There are Christmas songs that we abhor, and then there are Christmas songs that we adore. For me, “Hark, the Herald Angels Sing” is one of the latter. From my favorite Christmas album from beginning to end, Vine Guaraldi’s “Hark, the Herald Angels Sing” captures both the quiet reflection and the joyful celebration of the season in under two minutes. Few Christmas songs reveal both sides of the holiday equation so endearingly.

“Joyful, all ye nations, rise. Join the triumph of the skies. With th’angelic host proclaim Christ is born in Bethlehem!”