Christmas Time is Here

Welcome back to Tea with Liya! This is actually my first post of fall 2021, but it's closer to winter now. Today, I'm playing a song called "Christmas Time is Here," which was composed by the jazz pianist Vince Guaraldi for "A Charlie Brown Christmas." Maybe you've been waiting for Christmas just as much as you've been waiting for a Tea with Liya post. Sometimes, we see the value in waiting when the event we've been hoping for finally arrives. I hope you like listening to it!


Listen to the song here
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The First Noel

Welcome back to Tea with Liya! December 25th has finally arrived, so it's time for another Christmas song called "The First Noel." This is another one of our set of vocal Christmas songs. Even though we're at home during a pandemic, we can still use things like these songs to celebrate the birth of Jesus together. I hope you like listening to it!



Keep filling your teacup with music!
~Liya

Silent Night

Welcome back to Tea with Liya! Today, I'm playing a Christmas song called "Silent Night." The list of Christmas songs is almost done, and since Christmas Eve is often celebrated in the evening, I decided to choose this song for today. If you actually wanted a silent night, you would be sleeping, not listening to this song. I think you just came here because you wanted to celebrate Christmas. I hope you like this song!


Listen to the song here
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Hark the Herald Angels Sing

Welcome back to Tea with Liya! Today, I'm playing a Christmas song called "Hark the Herald Angels Sing." Christmas seems to be getting closer every day, and a great way to celebrate is with more songs! This is another one of my "Christmas Collaborations" where I have added my voice to the recording. There is also another singer in the recording, so my voice is harmonizing him. We might not be two angels singing, but we can still say, "Glory to the newborn King!" I hope you like listening to it!


Listen to the song here
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Away in a Manger

Welcome back to Tea with Liya! Today, I'm playing a song called "Away in a Manger." This well-known Christmas song actually has two different melodies. You could hear one, the other, or even both depending on what recording you listen to. It's also written in "3 time," unlike some of the other songs that we've done. You could count to 3 while you were playing this song instead of counting to 4. I hope you like listening to it!


Listen to the song here
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Angels We Have Heard on High

Welcome back to Tea with Liya! Today, it's time for a piano and vocal cover of "Angels We Have Heard on High" - a Christmas song that you have probably heard right here on earth. This recording reminded me of what happens when multiple musicians are recording live (something that I haven't done in a while, since Covid is still here). If you don't have specific instructions written out for when to start and end the song, you have to infer what the other musicians are trying to do ... so that's why this recording has three verses instead of 4! I hope you like listening to it!


Listen to the song here
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Mary Did You Know

Welcome back to Tea with Liya! It's time for another Christmas collaboration. Today, we're playing a song called "Mary Did You Know." Perhaps we could empathize with Mary a bit here, since we have a pandemic that's appeared. We don't know what's going to happen, but we can't stop ourselves from moving into the future. I hope you like listening to this song!


Listen to the song here
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O Come All Ye Faithful

Welcome back to Tea with Liya! Today, I'm playing a Christmas song called "O Come All Ye Faithful." Now it's time for the faithful to come! In fact, this song is telling us all to come, even though it's talking about an event that happened thousands of years ago. It's still something worth celebrating for all of us. I hope you like listening to this song!


Listen to the song here
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O Come O Come Emmanuel

It's time for some Christmas songs on Tea with Liya!  Today, I'm playing a song called "O Come, O Come Emmanuel." This year, I've decided to add another singer to my recordings. He will sing the songs while I play the piano. We all know that two is better than one, don't we? I'll be adding more of these in the next few weeks, so be ready to fill up your teacup!

Listen to the song here
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Jingle Bells

I'm glad you returned today to listen to this jolly Christmas song called "Jingle Bells." The history of this song is more complicated than you might expect - it isn't associated with Christmas at all! It probably became a Christmas song because it mentions traditions associated with the time of year or the holiday itself. Thanks again for coming to listen!

Listen to the song here
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Mary, Did You Know?

Don't start thinking about that "Friday, 13" at the top of your screen - now's the time to celebrate Christmas! I've had the opportunity to learn some more Christmas songs for you to listen to this season. There are only 2 weeks left, but there's still time! Today's song is called "Mary Did You Know." I hope you like this one!

Listen to the song here
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