What Classical Homeschoolers Should Listen to This Christmas

Christmas is one of the richest musical seasons of the entire year. Even families who don’t think much about classical music for the other eleven months often find themselves longing for something deeper, more beautiful, and more meaningful during Advent and Christmas.

For classical homeschool families especially, December is an opportunity to shape the atmosphere of the home with beauty, including music that reflects the wonder of the Incarnation, the stillness of winter, and the joy that runs through the heart of the season.

If you’re looking for a simple, but deeply meaningful, Christmas music tradition to build in your home, here is a curated list of pieces that will elevate your Advent and Christmas listening while gently introducing your children to the great heritage of Western music.

1. Corelli’s “Christmas Concerto”

Written around 1690, Corelli’s Christmas Concerto is one of the earliest instrumental works composed specifically for Christmas Eve. Its famous Pastorale movement evokes the shepherds outside Bethlehem with its gentle, rocking rhythms.

This is ideal background music for peaceful evenings, candlelight, or quiet family reading time. It’s accessible, warm, and an excellent introduction to Baroque string music.

2. Bach’s “Christmas Oratorio”

Few composers express the joy and majesty of Christmas as thoroughly as Johann Sebastian Bach. His Christmas Oratorio consists of six cantatas intended to be performed throughout the twelve days of Christmas.

If you want just one movement to start with, try the opening chorus. It’s bright, energetic, and full of trumpets. This piece connects Scripture, theology, and musical excellence in a way that is likely to resonate with listeners of all ages.

3. Renaissance Polyphony

For moments of quiet reflection, nothing surpasses the purity of Renaissance choral music. Composers like Palestrina, Victoria, and Praetorius wrote Nativity motets that are serene, reverent, and timeless.

I especially recommend Palestrina's Hodie Christus Natus Est.

This piece creates an atmosphere of stillness and wonder that is perfect for Advent mornings or evening devotions. There is a lovely recording sung by the Poor Clare Sisters available to stream.

4. Traditional Sacred Carols with Ancient Roots

Many of our most beloved carols reach back centuries. Introducing their origins helps students recognize that celebrating Christmas music is part of a long Christian heritage.

A few to explore:

• O Come, O Come Emmanuel – medieval origins

• Of the Father’s Love Begotten – based on a 4th-century poem

• Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming – 15th-century German melody

Singing or listening to these connects your homeschool to the historic church and cultivates a sense of continuity across the generations.

5. Tchaikovsky’s “Nutcracker Suite”

While The Nutcracker has become a cultural tradition, it is also an excellent musical introduction for children. The storytelling elements, orchestral colors, and memorable melodies are perfect for younger listeners as well as teens.

The celeste, featured in the Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy, is especially fun for kids to identify—it sounds like a musical jewelry box.

6. Britten’s “A Ceremony of Carols”

For something slightly more modern but still entirely accessible, explore Benjamin Britten’s A Ceremony of Carols. Written in 1942 for treble choir and harp, it blends medieval texts with a fresh, luminous musical style.

This work is bright, contemplative, and beautiful. It’s particularly good for families with older students who want to experience something beyond the familiar.

Why This Music Matters for Classical Homeschoolers

Introducing rich, historical Christmas music isn’t simply about tradition - it’s about forming the imagination.

This kind of music cultivates:

• attentiveness

• wonder

• reverence

• cultural literacy

• a connection to the great works of the past

• a more contemplative experience of the season.

In a classical education, the fine arts are not extras or seasonal add-ons. They shape the soul. They nourish the moral imagination. And at Christmas especially, they help the whole family enter into the season with depth and meaning.

If You Want to Go Deeper

If you’re looking for a structured, engaging way for your middle or high schooler to understand a broad sweep of Western music, take a look at the MusicIQ programs. The courses introduce students to the great works and composers of every major era, with listening guides, short lessons, and clear explanations designed for non-musicians.

It’s a beautiful way to bring the richness of music history into your homeschool—both at Christmas and throughout the year.

Happy listening, and merry Christmas!