A Brief History of Holiday Music

Have you ever wondered how we have come to have the Christmas music we know today? Well the Great Courses has put together a great lecture on the history of holiday music. It is and excellent quick listen on the historical aspect of holiday music with artists ranging from Gregorian chants to Cindy Lauper.

Mr. Greenberg gives a great lecture accompanied with recorded music for examples of each topic of discussion, along with discussion of pagan influences and cultural traditions like the Germanic Yuletide celebration.

If you would like to hear some of the first Christmas music ever composed and would like to gain insight in some of the Christmas “classics” we sing today, you won't go wrong in getting this course.