Number Three – Christmas

Release Date: Late 1960s

O, Holy Night
O Little Town of Bethlehem
O Come, O Come, Emanuel
As With Gladness, Men of Old
It Came Upon The Midnight Clear
Joy To The World
O, Come, All Ye Faithful
Silent Night
We Three Kings of Orient
Once In Royal David’s City
The First Noel
Angels We Have Heard On High

About This Release

Unique is the word for the warm and touching renditions in this unusual Muzak album. Unique because these beloved traditional carols have been specially arranged and recorded by Muzak. Unique because we have created them not for commercial entertainment use, but to be included as elements in standard Muzak programs. Specifically designed to enhance the Christmas mood and spirit, each carol also serves a functional purpose within the Muzak programming concept. Unique, too, is the dramatic art on the cover, a photographic interpretation of Christmas in contemporary idiom. Framed by three glistening stars, the impressionistic Christmas tree is a study in kinetics: exciting cartwheels of color, suspended in space by stabs of strobe light. The colors and brightness of the Christmas motif also illustrate the exclusive ascending sequence that is the foundation of Muzak programming. Every quarter-hour of functional Muzak begins relatively quietly and grows steadily more stimulating. Why? Because psychological experiments show that this kind of program helps people work more effectively. Inappropriate programming – a descending sequence, or a random order – could actually reduce efficiency. Since an ascending program begins with low stimulation, the lower left area of the art uses quiet, restful blues. As we progress upward and to the right, the colors become more intense, more vivid, and more stimulating. The crimson-haloed star in the upper right corner symbolizes the climax of the quarter-hour, with deep, forceful color accenting the rugged strength of straight lines and sharp angles. We hope this special album of Christmas Muzak will enhance your holiday happiness, just as Muzak fosters a pleasant and productive environment throughout the rest of the year.