Christmas Songs, Music and Carols

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Buy our companion recording A Mandolin Christmas here.

Austin for Christmas.

With Austin for Christmas, we decided to record a collection of half ancient and half modern songs. And by modern I refer to the mid-20th-century gems which have become almost as classic as the traditional carols.

As it turns out, the songs in both categories go together beautifully. This owes a lot to Will's loving and masterful arrangements. His delicious jazz harmonies are delivered with a pristine subtlety worthy of a quiet firelit midwinter's eve. We went for less is more: a classical guitar, a violin, a couple of violas, and an occasional trumpet line supporting the vocals. If any music is suited to this crystalline economy, it's Christmas music. - KAREN MAL

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It Came Upon a Midnight Clear

will@willtaylor.com (Music for the Holidays from Strings Attached) — Wed, 20 Dec 2017 06:43:00 +0000

Karen Mal & I have created some wonderful ad-free holiday music for you to enjoy with family and friends.

Ancient classics & modern standards of the Holiday season paired with a few fun facts
and a story or two about the songs.

This episode is about It Came Upon a Midnight Clear

Like the music? Here's how to get the music and support the work we do.

Get “Austin for Christmas” for yourself here
https://stringsattached.bandcamp.com/album/austin-for-christmas

You like CDs? http://Budurl.me/austinforchristmascd

Amazon is your zone: https://budurl.me/afcamazon

Buy our companion recording A Mandolin Christmas here.

Austin for Christmas.

The Christmas Song

will@willtaylor.com (Music for the Holidays from Strings Attached) — Wed, 20 Dec 2017 06:42:00 +0000

Karen Mal & I have created some wonderful ad-free holiday music for you to enjoy with family and friends.

Ancient classics & modern standards of the Holiday season paired with a few fun facts
and a story or two about the songs.

This episode is about The Christmas Song

Like the music? Here's how to get the music and support the work we do.

Get “Austin for Christmas” for yourself here
https://stringsattached.bandcamp.com/album/austin-for-christmas

You like CDs? http://Budurl.me/austinforchristmascd

Amazon is your zone: https://budurl.me/afcamazon

Buy our companion recording A Mandolin Christmas here.

Austin for Christmas.

Bring a Torch

will@willtaylor.com (Music for the Holidays from Strings Attached) — Wed, 20 Dec 2017 06:42:00 +0000

Karen Mal & I have created some wonderful ad-free holiday music for you to enjoy with family and friends.

Ancient classics & modern standards of the Holiday season paired with a few fun facts
and a story or two about the songs.

This episode is about Bring a Torch

Like the music? Here's how to get the music and support the work we do.

Get “Austin for Christmas” for yourself here
https://stringsattached.bandcamp.com/album/austin-for-christmas

You like CDs? http://Budurl.me/austinforchristmascd

Amazon is your zone: https://budurl.me/afcamazon

Buy our companion recording A Mandolin Christmas here.

Austin for Christmas.

What did Elvis Presley really think of this hit Christmas song?

will@willtaylor.com (Music for the Holidays from Strings Attached) — Wed, 20 Dec 2017 06:41:00 +0000

Karen Mal & I have created some wonderful ad-free holiday music for you to enjoy with family and friends.

Ancient classics & modern standards of the Holiday season paired with a few fun facts
and a story or two about the songs.

This episode is about Blue Christmas

Like the music? Here's how to get the music and support the work we do.

Get “Austin for Christmas” for yourself here
https://stringsattached.bandcamp.com/album/austin-for-christmas

You like CDs? http://Budurl.me/austinforchristmascd

Amazon is your zone: https://budurl.me/afcamazon

Buy our companion recording A Mandolin Christmas here.

Austin for Christmas.

This might be my favorite holiday carol and why.

will@willtaylor.com (Music for the Holidays from Strings Attached) — Tue, 19 Dec 2017 22:56:00 +0000

Karen Mal & I have created some wonderful ad-free holiday music for you to enjoy with family and friends.

Ancient classics & modern standards of the Holiday season paired with a few fun facts
and a story or two about the songs.

This episode is about In the Bleak Midwinter..

Like the music? Here's how to get the music and support the work we do.

Get “Austin for Christmas” for yourself here
https://stringsattached.bandcamp.com/album/austin-for-christmas

You like CDs? http://Budurl.me/austinforchristmascd

Spotify: https://budurl.me/afcspotify
Listen to our 76 Song Austin Christmas PLAYLIST here.

Amazon is your zone: https://budurl.me/afcamazon

Buy our companion recording A Mandolin Christmas here.

Austin for Christmas.

Auld lang Syne with Mandolin and Guitar

will@willtaylor.com (Music for the Holidays from Strings Attached) — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 16:34:00 +0000

Karen Mal & I have created some wonderful ad-free holiday music for you to enjoy with family and friends.

