Which is the most haunting/beautiful Christmas carol or song?

[A580Hojas]

I like the melodic slightly melancholy ones. Something in a minor key maybe?

For Modern (which is not normally my thing AT ALL) Thorns in the Straw. Haunting and beautiful. But it must be sung by a choir with the proper harmonies and parts (DD school do it ever year and it gives me shivers). The bloke on the guitar version is not the same at all.

White Wine in the Sun by Tim Mnchin... not your usual sort of Xmas song, but ithe end is so so moving.

He absolutely sums up what it is about.

YoYo Ma’s Version of the Wexford Carol (with a female singer) is beautiful.

O Holy night

Silent night. Especially the version sung by Sinead O'Connor.

O holy night
Still still still

The shepherds farewell, Berlioz

Then again, lots of choral Christmas songs are so beautiful and melancholy in a lovely way - I go to 2 different choral concerts in December every year.

Suo-Gan is a Welsh lullaby often sung in the Welsh church at Christmas.

Yes to Suo-Gan. Stunning in its simplicity.

Dormi Jesu is beautiful, but my absolute favourite is Adam's O Holy Night, full choir with soloist, and (warning, mum brag) DD is the soloist again this year.

Well, thanks to this thread I've just discovered my favourite Carol (Lulee Lulay) is actually called the Coventry Carol!

Sarah McLachlans Huron Carol is beautiful

The Huron Carol - 'Twas in the moon of winter time'

Taverner's The Lamb, just so so beautiful. If you haven't heard it, I really recommend finding it on Spotify.

Huron Carol - glad someone knows it !
Coventry Carol
And yes A spaceman came calling !

I absolutely love Gaudete, Bert2e.

This version, and this version only, of Stille Nacht

I love Candlelight Carol and Carol of the Bells ❤️

It came upon a midnight clear ways brings a tear to my eye, especially when sang in a church. I'm not religious but there is something about listening to carols in a church that is wonderful.

I love A Spaceman Came Traveling.

It came upon a midnight clear

Stillmedusa - I just listened to Tim Minchn - loved it , bought a tear to my eye !

Apart from Jesus Christ the Apple Tree and Adam Lay Y Bounden, I think it has to be Ring Out, Wild Bells: raises the hair on the back of my neck.

I also love the Coventry Carol and Three Kings from Persian Lands Afar. I think of O Come, O Come Emmanuel as more of an advent hymn than a Christmas one, though.

seriously

It's Alison Krauss with Yo Yo Ma for the Wexford Carol

Morten Lauridsen, O Magnum Mysterium