While thoughts of Christmas music usually turn to carols and choirs, many original instrumental works have been written for the season—including one that spawned a carol of its own.
In this hour we’ll explore some of the most interesting, from the Baroque to the present day, including works by Corelli, Mendelssohn, Rimsky-Korsakov, Tchaikovsky, Grainger, and Bartok.
FEATURED RECORDINGS
| Title | Group/Artist | Catalog # | UPC |
| Tchaikovsky: Nutcracker | St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, Leonard Slatkin | RCA Red Seal RCD2-7005 | 078635700527 |
| Simphonies Des Noëls | Violons du Roy, Bernard Labadie | Dorian DOR-90180 | 053479018021 |
| Mendelssohn: Piano Works, Vol. 2 | Benjamin Frith | Naxos 8.550940 | 730099594028 |
| Rimsky-Korsakov : Overtures and Suites from the Operas | Scottish National Orchestra, Neeme Järvi | Chandos 10369(2) | 095115136928 |
| Youthful Rapture: The Chamber Music of Percy Grainger | Joel Smirnoff, Stephen Drury | Northeastern NR 228-CD | 096678022826 |
| Ireland : Orchestral & Choral Works | London Symphony Orchestra, Richard Hickox | Chandos CHAN 8879 | 095115887929 |
| Bartok Piano Music | Geoffrey Tozer | Chandos CHAN 9761 | 095115976128 |
| A Dickens Christmas | Ed Sweeney | Valmark 01899184 | 723723095626 |
| Finzi-Parry-Bridge | English String Orchestra, William Boughton | Nimbus NI 5366 | 710357536625 |
| Vaughan Williams: Fantasia on Christmas Carols – The First Nowell – On Christmas Night | City of London Sinfonia, Richard Hickox | Chandos CHAN 10385 | 095115138526 |
