The Holly and The Ivy ~ George Winston

[kirification]

this always makes me cry when it goes into the minor section. It never fails.

[MegaTiggers]

How very beautiful.This represents all that is good in the world.I feel joyful and reminicent of the past.

[jakelinaj]

Me dan ganas de morir, escuchando esto. Es sublimemente bello.

[RocklandSteet]

which one Jabb?

[reneen1018]

The Good parts:

0:01-1:30

3:46-4:40

[DonMichael]

@reneen1018 Hahaha you left out all of Winston's deviations from the original! :)

[TIMOTHYSAARINEN]

Nobody is naming their daughters Holly anymore. How many girls named Caitlyn does the world need?

[adabee]

@TIMOTHYSAARINEN My daughter's name is Holly. :) I bet she remembers this song too; I'll send her the link and see.

[CanadianEpicGamer]

Forget learning this by ear there's a tons of stuff everywhere you can't do it get the sheet music that the real one the George Winston made him self and learn from that cause that the only way I have it and it hard for me and I played piano for my whole life no jokes I'm 13 played for 10

[BaneOfXistence4]

I love that transition @2:04 and how it just goes from major to minor.

[europa599]

Love Winston.

[mkubicka]

that is fast!

[Jabberham]

did anyone else notice the Christmas tree from 0:00 - 4:57 ?

[crs98l]

@Jabberham no i didnt it must have just been there a few seconds cause i never saw a tree @ all. i must have looked away for a second.... or blinked. :) lol.

[jaromirojar]

3years ago I was infected by flu, I got a very high fever almost at 40 degree C and in a coma. my ear was plugged with the song, it showed me a beautiful but sad story of two young people in love. Their names are Holly and Ivy. From the beginning to the end, two people grew up together from kids running across the field of boundless golden wheats holding hands together to a matured youth love and fight against their family. finally, they two jumped off the high cliff together in a purple night.

[crwinters13]

I love George Wintson's music and have for over 20 years. It helped me when I helped my mother 16 years ago when she was dying of cancer. And now it's helping again while helping my only brother during his last few weeks of life and he has cancer also. This music really helps to strengthen and calm your inner peace when you need to stay strong as a caregiver. Love to my brother now and forever.

[assenthia]

@crwinters13 I lost my husband and our son to cancer. The Holidays are hard to get

through, but this song always brings back memories of happier times. No matter

what Season it is.

.

[coachorr]

I think I have said this before, but for 30 years what this song has meant to me is not Christmas, but encouragement. As the song begins there is one bird who can fly and he wants to encourage another bird who can't. And when the bird who cannot fly just takes a leap of faith he almost flies instantaneously and the two make wonderful magic together.

[coachorr]

Unbelievable



[BigTex1992]

They used to play this song over the loud speaker at the Winn-Dixie store that I used to work at. I've been looking for it for years! Thanks for posting it!

[princessclararox]

there are some serious problems with this 1 person who disliked this

this is a very beautiful song.

god bless all <3

[darkangelscruffy]

Fun pagan song facts: In pre-Christian tradition, rigid prickly holly represents masculinity, while soft twining ivy represents femininity. Together they promise rebirth in the Spring. The 'rising of the sun' refers to the Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year after which the days begin to lengthen. The 'running of the deer' refers to the Stag Lord, the male consort of Moon Goddess. Winter is the time of the male element - the fertile female element peaks at Litha, the Summer Solstice.

[tgcat86]

@darkangelscruffy That's great to learn the rich pagan history of the song, but the song, like the world itself, blossemed all the more with the birth of Jesus. Merry Christmas!

[darkangelscruffy]

@tgcat86 Ah, to each his own ^^ Happy Yule and blessed be!

[galan98]

I play this year-round. I never tire of it. Just beautiful.

[Jcolinsol]

The holly and the ivy, when they are both full grown,

Of all the trees that are in the wood, the holly bears the crown

[machomusclevegas]

I don't get it. Why does current American culture subject us all to so much schlock xmas music for one whole unbearable month every year, when in fact there are a few individuals who have re-interpreted the classics so passionately that the results take your breath away. Thank you GeorgeWinston: Someone gave me your "Winter" album many years ago, and I don't really want to hear it except for a couple weeks before Christmas, so I will never tire of this piece.

