New Age Christmas Radio

If you’ve already read the story of New Age Christmas Radio then you’re aware this whole thing was really an accident – an experiment that became a holiday tradition.  What I haven’t expounded on, at least up to this point, is the music library I chose to use for that experiment.

My taste in music has always focused on unique sounds rather than just the lyrics.  Most of my collection focuses on instrumental music, specifically avoiding stuff that contains vocal.  For whatever reason, I generally find vocals distracting and taking away from the music itself.  Not that there isn’t a place for vocals in music.  But I’ve always felt that a good instrumental can speak as loudly as the lyric – and when done correctly, can tell a story just as clearly and effectively, and is the mark of a truly talented musician.

My first “exposure” to Windham Hill music was sort of an impulse purchase of A Winter’s Solstice.  I was intrigued by the simplicity of the cover photograph, and that was enough for me to “take a chance” on what would become (and still is) one of my all-time favorite holiday albums.

What makes the Winter Solstice series unique is the fact that the musicians featured convey the spirit of the holiday season, without regurgitating the all-too-familiar Christmas songs that we hear over-and-over.  While later releases in the series did include more familiar Christmas songs, there was still enough original content to make them worthwhile.

Unfortunately, Windham Hill recordings no longer exists today, although there are still enough copies in circulation, on CD, as MP3 downloads, and even some still on cassette tape and vinyl disc, that you can continue to enjoy this unique collection of music.

For your convenience, I present a collection from the Winter Solstice Series, as well as other holiday recordings from the Windham Hill label below.