Christmas Music Author Confounds Industry Experts by Offering One-of-a-Kind Gift Packages of a Perennially Loved Music Form

N. Cape May, NJ - November 14, 2001 - The country's leading authority on Christmas carols, William E. Studwell, wrote: "Clancy's exceptional publications are probably better than anything I may have produced. I can take vicarious joy in having even a slight connection with these masterpieces of holiday literature. They are the ultimate Christmas collection."

Prof. Studwell was referring to Ron Clancy's first two products "Best-Loved Christmas Carols" and "American Christmas Classics," both of which now grace The Smithsonian Institution and The National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC, as well as other renowned American museums, reputable gift catalogs, and specialty retail stores. He, along with legions of doubters from the publishing and Christmas music marketing worlds, initially thought Clancy's idea of developing the ultimate Christmas music product wouldn't work.

But today Ron Clancy's dream of combination historical perspective, art, song lyrics, and music CDs in single packages is a reality. For the nine to eleven million Americans who crave Christmas music every year, "Best-Loved Christmas Carols" and "American Christmas Classics" offers a refreshing alternative to the decades old format of presenting Christmas music.

At their fingertips Christmas music aficionados will learn "O Holy Night" (Cantique de Noel) a wonderful French carol, was actually detested by Church authorities. Or that the great German composer, Felix Mendelssohn was commissioned to write music for a festival celebrating the 400th anniversary of Johann Gutenberg's invention of the printing press, only to have it coupled, much to his chagrin, to the words for Charles Wesley's hymn, "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing", by an enterprising English organist. 

Answers to these teasers can be found in "Best-Loved Christmas Carols" whose pages are lit up by the magnificent works of Rembrandt, Botteccelli, Peter Paul Rubens, Fra Angelico, and Edward Burne-Jones.

Regarding America's contributions to the Christmas music repertoire, "American Christmas Classics" offers a fascinating look at this aspect of American culture. What did Christmas music sound like during the Revolutionary War period? What American Christmas carol's theme of "Peace on earth, goodwill to men" never mentioned the birth of Christ? What about the contributions of black slaves to the American carol repertoire? Many of their carols were never recorded, but for the likes of the wonderful "Mary Had a Baby" and "Go Tell It on the Mountain" our heritage would have been bereft of an important source of Christmas compositions.

How many people know that "I Wonder I Wander" is an Appalachian carol discovered by one of America's great folklorists at a revival meeting in a small North Carolina town? Mahalia Jackson's interpretation of this truly remarkable song makes the soul shudder. And is there any motif more American than the cowboy? The little-known gem "Cowboy Carol" blazes a trail across the prairies with its unique lyrics and sound. 

In the modern age, little is known about the backdrop of such holiday classics as "The Christmas Song." Is there anyone who can top the mellifluous tones of the great Nat "King" Cole as he sang "Chestnuts roasting over anfire"? Ask members of "The Greatest Generation" who better sang than Bing Crosby can croon Irving Berlin's "White Christmas," one of America's all-time favorites.

Adding color to "American Christmas Classics" is the much loved art and illustrations of Norman Rockwell, Grandma Moses, N.C. Wyeth, Henry Ossawa Tanner, Thomas Nast, and Eric Sloane.

Wouldn't this little known information be of interest to your audience come the Christmas holiday's, especially this year when the country looks homeward for comfort, as well as for spiritual meaning, in a much troubled time?

"Best-Love Christmas Carols" and "American Christmas Classics" are the first two volumes of "THE MILLENNIA COLLECTION: Glorious Christmas Music, Songs and Carols," a series of Christmas music products planned for future release.

"Best-Loved Christmas Carols" and "American Christmas Classics," are available only in limited quantity.

For information: http://www.christmasclassics.com
Contact: clancyrm
Phone:
Toll Free Number (Orders Only)

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Contact:
Ronald M. Clancy
Christmas Classics Ltd.
PO Box 1184
N. Cape May, NJ 08204

www.christmasclassics.com