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I really enjoy holiday music. Not most of it, of course; just because I’m filled with the good will of the season doesn’t mean I can tolerate choirs of sappy voices going on about Rudolph and Frosty and the rest of the Hallmark-mythology gang. Most of the holiday music I like is instrumental.*

Not all of these are strictly “Christmas music,” although all feel appropriate for the season:

December, George Winston
George Winston’s solo piano music is hauntingly beautiful, and December is surprisingly evocative of the season. This album gets my highest recommendation.

Autumn, George Winston
I bought this recently after realizing how much I enjoyed December. Within a few listens, this album became as familiar and evocative. (And I’ve never even been to Montana.)

Christmas (1984), Mannheim Steamroller
Amazon describes the Steamroller sound well: “a blend of Renaissance-flavored moods and instrumentation … intertwined with polite pop instrumental music”. Although at times a bit dated in sound, this album remains a holiday classic. The renditions of God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen and Stille Nacht give me chills, even after 15 seasons.

A Fresh Aire Christmas (1988), Mannheim Steamroller
More great arrangements, unusual instrumentation, and compelling compositions from Chip Davis and Mannheim Steamroller.

The New Age of Christmas, Danny Gottlieb and Pete Levin
Don’t let the name fool you — this is not “newage” (rhymes with “sewage”). Gottlieb is jazz drummer, and Levin is a keyboardist and composer. Together they’ve arranged ten classic Christmas songs for keyboards and drums. Some of the synth patches sound dated, but the arrangements are fun and (as with Mannheim Steamroller) sometimes unexpected. The original album is out of print (click the album cover to check half.com’s inventory); you could instead opt for the duo’s second release, recently remastered: Masters in this Hall.

4nyc, Jordan Rudess
Rudess is a Julliard-trained pianist who performed a benefit concert after the 9/11 attacks. He recorded the show, and produced a CD that mixes live improvisations with studio recordings. The music is mostly acoustic, mostly improvised, and entirely inspiring.

*Now you might ask me if I have something against vocal music. I don’t, in general, although I’ll admit that much of the time I wish the guy standing in front of the drummer would just shut his yap, step to one side, and let the band get on with it. Still, I wish all you singers out there a very happy holiday season!