Ancient classics & modern standards of the Holiday season paired with a few fun facts
and a story or two about the songs.

This episode is about Auld lang Syne

Like the music?

Here's how to get the music and support the work we do.

Get “Austin for Christmas” for yourself here
https://stringsattached.bandcamp.com/album/austin-for-christmas

You like CDs? http://Budurl.me/austinforchristmascd

Amazon is your zone: https://budurl.me/afcamazon

Buy our companion recording A Mandolin Christmas here.

Austin for Christmas.

What Child Is This

will@willtaylor.com (Music for the Holidays from Strings Attached) — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 05:17:00 +0000

Christmas and Holiday Music from Karen Mal & Will Taylor

Read about, listen to and support our music below.

You listened to it free, but it wasn't free to make this music...so in this new world of the "free music, want to help out, do your part to support our continued creation of great acoustic music?

Read below or just signup to get all of our music as a patron of Strings Attached
See more about it here....

"What Child Is This?" is a Christmas carol whose lyrics were written by William Chatterton Dix, in 1865. At the time of composing the carol, Dix worked as an insurance company manager and had been struck by a severe illness. While recovering, he underwent a spiritual renewal that led him to write several hymns, including lyrics to this carol that was subsequently set to the tune of "Greensleeves", a traditional English folk song. Although it was written in Great Britain, the carol is more popular in the United States than in its country of origin today. - From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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Call 512-589-8749 to order by phone.

Call me and I'll write a note and send it to them personally!

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Or buy it in AUSTIN texas at Waterloo Records

Buy the CD with any credit card
ITUNES
MP3'S or WAV files direct from the artist
Call 512-589-8749 to order by phone.
Call me and I'll write a note and send it to them personally!
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The story behind Austin for Christmas

All of the songs in this collection were favorites of my mother. She loved filling the house with Christmas decorations, smells of many varieties of cookies baking, which she'd arrange in spectacular colorful gift trays, and of course Christmas music draped over the top of everything. She'd play the vinyl records on our massive stereo which was as long as our dining room table,.and she'd be as happy as we'd ever see her all year. Her happiness in itself was the best part of the season. It was contagious and it was fleeting. In our household, Christmas music represented the hope of another year, maybe a better year, and a momentary suspension of all things worrisome or sorrowful.

"Yuletide by the fireside and joyful memories there." We chose the songs with an underlying theme of togetherness. No matter where you fall on the religious/ spiritual spectrum, holidays are a time of connection. Of reunion and reflection

and gratitude. And being together as the bustling world mercifully grinds to a halt, creating a glow in the darkness of the long nights of winter. - KAREN MAL

The story behind A Mandolin Christmas

A jazz musician, a folk artist, 20 fingers pulling 14 strings & 19 ancient melodies that time has polished.

A Mandolin Christmas

Deep in the throes of the hottest summer on record in Austin, TX, Karen Mal and Will Taylor decided to make a Christmas album. It was a 112-degree "Silent Night" in their un-airconditioned recording studio in August. Even the cat was sweating. The couple had collaborated on many musical projects; his, hers, and their ensemble's, but a "Mandolin Christmas" is purely a duet in every sense of the word. It's a dance between two partners: the mandolin and the classical guitar. And that's it. Karen and Will are perhaps better-known as vocalist and violinist, respectively, but as the tracks blossomed, the two instruments just didn't seem to want any company. There's a simple elegance in the combination that makes for a classic record. "A Mandolin Christmas" is also a duet between traditional folk music and jazz. The music includes pristine old-style classical arrangements, and also subtle and playful jazz harmonizations, weaving around familiar melodies that sound like home. You can practically smell the sugar cookies coming out of the oven, see the kitchen windows steaming up. Even the packaging is a duet. Karen staged the shots in their vegetable garden. That's a real Calabacita squash with the bow on it. (we ate it for Thanksgiving) Will took the photos and fit everything into the artwork templates. If you like Christmas music even a little, you're going to love this album. You're going to love it again when you dig it out next year, and again and again, every holiday season.

Violinist, composer and Austin Music Award winner Will Taylor has performed with Pearl Jam, Grammy winner Shawn Colvin, P-Diddy, Willie Nelson, Ronny Cox (Deliverance) and many more.

Will and his musical friends from Austin, Texas light up your house with inspiring acoustic music.

WASHINGTON POST–“Imaginatively orchestrated… multi-faceted… darting lyricism, and occasionally pensive moods, Taylor makes the grade with his deft touch and improvisatory skills.”

ESQUIRE MAGAZINE–”As to the quality of the music and the professionalism, this production is far superior over the numerous recordings issued by the major record companies.”

Learn how you can have Karen Mal & Will Taylor in your home here.~!
Anywhere, not just where we live.