[vote4chel]

i love this piece :D

[geratonia]

marry x mas and happy new year

[coachorr]

This is going to sound kind of corny, but when I hear this piece by GW, I think of two birds singing together. In the beginning one of the fowl has not yet learned to sing and has not become what he can become and the other one can fly and is trying to coax the other into flying, because it is the most wonderful thing that any bird can do. And finally the bird on the branch jumps off, spreads his wings and they both take off in flight...Corny right?

[MelikUK]

@coachorr yes definitly corny, but nice as well :)

[wonderlandd97]

@coachorr i think of two people meeting at a ball, starting to date, then when the music gets all soft around 1;20 its their wedding, then it starts again and its their kids, then at like 2:20 theres a tragety or something, then at 3:40 its like their growing old then when the melody starts up again their imagining the night they met... then everytime the melody plays at the very end they start getting more worried then at the end every1 in the room drops... now THATS corny. lol

[spartanhector]

the holly the ivy when they are both full grown of all the trees that in the woods the holly bears the crown...................

[7435ash]

@spartanhector The shining of the sun And the running of the deer The playing of the merry organ Sweet singing of the choir...

[spartanhector]

at the school I sing this song because of the choir. :)

[aoeiifreak]

This song brings tears to my eyes...what a masterpiece. It will always remind me of my family.

[tachikoma747]

I saw George Winston when he came to the Avalon Theatre in Easton and he played this song. Absolutely amazing

[MrJaystheman]

I absolutely love this

[robertduncanmartin]

this is not french tune. It is from Gloucestershire, England, and was collected by English folk song collector Cecil Shart in 1911. The carol was depicted on an English stamp from 1982 (one of the Christmas 1982 stamp set).

[Bluemerlin32]

To Shanniquitie - I guess that's your Indian name and means "Talks lots of shit". Look in your history books, you have no idea what you're talking about. The Holly & The Ivy certainly does have pagan roots, and to anyone ith eyes to see, that;'s part of the magic of Christmas.. Frightening how some people who know nothing always think themselves experts on every subject. Ask somone for a few history books for your next Christmas present please.

[ElJorro]

Beautiful!

[molinmusic]

Gorgeous!

[applewormcar]

those ancient english folk songs you refer to would have likely been to a different tune & the discription may well be saying the tune, rather than the content of the song has travelled from france somehow. Not everybody accepted 'christmas' , but i think we should accept this is beautiful music & no cause for debate. i can't play like that! Wonderful, absolutely wonderful!

[EuthanizeReligion]

The origins of this song are Pagan not French.

[TheFallchild336]

Holly. Ivy. Two very Pagan symbols of YULE, later adopted by the Christian Roman Empire (and eventually called Christmas) so that the Pagans they were forcing to Christianity could still have some of their traditions and make conversion easier. Beautiful song nonetheless. If it brings me Yule Tide cheer, it can bring the next person Christmas cheer. Have a blessed season!

[Shanniquitie]

bah, what a trite examination of cultural history that was. presumably you haven't studied this.... the symbols are natural, they are adopted by anybody as they see fit. there is no appropriation of something that cannot belong to another. don't cheapen yourself by mouthing idiocies. Merry Christmas!

[neatdesign]

Although this is a Christmas carol, this song always reminds me of Thanksgiving (today!). My parents had this on cassette when it first came out in the '80s and we always listened to it while putting together -- and then eating -- our Thanksgiving meal. That's when I was 9-10 years old; I'm 37 now. :) Thanks so much for posting this, it brings back lovely, happy memories.

[EphemeronRadiance]

@neatdesign Oh man. Me too. No, absolutely. And all through the subsequent weeks, my brother and I would put on Carol of the Bells and dance around in our living room….

[evanwilliams21]

the information the author listed about this song was printed inside the album itself. beautiful either way though!

[days2NiGHTS2days]

Not sure where you've got your information from regarding french origins; the earliest references to this song are 14th century english folk songs in which the theme was Holly Vs Ivy as an allegory for man Vs woman. Beautiful rendition, nonetheless!

[ashlloydreine]

im gonna play this song on piano...

[illlovepierre]

this song is so beautiful...

[TheLady2Love]

you´re righzt!

[102spirefm]

im in my city chiour and i love it i really helped me learn the line with out the backgroud singging

[emi1534]

I am attempting to learn this piece by ear, (on piano) thankyou for sharing.

[periodot7]

love it

[LynzeeC83]

I <3 this song....thanks for sharing. :)

[sweetbearybear]

this is one of the most beautifulest songs i ever heared.

[7435ash]

@sweetbearybear nice word

[maple1255]

@sweetbearybear Very sweet comment, I like this song too :)