It seems early to be talking about Christmas in September, but for our musicians, it’s time to start planning already! December is a busy time of year for musicians with lots of Christmas events, party bookings and concerts happening. If you want to book live music for your Christmas party you’ll need to get in quickly, before all the dates get snapped up. Here are a few ideas to inspire you!
Traditional carol singers
Whether this conjures up memories of rusty community choirs singing at local Christmas fairs or the sublime Carols from King’s on Christmas Eve, nothing warms the soul on a chilly winter’s evening like a group of singers performing traditional Christmas carols. At Tailor Made Music Agency, I offer groups of four singers to sing at all types of events, from corporate drinks receptions to Christmas fairs, carol services and private family parties. These quartets mostly perform traditional carols such as Hark! The Herald Angels Sing, O Little Town of Bethlehem and Silent Night, but can also include a few upbeat arrangements of popular Christmas songs like Jingle Bells or We Wish You A Merry Christmas. I can augment these groups with extra singers for bigger events and add accompaniment if there is a piano or organ available at your venue. Depending on the nature of the event, my carol singers can keep their performance very formal or more light-hearted and jovial, as required. They can perform in a choral style bringing warmth and tradition, or in a more operatic style, bringing drama and pizzazz! It’s entirely up to you!
Brass band
Anyone who grew up in a Northern or Midlands town knows the joy of hearing a brass band playing Christmas carols in the town square beside a gigantic fir tree adorned with lights. I’m feeling nostalgic just thinking about it! Some of my brass musicians came from a brass banding tradition before embarking on their classical training and like to hark back to those days at Christmas time! Although I don’t offer a full brass band for hire for practical reasons, one of my star ensembles is a brass quintet consisting of two trumpets, horn, trombone and tuba. They also offer a trio line-up of trumpet, horn and either trombone or tuba for smaller venues. This ensemble can arrange almost any hymn or carol, as well as entertaining jazz and pop tunes, making them perfect for relaxed, fun occasions. Brass instruments can play pretty loudly, meaning they are great for outdoor events (just make sure they have some cover to protect them from the winter elements!), but they can also play soft and gentle melodies creating beautiful background music for a truly magical, festive atmosphere.
Classical music for a Christmas party
All the usual classical options that I offer to provide background music throughout the rest of the year are also on offer at Christmas time, with the added bonus of lots of extra repertoire, which only comes out in December! You might want a string quartet or string trio, playing luscious melodies and arrangements. Or a harpist, adding romance and grandeur to the occasion. If your venue has a grand piano, I would always recommend booking a pianist – nothing beats the class and elegance of a first-rate classical pianist playing a beautiful instrument. If you think you’re going to be tired of Christmas music by the time late December comes around, you might want to book something a little bit different, for example, my guitar and flute duo who play a mixture of bossa nova, European and Latin folk tunes.
Christmas party jazz band
If you immediately think of Bing Crosby or Michael Bublé when you hear the word ‘Christmas’, then a jazz ensemble should definitely be your first pick! In addition to the usual jazz standards played throughout the year, my jazz musicians will add their take on classics such as Santa Claus is Coming to Town, Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Winter Wonderland and many more. I can offer line-ups to suit any venue, from solo guitar, piano or keyboard for small events to large ensembles of five, six or more players. You can include saxophone, trumpet or trombone to bring out those festive melodies, or, if you prefer, one of my star jazz vocalists to create a really cool and sophisticated atmosphere. Check out my jazz show reel for a taster of the different line-ups I have to offer.
Music for a winter wedding
Music plays a vital part in setting the tone, evoking emotion and creating memories for any wedding, and a winter wedding is no different. In fact, I’d say it’s even more important to have great live music at a winter wedding as your guests will be cooped up indoors for most of the day and will need entertaining! I think couples planning a winter wedding are so lucky because they have so much more music to choose from, from beautiful carols and romantic classics like Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! to the lovable and ever-popular All I Want for Christmas is You by Mariah Carey. Perhaps steer clear of Last Christmas by Wham, though! If you’re still searching for the perfect song to walk down the aisle to this December, give me a call, and we will work together to find ‘the one’.
Hopefully this blog post has inspired you to think about what live music you could add to make your Christmas event extra special.
