Last month we looked at our all-time number one best-selling item: ‘Our First Nativity‘. But what’s number 2 and number 3 on the list? The answer to both questions is ‘C-H-R-I-S-T-M-A-S Spells Christmas’.
Number two on the list is C-H-R-I-S-T-M-A-S Spells Christmas for Infants (ages 3 to 7). Then at number three it’s C-H-R-I-S-T-M-A-S Spells Christmas for Juniors (ages 7 to 11+).
C-H-R… Spells Christmas – Infant Version
The Infant version was one of Learn2soar Music’s first publications, written in 2003. From then, until 2011’s ‘Our First Nativity’ was published, it was consistently our best-selling item. In a similar way to ‘Our First Nativity’, the genius of ‘C-H-R… Spells Christmas’ is in its utter simplicity. The performance consists of little more than nine different, simple, catchy songs, for the nine letters that spell the word ‘Christmas’, that all come together to tell the biblical Nativity story.
What does the writer say?
We asked Stuart Ross about the origins of ‘C-H-R… Spells Christmas’:
“Over the years I had seen three different schools and churches cobble together their own versions of a ‘C-H-R… Spells Christmas’ sort of performance. But there was never any logical flow to any of it. It would be “‘C’ is for Carols,” then the children would sing ‘Hark The Herald Angels’. Then it would be “‘H’ is for Holly,” then they would sing ‘The Holly and the Ivy’, followed by ‘Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer’ for ‘R’, and so on.
I wanted to take that idea and use it to tell the complete Nativity story. My wife (Rachel) and I sat down one evening with a bottle of wine and created the first draft of the script in a few hours. Then over the next few weeks I wrote and recorded the music. Finally, I got my 5-year-old daughter (Corinne) to record all the vocals. It was even more of a family affair, when my mother (Annette) came up with a longer rhyming script, which could go with all the songs. And hey presto, ‘C-H-R… Spells Christmas’ was born.”
C-H-R… Spells Christmas – Junior Version
The Junior version followed four years later. This time it was less of a family affair, with Stuart Ross creating the musical himself. Though his daughter still performed many of the lead vocals, with his son Jamie adding in some of the background vocals.
The songs were a lot more substantial, with a chart music feel to many of them. The hilarious script added real weight, providing the option of meaty parts for any cast.
Stuart has previously spoken about ‘C-H-R Spells Christmas’ back in 2013, when he recalled how it’s publication became the turning point in Learn2soar’s fortunes:
“The glowing feedback from schools was like nothing we’d ever seen before. It was simply overwhelming and then the icing on the cake was when the BBC broadcast a large section of it over the Christmas holidays. The following year, sales went through the roof and have grown steadily ever since. “
… and the rest is history.
Both versions of ‘C-H-R… Spells Christmas’ can be downloaded for as little as £19.99.