John Williams Merry Christmas

John Willaims Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas, from Home Alone 2 Program Notes

In 1992, a young Macaulay Culkin starred in this John Hughes sequel to the 1990 original. Kevin McCallister’s family are going to Florida for Christmas, which he thinks is silly. Somehow, he’s separated from his family at the airport, and ends up alone in

New York City with his father’s credit card. Staying at the Plaza Hotel, the French-Renaissance Chateau-styled hotel at 5th Avenue and Central Park, he befriends a philanthropic toy-store owner, who’s the unwitting next victim of the villains from the original Home Alone. Kevin defeats them, while taking in iconic New York sights (Carnegie Hall, Rockefeller Center), before being reunited with his family.

This carol, by John Williams (composer for Star Wars, Jurassic Park, Schindler’s List, Superman, ET, and many others) is a cheerful and glittery piece, especially in its use of brass, festive sleigh bells, and extravagant half-step direct modulation, where the music changes key by moving slightly higher.

Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas! Sing a song for the glorious season. Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas! Sing a song for a happy new year. Sing merrily, merrily, loud and strong, Welcome the wintry season. Just follow along with the holiday song. Santa is here again, yes!

Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas! Sing a song for the glorious season. Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas! Sing a song for a happy new year. The reindeer fly, if you need any proof. It’s merely a matter of reason. Just listen, you’ll hear when they land on the roof. Santa is here again, yes!

Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas! Sing a song for the glorious season. Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas! Sing a song for a happy new year. Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas! Sing a song for the glorious season. Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas! It’s a magical, miracle, annual, lyrical, Sing-along now, sing a song for a happy new year!