Download Instrumental Christmas is a joyous time of the year, is it not? Celebrating the birth of our Savior – gatherings of friends and family – decorating trees and wrapping gifts – children screaming in delight ’cause they got just what they wanted under the tree… all contribute to the joy of the season.
But the holidays can also be a bit sorrowful for some folks. Perhaps it brings back memories of a Christmas spent entirely alone without friends or family, or the loss of a loved one around this time of year – or just disappointment with that ugly sweater Aunt Clara gave you in 1967. Christmas can be a sad time for some of us – maybe even depressing. We all have our crosses to bear but, somehow, when these holidays roll around, it all seems worth it – even if bittersweet.
This song,”Christmas Time is Here”, falls into that melancholy category, I think. Oh, it’s not the lyrics. They’re all happy and full of cheer. It’s the melody and general aura of the music itself. The notes take you back to past holidays that maybe weren’t quite so good. The tune was written by Vince Guaraldi and was supposed to be an instrumental introduction to the animated Christmas special A Charlie Brown Christmas (that’s Charlie above with that slightly crooked smile on his face – he was never a very happy character – the boy had a lot on his mind). Just before it aired, the producer of the special decided that it would work better with words, so he sat down and penned the entire song in 10 minutes. He had the Peanuts characters all sing it together while Charlie wonders why he’s not feelin’ the buzz. Can you say “neurotic”?
It’s good to feel just a little sad this time of year. It counters the hysteria of department stores and Santa Claus wannabes and some really bad holiday tunes (Grandma and an errant reindeer come to mind). A little tug at the heart gives one pause to reflect on what the true meaning of Christmas is – it’s good for your soul, you know.
Click the link below to experience Charlie’s neurosis:
Stageworthy Backing Tracks by Dave Zobrist 