Product Description
*The Christmas Song* Leadsheet Style
The song
*The Christmas Song*, popularly known as *Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire*, is one of the most enduring Christmas classics and was composed in 1945 by Mel Tormé and Bob Wells. According to Tormé, the song was born on an extremely hot summer day in Los Angeles. While visiting his friend Bob Wells, he found a few phrases written on a notepad, such as "chestnuts roasting on an open fire" and "Jack Frost nipping at your nose," which Wells had written to mentally cool down from the intense heat. Tormé found the phrases interesting, and together, in about 40 minutes, they composed the entire song.
The first recording was made by the iconic singer Nat King Cole in 1946, and this version quickly became the most known and revered. In fact, Nat King Cole recorded the song four times throughout his career, with the final version in 1961 becoming the most famous. The song captures a cozy and nostalgic image of Christmas, with references to typical winter and holiday elements, while carrying a poetic simplicity that has resonated across generations.
"The Christmas Song" is cherished for its smooth melody and sentimental lyrics, evoking warmth, coziness, and togetherness. It is a true Christmas anthem and is considered one of the most reinterpreted songs by artists of various styles and eras, making it one of the definitive classics of the holiday season.
This product was created by a member of ArrangeMe, Hal Leonard's global self-publishing community of independent composers, arrangers, and songwriters. ArrangeMe allows for the publication of unique arrangements of both popular titles and original compositions from a wide variety of voices and backgrounds.