Christmas Music for The Rest of Us: Midwinter by Peter Mayer

Brooke and Chloe playing around during Christmas
If "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" and those cliché radio versions of "Silent Night" by country music superstars excite you as much as a bawling colicky newborn in the middle of the night, I might have a good choice for you.

Midwinter by Peter Mayer (www.petermayer.net) fills this particular void in my life every Christmas season.  It's largely a reverent and creative collection of acoustic music, free and clear of corny holiday euphemisms and remakes. Most importantly, Mayer's Midwinter is all original music, which I find refreshing.  And should you doubt the validity - or "Christmas-ee feeling" - of music that's not a traditional carol you're ripe for Midwinter.  It'll do you good and pull you into the quiet and pleasant part of the season with the first notes of a French horn solo at the very beginning of the first track, "Stables," and as Mayer then sings:

In Bethlehem a manger waits
Long ago and so today
Where hatred-weary people pray
Love will come and lay there
(♫ click to listen)

I might enjoy my share of irreverent humor, heavy drink, and rock-n-roll, but after hearing Midwinter when it came out a few years ago, I consider Midwinter the benchmark for my holiday music: the regardful acoustic guitar playing, the original sacred lyrics, and the inclusion of varying instruments like mandolin and melodica.

Of all the tracks, "The Longest Night" moves me the most: "Gather friends" Mayer sings, "and cast your hopes / into the fire as it snows / And stare at God through the dark windows."

Peter Mayer Midwinter Christmas Music
I know. It's not sleighbells and snowmen. But it's good stuff that sets the stage for December in my mind.

Recommended. Get your copy as soon as possible (or get it from iTunes): http://petermayer.net/music/?id=7