Buon Natale – Happy Christmas – Italian Christmas Music Selection

This will be my last post I think until well into the New Year as for the next four weeks I will be busy devoting myself to celebrating the Christmas and New Year holidays with family and friends as I imagine will most of you who visit ‘News From Italy’. One of the popular features here this year has been Sunday Song, so I decided that while I am away I will leave you with a selection of Italian Christmas music to listen to. Hopefully there will be something among my selection to every ones taste. I look forward to returning in 2011 and continuing to share our little piece of Italy with you all.
Along with my husband David I wish each and every one of you

Buon Natale – Happy Christmas
 Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

My first choice is

Corale Canepa - Astro del Ciel - Silent Night

The  Luigi Canepa Choir from Sassari in Italy sing Silent Night in Italian and Japanese accompanied by the Japanese Philharmonic Orchestra of Tokyo. This video was  originally transmitted on Japanese television during Christmas 1989. I have included it as it is a beautiful version of a classic and favourite carol sung all over the world, to which I am sure you will all know the words, so no translation required.

Courtsey of CoraleCanepa

Natale - Christmas - Tu scendi dalle stelle – You come down from the stars

The lyrics appear on the screen in English for this video and although I was unable to find out who the singers are it is a beautifully presented video.

Courtesy of lorpre87

Irene Grandi – Bianco Natale – White Christmas

Another traditional favourite known around the world ‘ White Christmas’ is here sung in a mixture of Italian and English by an Italian singer that I have featured on the blog before Irene Grandi.  I have included the words to this one in case you feel like singing along.

Courtesy of romins1

Col bianco tuo candor, neve
sai dar la gioia ad ogni cuor,
è Natale ancora
la grande festa
che sa tutti conquistar.
Un canto vien dal ciel, lento
che con la neve dona a noi
un Natale pieno d'amor
un Natale di felicità.
I'm dreaming of a White Christmas,
Just like the ones I used to know,
Where the treetops glisten and children listen
To hear sleighbells in the snow.
E viene giù dal ciel, lento
un dolce canto ammaliator,
che mi dice, spera anche tu
è Natale non soffrire più.
Mai più mai più, mai più,
Dreaming on Christmas Time,
Dreaming on a White Christmas,
Dreaming on Christmas Time,
Dreaming on a White Christmas,
Dreaming on Christmas Time,
Dreaming on a White Christmas,
Dalle stelle fino a quaggiù
E' Natale non soffrire più
più...più.. E' Natale non soffrire... più

white christmas jazz 2010 (Gianni Gandi & Orjana)

Next is a Jazz version of the same song by Gianni Gandi, also previously featured and Orjana, this time completely in English which I was unable to resist including as I liked the musical arrangement.

mediterraneosproduct

Andrea Bocelli - Andrea Bocelli & David Foster: My Christmas (2009) - Gloria in Excelsis Deo

A traditional hymn next sung partly in English by another Sunday Song Italian artist here on News From Italy Andrea Bocelli. "Gloria in Excelsis Deo" (Latin for "Glory to God in the highest") from the album ‘My Christmas 2009’ by Andrea Bocelli and David Foster.

SneakyGuy77

 Natale 2010 - Christmas - O Mio Signore - Cliff Richard

This final song I just had to add as dare I admit that as a little girl Cliff Richard was one of my first pop star crushes( I know I am showing my age)! Here he is singing beautifully in Italian ‘O Mio Signore’ which is from his new LP  ‘WHEN IN ROME - CLIFF RICHARD’ - with accompaniment by THE SHADOWS - AND NORRIE PARAMOR AND HIS ORCHESTRA and was originally made solely for the Italian market, where Cliff is popular. On some of the titles, Cliff is backed by his long time colleagues, The Shadows; on others by the Norrie Paramor Orchestra, who have backed Cliff for many years. All but two of the songs are Italian in origin.  I love this but do you, I hope so.

radioitaliano2

Lyrics to O Mio Signore : In Italian and I hope a reasonable English translation so you can follow.

O mio Signore                                           
In questo mondo
Io non ho avuto tanto
Eppure sono contento
Sono contento
O mio Signore
Io ti ringrazio
In ogni cose che ho avuto
Grazie per tutto quello
Che tu hai fatto per me
Però se questa sera
Posso farti una preghiera
Fa che domani
Fa che domani
Lei ritorni da me
Oh my Lord
In this world
I have not had much
Yet I am happy
I'm happy
Oh my Lord
I thank you
In all things I had
Thank you for everything
What you did for me
But if tonight
Can I ask you a prayer
Let tomorrow
Let tomorrow
You're coming back to me


Buon Natale – Happy Christmas