Wintry mix spreads across Minnesota

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Christmas music has been flooding from speakers since Thanksgiving. Some people even turned on the carols right after Halloween. It's hard to escape the seasonal tunes this time of year.

Philip Brunelle knows the words to all of them. A long-time Minnesota choral leader, Brunelle joined MPR News host Tom Crann with the singers of 

 to share both the good and the bad of Christmas songs.

"I think it's important to hear songs that 

 make it, because it makes you appreciate the ones that did," Brunelle said.

From the "bad" list, a member of VocalEssence performed "Santa's Little Sleigh Bells," which features a word you don't often hear in Christmas songs.

The best and worst of Christmas music: VocalEssence performs "Santa's Little Sleigh Bell" by MPR News

On the good list, Brunelle led the choir in "Jul, Jul, Stralande Jul," one of the most popular songs in Sweden this time of year.

It translates as "Christmas, Shining Christmas." Brunelle likened it to the carol "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear."

The best and worst of Christmas music: VocalEssence performs "Jul, Jul, Stralande Jul" by MPR News

Many people use the word "carol" for any Christmas song, but in fact it refers to a specific type of tune.

"A Christmas carol was originally, back in the Middle Ages, a song that was sung in a circle and they danced around singing it," Brunelle said. "Something like 'The First Noel' could be a carol — you could dance to that. 'Hark the Herald Angels Sing,' not so much. ... It's a hymn."

For the full interview with Philip Brunelle, including more performances from VocalEssence, use the audio player above.

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'Tis the season for Christmas tunes. Philip Brunelle leads the singers of VocalEssence in some of the best, worst and lesser-known songs of the season.

Minnesota holds claim to a rich and varied tradition of choral music. That abundance is most on display around the holidays, when Christmas concerts large and small draw crowds looking for light in the winder darkness. This hour on MPR News, Tom Crann talks with long-time Minnesota choral leader Philip Brunelle and the singers of VocalEssence about why Minnesota's choral tradition is so strong and some new trends in holiday music. The choir also brings along their annual "bad Christmas carol." This year's features the word "boing". A lot. And not in a good way.

VocalEssence shares the good and the bad of Christmas music

Nikki Tundel / MPR News

Long-time Minnesota choral leader Philip Brunelle joined MPR News host Tom Crann with the singers of VocalEssence to share both the good and the bad of Christmas songs. Here, they perform one of the songs Brunelle says "didn't make it."

http://www.mprnews.org/story/2015/12/15/best-and-worst-christmas-music

Long-time Minnesota choral leader Philip Brunelle joined MPR News host Tom Crann with the singers of VocalEssence to share both the good and the bad of Christmas songs. Here, they perform one of the most popular seasonal songs in Sweden.

More: http://www.mprnews.org/story/2015/12/15/best-and-worst-christmas-music

Christmas carols: The good and the bad

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