Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas – Learning Tracks

Written by Hugh Martin and Ralph Blane in 1943 and sung by Judy Garland in the musical “Meet me in St Louis”.  In 1957 Frank Sinatra asked Hugh Martin to change the line “until then we’ll have to muddle through somehow” to something a bit more cheery for his album “A Jolly Christmas”.  It was changed to “hang a shining star upon the highest bow”.  I have kept the original lyrics which are rather sad but much nicer to sing.

It needs warm, legato singing and flexible tempo – like the recording. The harmonies (alto, tenor and bass) need to be smooth and warm and supportive of the melody from the sopranos.  The crescendo in the last phrase “until then we’ll have to muddle through somehow” should be controlled and the sweetness maintained throughout.

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