More fan comments...

We Wish You a Merry Little Christmas

will@willtaylor.com (Music for the Holidays from Strings Attached) — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 05:17:00 +0000

We Three Kings

will@willtaylor.com (Music for the Holidays from Strings Attached) — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 05:16:00 +0000

Christmas and Holiday Music from Karen Mal & Will Taylor

Read about, listen to and support our music below.

You listened to it free, but it wasn't free to make this music...so in this new world of the "free music, want to help out, do your part to support our continued creation of great acoustic music?

Read below or just signup to get all of our music as a patron of Strings Attached
See more about it here....

"We Three Kings", also known as "We Three Kings of Orient Are" or "The Quest of the Magi", is a Christmas carol that was written by John Henry Hopkins, Jr. in 1857. At the time of composing the carol, Hopkins served as the rector of Christ Episcopal Church in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, and he wrote the carol for a Christmas pageant in New York City. Many versions of this song have been composed and it remains a popular Christmas carol. - From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Buy the CD with any credit card

Call 512-589-8749 to order by phone.

Call me and I'll write a note and send it to them personally!

SPOTIFY - Coming so

Or buy it in AUSTIN texas at Waterloo Records

Buy the CD with any credit card
ITUNES
MP3'S or WAV files direct from the artist
Call 512-589-8749 to order by phone.
Call me and I'll write a note and send it to them personally!
SPOTIFY
AMAZON

The story behind Austin for Christmas

and gratitude. And being together as the bustling world mercifully grinds to a halt, creating a glow in the darkness of the long nights of winter. - KAREN MAL

The story behind A Mandolin Christmas

Violinist, composer and Austin Music Award winner Will Taylor has performed with Pearl Jam, Grammy winner Shawn Colvin, P-Diddy, Willie Nelson, Ronny Cox (Deliverance) and many more.

Will and his musical friends from Austin, Texas light up your house with inspiring acoustic music.

WASHINGTON POST–“Imaginatively orchestrated… multi-faceted… darting lyricism, and occasionally pensive moods, Taylor makes the grade with his deft touch and improvisatory skills.”

ESQUIRE MAGAZINE–”As to the quality of the music and the professionalism, this production is far superior over the numerous recordings issued by the major record companies.”

Learn how you can have Karen Mal & Will Taylor in your home here.~!
Anywhere, not just where we live.

More fan comments...

O Little Town of Bethlehem

will@willtaylor.com (Music for the Holidays from Strings Attached) — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 05:16:00 +0000

O Come O Come Emmanuel

will@willtaylor.com (Music for the Holidays from Strings Attached) — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 05:15:00 +0000

Christmas and Holiday Music from Karen Mal & Will Taylor

Read about, listen to and support our music below.

You listened to it free, but it wasn't free to make this music...so in this new world of the "free music, want to help out, do your part to support our continued creation of great acoustic music?

Read below or just signup to get all of our music as a patron of Strings Attached
See more about it here....

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel is a Christian hymn for Advent and Christmas. It is a translation of a Latin hymn, Veni, Veni, Emmanuel, itself a metrical paraphrase of the O Antiphons, a series of plainchant antiphons attached to the Magnificat at Vespers over the final days before Christmas. The 1861 translation from Hymns Ancient and Modern is the most prominent by far in the English-speaking world, but other English translations also exist. Translations into other modern languages (particularly German) are also in widespread use. - From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Buy the CD with any credit card

Call 512-589-8749 to order by phone.

Call me and I'll write a note and send it to them personally!

SPOTIFY - Coming so

Or buy it in AUSTIN texas at Waterloo Records

Buy the CD with any credit card
ITUNES
MP3'S or WAV files direct from the artist
Call 512-589-8749 to order by phone.
Call me and I'll write a note and send it to them personally!
SPOTIFY
AMAZON

The story behind Austin for Christmas

and gratitude. And being together as the bustling world mercifully grinds to a halt, creating a glow in the darkness of the long nights of winter. - KAREN MAL

The story behind A Mandolin Christmas

Violinist, composer and Austin Music Award winner Will Taylor has performed with Pearl Jam, Grammy winner Shawn Colvin, P-Diddy, Willie Nelson, Ronny Cox (Deliverance) and many more.

Will and his musical friends from Austin, Texas light up your house with inspiring acoustic music.

WASHINGTON POST–“Imaginatively orchestrated… multi-faceted… darting lyricism, and occasionally pensive moods, Taylor makes the grade with his deft touch and improvisatory skills.”

ESQUIRE MAGAZINE–”As to the quality of the music and the professionalism, this production is far superior over the numerous recordings issued by the major record companies.”

Learn how you can have Karen Mal & Will Taylor in your home here.~!
Anywhere, not just where we live.

More fan comments...

