Number 26: First Snow (Instrumental) by Trans-Siberian Orchestra
I think Mannheim Steamroller was the first orchestral group to perform Christmas songs with an edge that really caught my attention. Their cd, Fresh Aire Christmas, was played ad nauseum on radio stations when it first released in December of 1993. Since then, other groups have taken interpretations of holiday classics in new instrumental directions. [...]
Number 27: Santa Claus Is Comin’ To Town by Bruce Springsteen
Just last week, Bruce came to Baltimore and took requests from the audience for songs to sing. One of the few requests he accepted was this song, with which he helped bring a contemporary sound to a timeless classic. Who doesn’t know this version of the song that was written and performed way back in [...]
Number 28: Have a Holly, Jolly Christmas by Burl Ives
I’ve already mentioned it once in the early stages of this countdown, and undoubtedly, I will mention it several times more before we hit number 1. Christmastime is synonymous, in so many ways, with the time spent with Brad and his family all throughout the year. Brad’s parents, Bob and Bev, were my “second set.” [...]
Number 29: White Christmas by Bing Crosby
For this classic, I share with you a story I wrote in 2000 that was published in Baltimore’s Child. Enjoy! Electric Christmas, by Rus VanWestervelt Copyright 2000 It is the last Friday in November, just after our dinner of leftovers and well after sunset. We leave the house with food still on our plates, lights [...]
Number 30: Variations on the Kanon by Pachelbel
Number 30: Variations on the Kanon by Pachelbel, as performed by George Winston I’ve always been a big fan of George Winston. His piano music has soothed me through the toughest of days and has given me hope and inspiration when I believed none remained. This particular piece is very special to me, as it [...]
November’s Muse: 3 Stories…which to pursue?
I don’t know what it is about November and the Muse, but I wish I had the magic potion to hold on to it long after Thanksgiving. I’m not sure if November’s creativity is triggered by my love affair with NanoWrimo (National Novel Writing Month), or if it has anything to do with most of [...]
This Is It
I was talking with a very good friend of mine the other day about where each of us will be in our writing careers in 2 years. Without thinking too much about it, we defined our patterns of living that, despite some of our greatest attempts, have not really changed over many more than the [...]
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