitchen windows steaming up. Even the packaging is a duet. Karen staged the shots in their vegetable garden. That's a real Calabacita squash with the bow on it. (we ate it for Thanksgiving) Will took the photos and fit everything into the artwork templates. If you like Christmas music even a little, you're going to love this album. You're going to love it again when you dig it out next year, and again and again, every holiday season.
Will and his musical friends from Austin, Texas light up your house with inspiring acoustic music.
WASHINGTON POST–“Imaginatively orchestrated… multi-faceted… darting lyricism, and occasionally pensive moods, Taylor makes the grade with his deft touch and improvisatory skills.”
ESQUIRE MAGAZINE–”As to the quality of the music and the professionalism, this production is far superior over the numerous recordings issued by the major record companies.”
Learn how you can have Karen Mal & Will Taylor in your home here.~!
Anywhere, not just where we live.
Christmas and Holiday Music from Karen Mal & Will Taylor Read about, listen to and support our music below.
You listened to it free, but it wasn't free to make this music...so in this new world of the "free music, want to help out, do your part to support our continued creation of great acoustic music?
Read below or just signup to get all of our music as a patron of Strings Attached
See more about it here....
Es ist ein Ros entsprungen (lit., "A rose has sprung up"), is a Christmas carol and Marian Hymn of German origin. It is most commonly translated in English as Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming, and sometimes as A Spotless Rose. The rose in the text is a symbolic reference to the Virgin Mary, and the hymn makes reference to the Old Testament prophecies of Isaiah which in Christian interpretation foretell the Incarnation of Christ, and to the Tree of Jesse, a traditional symbol of the lineage of Jesus. Because of its prophetic theme, the song is popular during the Christian season of Advent. - From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
All of the songs in this collection were favorites of my mother. She loved filling the house with Christmas decorations, smells of many varieties of cookies baking, which she'd arrange in spectacular colorful gift trays, and of course Christmas music draped over the top of everything. She'd play the vinyl records on our massive stereo which was as long as our dining room table,.and she'd be as happy as we'd ever see her all year. Her happiness in itself was the best part of the season. It was contagious and it was fleeting. In our household, Christmas music represented the hope of another year, maybe a better year, and a momentary suspension of all things worrisome or sorrowful.
"Yuletide by the fireside and joyful memories there." We chose the songs with an underlying theme of togetherness. No matter where you fall on the religious/ spiritual spectrum, holidays are a time of connection. Of reunion and reflection
and gratitude. And being together as the bustling world mercifully grinds to a halt, creating a glow in the darkness of the long nights of winter. - KAREN MAL
A jazz musician, a folk artist, 20 fingers pulling 14 strings & 19 ancient melodies that time has polished.
A Mandolin Christmas
Deep in the throes of the hottest summer on record in Austin, TX, Karen Mal and Will Taylor decided to make a Christmas album. It was a 112-degree "Silent Night" in their un-airconditioned recording studio in August. Even the cat was sweating. The couple had collaborated on many musical projects; his, hers, and their ensemble's, but a "Mandolin Christmas" is purely a duet in every sense of the word. It's a dance between two partners: the mandolin and the classical guitar. And that's it. Karen and Will are perhaps better-known as vocalist and violinist, respectively, but as the tracks blossomed, the two instruments just didn't seem to want any company. There's a simple elegance in the combination that makes for a classic record. "A Mandolin Christmas" is also a duet between traditional folk music and jazz. The music includes pristine old-style classical arrangements, and also subtle and playful jazz harmonizations, weaving around familiar melodies that sound like home. You can practically smell the sugar cookies coming out of the oven, see the kitchen windows steaming up. Even the packaging is a duet. Karen staged the shots in their vegetable garden. That's a real Calabacita squash with the bow on it. (we ate it for Thanksgiving) Will took the photos and fit everything into the artwork templates. If you like Christmas music even a little, you're going to love this album. You're going to love it again when you dig it out next year, and again and again, every holiday season.
Will and his musical friends from Austin, Texas light up your house with inspiring acoustic music.
WASHINGTON POST–“Imaginatively orchestrated… multi-faceted… darting lyricism, and occasionally pensive moods, Taylor makes the grade with his deft touch and improvisatory skills.”
ESQUIRE MAGAZINE–”As to the quality of the music and the professionalism, this production is far superior over the numerous recordings issued by the major record companies.”
Learn how you can have Karen Mal & Will Taylor in your home here.~!
Anywhere, not just where we live.
