The History Behind Jewish American Composers Who Wrote Christmas Classics
Some of America’s greatest Christmas music staples were created by Jewish composers.
Summer Evans
Did you know that many of the most popular American Christmas songs were written by Jewish composers? Adam Koplan, the artistic director of Flying Carpet Theatre Company shared the stories behind some of these enduring songs.
Irving Berlin, also known as”America’s composer,” wrote “White Christmas” for a 1942 movie. During that time, it was the middle of World War II and Berlin wanted to go in a different direction with the film and focus more on rural nostalgia.
“I think in some ways Berlin recognized the most beautiful aspects of the holiday by being somewhat of an outsider,” Koplan said.
“Silver Bells” was written by Jay Livingston with lyrics by Ray Bernard Evans. Both grew up in Eastern European Jewish households. The song was original written for comedian Bob Hope. Fun fact: the original title for the song was called “Tinkle Bells,” until the composer’s wife persuaded him to change the name.
John David Marks, another Jewish composer, wrote “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” “Rocking Around the Christmas Tree,” and “A Jolly Holly Christmas.”
Robert Wells, whose original name was Robert Levinson, wrote “The Christmas Song” with Mel Tormé. Both were Jewish Americans, and they wrote this song in response to the 1945 heatwave in California.
“I think that there’s this deep nostalgia for something you would love to go back to in a different life and I think that’s part of what allowed them to write this beautiful song,” Koplan said.
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