Songs of the Season

10 p.m. to Midnight Host: Steve Winters

The Winter Solstice arrives on Saturday and Christmas is just five days away. Here’s a full two hours of seasonal music — mostly secular — in advance of our perennial Christmas program next week. This program devotes itself to the coming of winter and the secular side of the holidays, along with a set reminding all to remember the poor, not only during the cold-weather holidays but throughout the year. There’s also a bit of holiday whimsy along the way. This is holiday music you won’t find on most radio or TV.

  • Artist, "Title", Album, Label

  • Johnny Cunningham, “Excerpt from ‘The Shortest Day’”, To Warm The Winter’s Night, Evergreen

  • Aine Minogue, “Horn Dance”, To Warm The Winter’s Night, Evergreen

  • Nowell Sing We Clear, “Old Christmas Return’d”, Hail Smiling Morn, Golden Hind Music

  • Maddy Prior & The Carnival Band, “Wassail!”, Carols & Capers, Park Records

  • Boys Of The Lough, “Da Cold Nights O’ Winter/Da Blue Yow/Da Spirit O’ Whiskey”, A Midwinter Night’s,Dream, Blix Street

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  • Mary Chapin Carpenter, “The Longest Night Of The Year”, Come Darkness Come Light, Zoe/Rounder

  • Anne & Pete Sibley, “Winter On The Great Divide”, Holiday Sampler 2011, FestivalLink.net

  • Laurie Lewis & Tom Rozum, “Christmas Time Is Coming”, “Hot Buttered Rum”, Winter’s Grace, Signature Sounds

  • Martin Simpson et al, “The Time Is Drawing Near”, Beautiful Darkness, High Bohemia

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  • Artisan, “A Christmas Carol”, Paper Angels, Boing

  • Richard Farina et al, “Christmas Island”, Midwinter, Free Reed Records (Box Set)

  • John Kirkpatrick, “Jogging Along With My Reindeer”, Midwinter, Free Reed Records (Box Set)

  • Nowell Sing We Clear, “Kris Kringle”, “Sherburne (Original Version)”, The Best Of…., Front Hall Records

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  • Robin Spielberg, “A Change Of Season”, In The Heart Of Winter, playMountain Music

  • Ensemble Galilei, “I Wonder As I Wander”, Surrounded By Angels, Sono Luminous

  • Heritage, “Greensleeves”, A Christmas Heritage, Six Degrees/Koch Records

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  • John D. Huston, “The Two Children — Ignorance And Want”, Feasts &Spirits, Fallen Angle Music

  • Finest Kind, “The Homeless Wassail”, Feasts & Spirits, Fallen Angle Music

  • Magpie, “No Room For You Inside”, Last Month Of The Year, Sliced Bread Records

  • Waterson:Carthy, “Time To Remember The Poor”, Holy Heathens & The Old Green Man, Topic Records

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  • John Kirkpatrick et al, “Carol Tunes”, “Children’s Rhymes”, Wassail!, Fellside Recordings

  • Boys Of The Lough, “A Midwinter Waltz”, A Midwinter Night’s Dream, Blix Street

  • Aine Minogue, “Goodnight To You”, To Warm The Winter’s Night, Evergreen