Christmas Time Is Here

The magic that is Mr. Vince Guaraldi - Christmas would simply not be the same without him.  Surely your life has been touched by the notes that he so eloquently plays every holiday season.  Perhaps you were introduced to him through the radio, through a CD, or a pianist doing their best to mimic his masterpieces - but most likely, you became acquainted with the master of Christmas jazz the same way I did, through a Peanuts special entitled "A Charlie Brown Christmas."  I instantly fell in love the very first time I heard the harmonic chords of "Christmas Time Is Here" - the instrumental (sans the angelic, albeit somewhat off-key children's voices) is my favorite.

As the daughter of rather accomplished musicians, music was a way of life - it was how we expressed ourselves; my favorite moments and memories all have specific songs attributed to them like a soundtrack.  Riding around in my Dad's Monte Carlo singing in my childish soprano Wilson Philip's "Hold On," my dad serenading my mom the words of The Beach Boys, "God Only Knows," my grandparents talking about how they met, their love story to the tune of South Pacific's, "Some Enchanted Evening," driving with my family to Pennsylvania for a vacation, listening to my Dad's mix tape which included the likes of James Taylor's, "Carolina In My Mind," and "Castles in the Air" by Don McLean... and many others.  Similarly, I remember Christmas (always a very big deal in our household) being filled with the aroma of cookies baking, my mother singing along with Handel's Messiah in her own beautiful soprano, and when we kids had our pick - "A Charlie Brown Christmas" soundtrack.

I remember thinking how magical "Christmas Time Is Here" was but not only that - the amazing jazz composition that when read on sheet music is intimidating at best was so effortlessly played by its composer; the man who not only tickled the ivories with ease but had written every rhythmically and melodically perfect page.  The score is a masterpiece that I could only ever play at a struggling, painful, moderate pace at best (even after years of my mother's tutelage and studying under the great Dr. Howard Kim.)

In addition to the afore-mentioned famed Gauraldi track, there are others, possibly even more famous and greater (Linus and Lucy anyone?) Like the ethereal "Skating" with the carefree major notes peppered with some fun minors, the lilt of the voice that  beckons one to merely close their eyes to feel as though they are, in fact, skating.

So Mr. Guaraldi, thank you from the bottom of my little girl heart; I grew up with you and have only learned to appreciate you more over the years; with every listen I begin to feel the magic even more, the sentiment and hope that truly, Christmas time is here.