Christmas Strings: Music and Mood for the Winter Celebration
There’s something about winter that makes a string instrument feel different under the hand. Maybe it’s the hush in the air, or the way sound seems to bloom in the stillness of the evening, but as Christmas approaches the violin takes on a softer, more luminous voice. The bright tones of summer give way to something warmer, rounder - a sound that feels as if it’s been steeped in candlelight.
For me, the weeks before Christmas have always been steeped in music. The frost on the workshop window, the smell of pine and varnish mingling together - it all encourages a slower kind of playing. I find myself lingering over a note a little longer, drawing the bow with care just to hear that low resonance hum back. Even instruments waiting for repair seem to rest more quietly this time of year, as though they too are listening.
Of course, Christmas has its unmistakable soundtrack. Everyone knows the carols, but there’s a wealth of music for string players that captures the season’s spirit in subtler ways. The sparkle of The Nutcracker Suite never fails to lift the room, and Corelli’s Christmas Concerto has a poise that fits perfectly with a frosty evening. Sometimes I’ll reach for Carol of the Bells just to enjoy the rhythm of it, all those cascading figures that feel like snowflakes caught mid-fall.
Some of my favourite Christmas playing has been in the quiet moments: an old carol by the fire, or a gentle duet shared with someone who just wants to join in. Pieces like The Holly and the Ivy or Gaudete! arranged for strings can be surprisingly moving when played simply. And Vaughan Williams’ Fantasia on Christmas Carols - even a single movement of it - can fill a small room with that unmistakable sense of comfort and memory.
This year, those traditions feel even more special. As a new father, I’ve found myself cherishing the family rituals that mark the season. One of my favourites is playing the violin on Christmas morning, just before we head out for a winter walk together - a little musical pause that sets the tone for the day, a reminder that these small, shared moments are what make the holidays truly memorable.
As December unfolds, I like to line up a few pieces to suit the changing mood of the month - a small musical journey from the first frost to Christmas Eve.
Early December: something bright to start the season — Sleigh Ride, or Deck the Halls arranged for string quartet, both full of energy and cheer.
Mid-December: music that warms the heart, such as Corelli’s Christmas Concerto or The Holly and the Ivy for a gentler evening’s playing.
The week before Christmas: pieces that invite stillness — O Holy Night, In the Bleak Midwinter, or Silent Night, best played with warmth and space between phrases.
Christmas Eve: a touch of wonder — perhaps Carol of the Bells, or an arrangement of The Nutcracker Waltz of the Flowers, something to make the bow dance one last time before the year draws to a close.
Another part of the season that always inspires me is the music from Christmas films. These melodies carry such warmth and familiarity that even a few notes can bring back whole scenes. Somewhere in My Memory from Home Alone has that perfect blend of innocence and nostalgia that sings beautifully on violin or cello. The main theme from The Snowman (Walking in the Air) feels as fragile and luminous as ice crystals, especially when played in a soft upper register. Even Love Actually and The Holiday have moments worth exploring, simple piano or vocal lines that translate wonderfully onto strings with a bit of phrasing and imagination. These pieces remind us that Christmas music doesn’t have to be ancient or formal; it’s just as much about emotion and memory, about the films and songs that have soundtracked our own winters.
If you fancy exploring film music through the month, here are a few favourites that work beautifully on strings:
Somewhere in My Memory – Home Alone (John Williams)
Walking in the Air – The Snowman (Howard Blake)
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas – Meet Me in St. Louis
When You Wish Upon a Star – Pinocchio (often revived in Christmas specials)
Christmas Is All Around – Love Actually
Let It Go – Frozen (a fun modern challenge for students)
Gabriel’s Oboe – The Mission (not strictly Christmas, but often played in seasonal concerts)
Theme from The Polar Express – ideal for violin or cello duets
Believe – The Polar Express, full of cinematic warmth
Where Are You Christmas – The Grinch (Jim Carrey version)
The workshop feels different in December too. The air is dry, so I check soundposts more often, making sure bridges haven’t shifted with the change in humidity. Temperature fluctuations can also make seams open slightly, so I keep a close eye on the joints and gently ensure everything is sitting properly. There’s a particular satisfaction in tuning an instrument on a winter’s afternoon, the light fading while the wood seems to glow from within. When I bow close to the fingerboard, the tone grows soft and woollen, perfect for quiet practice. Shift a little nearer the bridge, and the sound becomes bright and glassy, like frost tracing across a windowpane.
Christmas invites us to play differently - not louder or faster, but more thoughtfully. After a year of busy concerts and rehearsals, this season offers something gentler: a chance to play for the sheer pleasure of it. Whether it’s a carol service, a market performance, or an evening’s music in the warmth of home, these are the moments when instruments truly come alive.
And just for fun, I like to make a “12 Days of Christmas” playlist to carry me through to the New Year - a mix of classical pieces, carols and film themes that remind me how many shades of festive music there really are. A few of mine from last year:
Corelli – Christmas Concerto
The Nutcracker Suite – Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy
Walking in the Air – The Snowman
O Holy Night
Sleigh Ride
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
Carol of the Bells
Fantasia on Christmas Carols – Vaughan Williams
Somewhere in My Memory – Home Alone
In the Bleak Midwinter
The First Nowell (simple string arrangement)
Auld Lang Syne — the perfect bow to tie it all together.
Christmas music, in all its forms, is really about connection - to memory, to people, and to that sense of peace that only sound can bring. So as the nights draw in and the strings hum softly in the glow of the tree, I hope you’ll find time to play something that feels right for the season - something that warms the air around you. The best Christmas music doesn’t just mark the holiday; it lingers, like the last note of a carol, long after the candles have gone out.
— Laurentius