The Best Instrumental Christmas Recordings

I know, I know, not ANOTHER blog on Christmas music! But all-instrumental recordings are an animal all their own, and one that I barely touched on in my other Christmas music blogs. I've already mentioned the Boston Pops' recording(s) of Leroy Anderson's Sleigh Ride, but there are plenty more fantastic instrumentals from many different genres that are wonderful listens on a snowy evening in December. Here are a few of my favorite instrumental Christmas recordings.

Carol of the Bells: Trans-Siberian Orchestra

Not exactly for traditionalists, but if you appreciate really well-done, technically skilled "head-banging" music licks, this is the version for you. It opens with an electronic but relatively traditional arrangement, then vamps into screaming electric guitars wailing into the stratosphere. It's not for all tastes, but it's great if you need some really upbeat, energetic music to break you out of a holiday funk.

Carol of the Birds: Mannheim Steamroller

Mannheim Steamroller fascinates me, with their wildly-varied orchestrations, from authentic Renaissance instruments to synthesizers and wailing electric guitars. And as much as I enjoy their funky, modern takes on Christmas songs, it's often the Renaissance arrangements I go back to again and again. "Carol of the Birds" is a rarely-heard carol, but one that I love, and their instrumentation in this recording creates a lovely sense of being outside, listening to the birds.

The Nutcracker Ballet: The Kirov Orchestra

There are literally hundreds of recordings of all or part of Tchaikovsky's "The Nutcracker" to choose from (see this article for an excellent comparison of some favorites), but I'm particularly fond of both the Kirov Ballet's video performance and the Kirov Orchestra's recording under the baton of Valery Gergiev. The rhythms are unbelievably crisp, the intonation is perfect, and the tempos are barely human. Just gorgeous, and you can picture the entire ballet in your mind while listening.

Christmas Time Is Here: Vince Guaraldi Trio

When you think of Charlie Brown, you think of the music of the Vince Guaraldi Trio. And when you think of "A Charlie Brown Christmas," you think of "Christmas Time Is Here." As much as we all love the version in the special where all the kids sing, the instrumental version by the Trio is as smooth and mellow and relaxing as a mug of eggnog by the fire.

Santa Baby: Herb Alpert

Eartha Kitt may have recorded the ultimate vocal version of "Santa Baby," but Herb Alpert (sans the Tijuana Brass) released the ultimate instrumental version just this year on his album, "The Christmas Wish". From the opening plunks of the electric bass, joined first by bongos then by Alpert's jazzy trumpet, and finally backed by a full jazz orchestra, this version will have you grooving merrily around your Christmas tree from beginning to end.

Winter Wonderland: Harry Connick, Jr.

Connick has released several versions of "Winter Wonderland" with vocals (including a delightful duet with his daughter Kate), but this solo piano version from the soundtrack of "When Harry Met Sally" is bluesy and jazzy and rockin' and has a merry ol' time goofing around with the melody. It feels like having a really talented friend noodling around on your piano while you wrap presents by the fireplace.

A Christmas Festival: The Boston Pops

This brilliant medley of Christmas favorites arranged by Leroy Anderson is a staple of high school and college bands and professional orchestras alike. (It's even the overture to the Christmas show my family performs in every year.) If you listen carefully, you'll hear Joy to the World, Jingle Bells, Deck the Halls, God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, Good King Wenceslas, Hark the Herald Angels, The First Noel, Silent Night, and O Come All Ye Faithful arranged in styles from a delicate music box to a military march.

Ding Dong Merrily On High: The Canadian Brass

Being a French horn player, I'm naturally a sucker for brass quintets, especially at Christmas. This album is one of my favorites, and this song is one of my favorites from the album. I love that it starts with bells, the segues into the quintet, eventually adding an orchestra and a pipe organ.

O Holy Night: National Philharmonic Orchestra

The National Philharmonic accompanied Luciano Pavarotti in a much more well-known vocal version of this piece, but their orchestral arrangement is equally awe-inspiring. If you've never listened to this piece as an instrumental, give it a chance. You may be surprised at how moving it is, even without lyrics.

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel: The Empire Brass

Another brass quintet arrangement that adds other instrumentation - in this case, a dulcimer and finger cymbals - to a well-known carol, this recording takes a simple and haunting melody and lets it shine with antiphonal echoes and descants rather than harmonies. The melodies chase each other and wind together, much like the path of the Three Kings of old winding through the desert, with a glorious resolve on the final chord.

Jingle Bells: The Count Basie Orchestra

You think that "Jingle Bells" is a boring Christmas song? You've got another think coming after you listen to Basie's swinging arrangement featuring soaring trumpet solos, lively drum breaks, and just general coolness throughout. Need another dose of Christmas Basie? Check out "Good Swing Wenceslas". It doesn't get any cooler than that.