Stories Behind the Best-Loved Songs of Christmas

I heard Ace Collins on a radio show talking about his book and sharing some of the stories/origins behind many of my favorite Christmas songs, both sacred and secular. Not only did I want the book for myself, but decided it would make a great gift, especially for people in my life who have EVERYTHING--I'm sure you have some of those people too. I bought two copies at a very reasonable price and the recipients loved them. I plan to buy a few more for next Christmas.

As a Music Educator and researcher, I must give credit where credit is due. This compact but most authoritative work is a testimony to the author's tenacity for getting the details to some somewhat obscure information (in the case of some very old traditional carols such as 'O Come, O Come, Emmanuel'). He gives the complete story and history of each carol plus some rather modern traditional Christmas songs such as, " Twelve Days of Christmas", "White Christmas", and "The Christmas Song". In fact, the story behind the "Christmas Song" ("chestnuts roasting by the open fire...") has some little known facts I was not even aware of about Mel Torme and Nat King Cole. Despite my other collection of books about Christmas carols, I must say this book is the best of all I have read. I could not rate this higher!! You will not regret the purchase of this either as a gift or for yourself. I'm urging all my own students to purchase this as well. My thanks to Zondervan publishers---they continue to publish some truly wonderful books! Well, don't just sit there---go add this book to your "shopping cart" (and Merry Christmas!).

Just an excellent book on the songs of Christmas. Something to hand down from children to grandchildren.

This was perfect for my needs. It had accounts of all the tradition carols that my congregation sings on Christmas eve. Those in search of the history of non religious songs and spirituals should look at Christmas Songs in America, another excellent collection of stories.

I heard about this book by listening to WMBI in Chicago the week before Christmas. They had the author on, telling one Christmas carol song per day. Immediately I purchased the book, and am thoroughly enjoying it!Ace tells the stories of 31 favorite Christmas songs. They aren't all traditional carols, but include "Mary Did You Know", and a couple of secular-based Christmas songs such as "Silver Bells" and "Rudolph". I would love to know where Mr. Collins got all his information - there is no Bibliography.The book itself is very attractive - you can see what the cover is like above, but inside, the print is a deep blue, and there are simple drawings and borders using the same blue. This makes it very visually appealing. The best way to read "Stories Behind the Best-Love Songs of Christmas" would probably be to read one chapter per day for the 31 days before Christmas. But you can also read it straight through, or dip into the chapter that talks about YOUR favorite Christmas song.As a perfect companion to Ace Collins' book, I recommend "Christ in the Carols" by Christopher and Melodie Lane. In this book, the emphasis is on finding Christ in the carols and how these carols express so beautifully the glorious and mysterious incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ!Take the time out this Christmas to enjoy the history and meaning of these beloved songs of Christmas! This book would make a wonderful gift! You might be interested in checking out my other reviews of Christian books adn music.