O Christmas Tree

will@willtaylor.com (Music for the Holidays from Strings Attached) — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 05:15:00 +0000

Buy the CD with any credit card

Call 512-589-8749 to order by phone.

Call me and I'll write a note and send it to them personally!

SPOTIFY - Coming so

Or buy it in AUSTIN texas at Waterloo Records

Buy the CD with any credit card
ITUNES
MP3'S or WAV files direct from the artist
Call 512-589-8749 to order by phone.
Call me and I'll write a note and send it to them personally!
SPOTIFY
AMAZON

The story behind Austin for Christmas

and gratitude. And being together as the bustling world mercifully grinds to a halt, creating a glow in the darkness of the long nights of winter. - KAREN MAL

The story behind A Mandolin Christmas

Violinist, composer and Austin Music Award winner Will Taylor has performed with Pearl Jam, Grammy winner Shawn Colvin, P-Diddy, Willie Nelson, Ronny Cox (Deliverance) and many more.

Will and his musical friends from Austin, Texas light up your house with inspiring acoustic music.

WASHINGTON POST–“Imaginatively orchestrated… multi-faceted… darting lyricism, and occasionally pensive moods, Taylor makes the grade with his deft touch and improvisatory skills.”

ESQUIRE MAGAZINE–”As to the quality of the music and the professionalism, this production is far superior over the numerous recordings issued by the major record companies.”

Learn how you can have Karen Mal & Will Taylor in your home here.~!
Anywhere, not just where we live.

More fan comments...

Lo how a rose

will@willtaylor.com (Music for the Holidays from Strings Attached) — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 05:14:00 +0000

Christmas and Holiday Music from Karen Mal & Will Taylor

Read about, listen to and support our music below.

You listened to it free, but it wasn't free to make this music...so in this new world of the "free music, want to help out, do your part to support our continued creation of great acoustic music?

Read below or just signup to get all of our music as a patron of Strings Attached
See more about it here....

Es ist ein Ros entsprungen (lit., "A rose has sprung up"), is a Christmas carol and Marian Hymn of German origin. It is most commonly translated in English as Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming, and sometimes as A Spotless Rose. The rose in the text is a symbolic reference to the Virgin Mary, and the hymn makes reference to the Old Testament prophecies of Isaiah which in Christian interpretation foretell the Incarnation of Christ, and to the Tree of Jesse, a traditional symbol of the lineage of Jesus. Because of its prophetic theme, the song is popular during the Christian season of Advent. - From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Buy the CD with any credit card

Call 512-589-8749 to order by phone.

Call me and I'll write a note and send it to them personally!

SPOTIFY - Coming so

Or buy it in AUSTIN texas at Waterloo Records

Buy the CD with any credit card
ITUNES
MP3'S or WAV files direct from the artist
Call 512-589-8749 to order by phone.
Call me and I'll write a note and send it to them personally!
SPOTIFY
AMAZON

The story behind Austin for Christmas

and gratitude. And being together as the bustling world mercifully grinds to a halt, creating a glow in the darkness of the long nights of winter. - KAREN MAL

The story behind A Mandolin Christmas

Violinist, composer and Austin Music Award winner Will Taylor has performed with Pearl Jam, Grammy winner Shawn Colvin, P-Diddy, Willie Nelson, Ronny Cox (Deliverance) and many more.

Will and his musical friends from Austin, Texas light up your house with inspiring acoustic music.

WASHINGTON POST–“Imaginatively orchestrated… multi-faceted… darting lyricism, and occasionally pensive moods, Taylor makes the grade with his deft touch and improvisatory skills.”

ESQUIRE MAGAZINE–”As to the quality of the music and the professionalism, this production is far superior over the numerous recordings issued by the major record companies.”

Learn how you can have Karen Mal & Will Taylor in your home here.~!
Anywhere, not just where we live.

More fan comments...

Joy to the World

will@willtaylor.com (Music for the Holidays from Strings Attached) — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 05:14:00 +0000

Christmas and Holiday Music from Karen Mal & Will Taylor

Read about, listen to and support our music below.

You listened to it free, but it wasn't free to make this music...so in this new world of the "free music, want to help out, do your part to support our continued creation of great acoustic music?

Read below or just signup to get all of our music as a patron of Strings Attached
See more about it here....

"Joy to the World" is a popular Christmas carol. The words are by English hymn writer Isaac Watts, based on Psalm 98, 96:11-12 and Genesis 3:17-18, in the Bible. The song was first published in 1719 in Watts' collection; The Psalms of David: Imitated in the language of the New Testament, and applied to the Christian state and worship. "The paraphrase is Watts' Christological interpretation. - From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Buy the CD with any credit card

Call 512-589-8749 to order by phone.

Call me and I'll write a note and send it to them personally!

SPOTIFY - Coming so