Here’s another lovely Christmas single you can include in your holiday music rotation, an instrumental version of O Holy Night from Kristin Scott Benson.
Music is the family business for Kristin, who plays banjo with The Grascals. Her husband, Wayne Benson, is also a touring musician, on mandolin with IIIrd Tyme Out. So when she decided to create a single for release during this season, she knew right where to go for some accompaniment.
Benson tells us that she has had a special fondness all her life for this French carol, composed more than 150 years ago. It’s often thought of as a challenging song for vocalists, but may not be the first one you think of when it comes to the five string banjo.
“I’ve loved this song since I was a kid. A guy at our church would sing it at every Christmas Eve service, and it has always put me in the mindset of worship. I originally wanted to do this as a solo banjo piece, but loved all the choir arrangements people have created, so Wayne added mandolin and mandola parts to have a similar effect.”
O Holy Night is available wherever you stream or download music online, and to radio programmers via AirPlay Direct.
Remember that if you want to come back and check all the new Christmas bluegrass for 2018 when you’re in more of a mind for it, just save this link.
