Rockin Around the Christmas Tree By Patrick Gaffney

Rockin Around the Christmas Tree was written by Johnny Marks. Johnny Marks was born on November 10, 1909 in lovely Mt. Vernon, NY. After graduating college, Marks went overseas to Paris to study music. When he came home he worked as a radio producer and supplied music to the troops of WWI. Marks most famous piece, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, written in 1949, was one of many songs that got him inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. When Marks released Rockin Around the Christmas Tree in 1958, the song was what I like to call a flop. The song never reached high up on the record charts until two years after its original release when the songs performer, 13 year old Brenda Lee, became more popular and the song finally got rolling. The song was recorded in a freezing cold studio, with a Christmas tree set up just to get right set of mind going. Rockin Around the Christmas Tree is a very upbeat and f ast moving song. It has difficult yet intriguing rhythms that the students can now play perfectly. The songs famous melody has an uplifting connotation, reflective of the connotation within its genre, said Jordan Berger, a senior member of the Plymouth Whitemarsh Concert Band. Lastly, there are a lot of notes that we arent used to playing, which makes the peace just as difficult. I love playing this song because it reminds me of when I was a kid putting Christmas ornaments on the tree with my mom and dad. I remember always having this song playing in the background as we got ready for Saint Nicks arrival. I also enjoy playing this song because Ive heard it so many times on the radio, and it makes me feel good that I can play the same song that Ive heard over and over again played professionally.

Work Cited "Johnny Marks." Johnny Marks. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Nov. 2012. <http://www.hymnsandcarolsofchristmas.com/Hymns_and_Carols/Biographies/johnny_ marks.htm>. "Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree." By Brenda Lee Songfacts. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Nov. 2012. <http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=10188>.