While you’re baking, crafting, or taking a much needed break this December, enjoy the sounds of Christmas with the DePaul University Library’s streaming media resources.
Academic Video Online delivers more than 67,000 videos spanning a wide range of subjects, including Christmas! Veni Domine: Advent & Christmas at the Sistine Chapel features a live concert performed by the Sistine Chapel Choir. View artwork from around the Chapel as you listen to the sounds of Gregorian chant and polyphonic works by Palestrina, Desprez, and others selected from the Vatican Library’s own collection of sacred music manuscripts. In the documentary The First Silent Night: The Carol that United the World, travel through Austria with Simon Callow to explore the origins of one of the world’s most popular carols. Meet museum curators, historians and musicians who have pieced together the carol’s fascinating story as you hear traditional and modern interpretations of the song with its enduring message of peace and hope. The Nutcracker is another beloved holiday tradition, and this 2001 live performance at the Royal Opera House will delight.
You could easily spend hours enjoying Christmas tunes from jazz and blues artists of every genre in Jazz Music Library. To get you started with an eclectic mix, try A Concord Jazz Christmas Volume 1 and Volume 2. Then keep listening with A Dave Brubeck Christmas, the Staple Singers’ The 25th Day of December, The Ramsey Lewis Trio’s Sound of Christmas, Joe Williams’ That Holiday Feelin’, Diana Krall’s Christmas Songs, and many more.
One of our newest streaming media collections, Digital Theatre+ provides access to full-length productions, as well as teaching and learning resources. Among over 600 productions from musicals to literary classics, you’ll find two exciting adaptations of A Christmas Carol: Theatre Calgary’s production features three actors playing over 25 roles, while the Bristol Old Vic’s show adds puppetry, song and audience participation to the mix.
Finally, explore holiday musical traditions from the US and around the world with Smithsonian Global Sound for Libraries. Hear the gospel sounds of the season in Are You Ready for Christmas?, recorded on December 19, 1976 at the Sanctuary Church of the Open Door in Philadelphia, PA. Cantos de Las Posadas and Other Christmas Songs, recorded in Mexico, features a cappella renditions of the songs and chants of the Posadas, a processional celebration of the Christmas story. Or immerse yourself in the soundscape of the Balkan countryside in Bells & Winter Festivals of Greek Macedonia with animal bells, town and church bells, and belled festival performers interacting with Romani instrumental trios. Be sure to download PDF liner notes for each album (under the “Related Documents” tab) to see accompanying photos and background information on the artists and their music.
Happy holidays, from the DePaul University Library!