Voices of Christmas Past

Voices of Christmas Past (Recorded 1898 to 1922 Remastered)

01. Santa Claus Hides in the Phonograph (Ernest Hare, recorded 1922)
02. On A Christmas Morning (Prince's Orchestra, recorded 1911)
03. Sleigh Ride Party / Jingle Bells (Edison Male Quartette, recorded 1898)
04. Messiah - And the Glory of the Lord (Victor Mixed Chorus, recorded 1915)
05. Hark the Herald Angels Sing (Henry Burr, recorded 1907)
06. Silent Night, Hallowed Night (Haydn Quartet, recorded 1905)
07. Christmas Time at Pumpkin' Center (Cal Stewart, recorded 1905)
08. Christmas Hymns (Francis J. Lapitino, recorded 1917)
09. When the Christmas Chimes Are Ringing (Lewis James, recorded 1922)
10. The Star of Bethlehem (Harry MacDonough, recorded 1909)
11. Come and Spend Christmas With Me (Byron G. Harlan, recorded 1909)
12. Christmas Morning at Clancey's (Steve Porter, recorded 1922)
13. Oh, Little Town of Bethlehem (Trinity Choir, Recorded 1916)
14. Adeste Fideles (John McCormack and William Reitz, recorded 1915)
15. Night Before Christmas (Ernest Hare, recorded 1920)
16. Nutcracker Ballet: Chinese Dance/Dance of the Mirilitons (Victor Herbert's Orchestra, recorded 1913)
17. On A Good Old Time Sleigh Ride (Peerless Quartet, recorded 1913)
18. Angels from the Realms of Glory (Trinity Choir, recorded 1916)
19. While Shepherds Watched their Flocks by Night / Christians Awake (Trinity Quartet, recorded 1921)
20. Uncle Josh Plays Santa Claus (Cal Stewart, recorded 1907)
21. Christmas in Camp (Anonymous, recorded ca. 1917)
22. Noel (Holy Night) (Venetian Trio, recorded 1916)
23. Auld Lang Syne (Navada Van der Veer, recorded 1921)

The artists featured here were pioneer recordings artists whos names were well known in the era they lived. They helped start what is now known today as the record industry. They were popular artist in their time and there records sold well in an era when movies were silent and radio and television did not yet exists.

Of all things Christmas nothing is more traditional than the singing of carols and songs. Songs that capture in lyrics and in music the many traditions that we have at Christmas - the birth of the Christ child, the Christmas tree, the opening of gifts and even sleigh rides. Any well dressed sleigh ride featured those cheery sounding bells attached to the horse's harness. In fact one of the most beloved Christmas songs ever, "Jingle Bells" celebrates this sound and the spirit of a country sleigh ride.

On October 30, 1889 banjoist Will Lyle made history by recording "Jingle Bells", the very first Christmas record. Although no known copies of this record survive one of the earliest vocal examples of "Jingle Bells" does survive on an Edison brown wax cylinder entitled, "Sleigh Ride Party". It was made a decade later and is reissued here for the very first time in this collection. These songs and monologues from the original vintage recordings capture the essence of the Christmas spirit as it was in the opening two decades of the 20th Century.

So Gather up the family, wind up the phonograph and take a trip back in time to the early 1900's and celebrate the holidays with the "Voices of Christmas Past".