Christmas, Michael W. Smith

Michael W. Smith produced a Christmas album in 1989 titled simply Christmas. The album came out twenty-three years ago. I have had the album for only a few years. I listened to it this season before I listened to Bryan Duncan’s album. I found that I was more ready to listen to Duncan’s album for a second time than to Smith’s. Michael W. Smith wrote some beautiful melodies for the album. Overall, his album, produced with Ronn Huff, is lovely, but I am not as ready to listen to it repeatedly.

Michael writes on the insert: “I’ve dreamed of doing this for as long as I can remember. Extra special thanks for always being as excited about Christmas as I am! You four are the heart of my dreams and my songs.” And it sounds like that’s exactly what it is—an effort to make a dream come true. While I do appreciate his talent and his way of bringing a new approach to familiar carol, I might describe the album as somewhat self-serving. I can see that it is a result of work, of effort, as if the project was attempting to be something very great in the style of the greats. Some of the compositions seem labored. It was if he came to a point in his career where he said, “I want to do this and I have the resources, so I shall proceed.” I wonder how it was received when it was released.

“Anthem for Christmas” has a long formal introduction, moving slowly to the voice, backed by strings. And I can see why it needs to build, but it has a formality that makes it “less singable.” On “Christ the Messiah,” for me, an affectedness comes through. It is as if the songs were written with a goal of fitting a style, of making it happen. Some portions seem a bit forced.

Smith’s piano composition “First Snowfall” is delightful. I can see that I would enjoy a Michael W. Smith piano-only album. His instrumental trilogy is his presentation of “Look, I can arrange music in the style of the great composers.” What is it in me that makes this a challenge to my enjoyment of the album? Still, the beauty of two of the songs makes glad I have the album in my collection.

“No Eye Had Seen,” sung with Amy Grant, is a beautiful song—a lovely melody with lovely lyrics. I will definitely look for a lead sheet for this one or learn to play it by ear. I want play it (on piano) this Christmas season at church. Very pretty. Heart-touching.

“All Is Well” is another one that makes me close my eyes in reverie to enjoy its beauty. The boy soprano is backed by The American Boychoir School.

With my very limited musical skill, his arrangements make me want to play around with restyling familiar songs. I recall some piano lessons where a theme was learned in the style of various composers. It was fun to learn about those different styles.