Not Written for Christmas–But Perfect for the Season!
This year’s Christmas program includes a few beloved works that—contrary to popular belief—weren’t originally written for the holiday season! Here’s a look at three pieces that found their way into Christmas playlists and concert halls, even though that wasn’t their composers’ intent.
Leroy Anderson’s “Sleigh Ride.” Anderson began sketching this delightful romp through the snow during a sweltering Connecticut summer, finishing it the following February after one of New York’s snowiest winters. The Boston Pops premiered Sleigh Ride in May 1948—proof that it’s truly a song for all seasons!
Handel’s “Messiah” (we’re performing “But Who May Abide”). Handel originally composed Messiah for Easter and the Lenten season, not Christmas. It premiered on April 13, 1742, in Dublin at a charity concert. Only the first section focuses on Christ’s birth, yet by the 19th century, annual December performances had established Messiah as a holiday tradition—especially after the Handel and Haydn Society of Boston performed it on Christmas Day 1818.
Frank Loesser’s “What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve?” This 1947 hit wasn’t written for the holidays—or even for a Broadway show, the genre most associated with Loesser (Guys and Dolls, The Most Happy Fella). The composer intended it as a stand-alone pop song about long-term commitment, not celebration, and was reportedly annoyed that people kept performing it during the holidays since its lyrics are about making plans months in advance!
These pieces remind us that the spirit of the season can emerge in the most unexpected music—and that the best traditions are often the ones we never planned. So…let these “accidental” Christmas classics inspire you to embrace the unexpected this holiday season!
Join us for Christmas at St. Louis on December 7 at 4pm.