United States Navy Band performs “O Holy Night” 

by Adolphe-Charles Adam arranged by Walter Afanasieff and Mariah Carey, adapted by Musician 1st Class Tim Hill
Commodores Jazz Ensemble Sea Chanters Chorus conductor: Capt. Brian Walden soloist: Musician 1st Class Dennys Moura

United States Navy Band performs White Christmas

12 Days of Christmas

12 Days of Christmas U.S. Navy Band Sideboys
Performed live in 2013 at DAR Constitution Hall, Washington, D.C.
This version of “12 Days of Christmas” was arranged by Richard Gregory. Gregory first started working on the arrangement while in the Navy in the 1950s. He finalized it in the 1960s when he founded a student a cappella group called the Caterwaulers at the Williston Northampton School in Easthampton, Mass. (information from 2008 interview of Gregory by author Mickey Rapkin)

Dueling Jingle Bells

United States Navy Band
A true audience favorite! Dueling Jingle Bells (with a special Sci-Fi treat) Senior Chief Petty Officer Keith Arneson, banjo Petty Officer 1st Class Joe Friedman, guitar From our 2015 Holiday Concert

THE CANADIAN TENORS – 

The President’s Own” United States Marine Big Band performs Irving Berlin’s “White Christmas,” arranged by Mike Crotty, on December 14, 2014, in John Philip Sousa Band Hall at Marine Barracks Annex in Washington, D.C

Christmas tree in East Room of White House. Washington, D.C., Dec. 23, 1936. Sightseers to the White House today were given an added thrill as they were allowed to view the huge Christmas tree set up in the East Room

United States Navy Band

Sleigh Ride Duet Fantasy

“The President’s Own” United States Marine Band Brass performs Mel Torme’s The Christmas Song arranged by Christopher Mowat, on December 21, 2014, in John Philip Sousa Band Hall at the Marine Barracks Annex in Washington, D.C. Conducted by Gunnery Sgt. Robert Singer.

The United States Air Force Band Christmas Flash Mob 2017 

The gift of music is a wonderful way to bring together family and friends to celebrate this time of year. The season also reminds us that the freedom we enjoy as Americans remain one of our greatest gifts. To celebrate the start of the 2017 holiday season, we surprised visitors at the Gaylord National Convention Center in National Harbor, Maryland with a surprise performance of “Dona Nobis Pacem” and “We Wish You a Merry Christmas.”

The United States Air Force Band Christmas 2014 flash mob at the Air & Space Museum 

President Ronald Reagan at the 1985 Christmas in Washington Special

Print shows President-elect William McKinley sitting in a chair, reading a magazine, with a Christmas tree in the background; Puck is standing at the door on the left, with a lithographic pen and a sign that states “Public Office is a Public Trust” that he is presenting to McKinley for his office in the White House. Contributor NamesTaylor, Charles Jay, 1855-1929, artist Created / PublishedN.Y.: Published by Keppler & Schwarzmann, 1896 December 23

SummaryIllustration shows lame duck president William H. Taft having Christmas dinner at the White House, served by the Republican elephant, when the Democratic donkey bursts through a window, making an “informal” visit, causing the Republican elephant spill the “Soup”.Contributor Names / Keppler, Udo J., 1872-1956, artist / Published in New York. : Published by Keppler & Schwarzmann, Puck Building, 1912 December 25.

Joy to the World by Lowell Mason Country Current Recorded at DAR Constitution Hall, Washington, D.C. on Dec. 21, 2014. United States Navy Band

The illustration shows a group of office-seekers labeled “McLean, Pulitzer, Dorsheimer, Blackburn, McLaughlin, Hill, [and] Dana” singing Christmas carols outside the “White House” where President Cleveland is visible through a window. Their carol goes: “God rest you, merry gentlemen, / May nothing you dismay; / Remember us poor spoilsmen left / This blessed Christmas Day. / Since Christmas comes but once a year, / Oh, let us share your Christmas cheer, / And chuck one little office here / On Christmas Day in the A.M.”

Print shows several members of Congress around a large Christmas tree labeled “Tax Surplus” decorated with money bags labeled “Surplus”; the legislators carry bags in which to place the bags of surplus they pluck from the tree. Among those identified are Charles W. Jones holding a bag labeled “Naval”, William E. Chandler holding a bag labeled “Subsidies for a Merchant Steam Marine”, William Mahone holding a bag labeled “Public Buildings and Grounds”, John A. Logan holding a bag labeled “Appropriations” and reaching for a sack on the tree, Joseph W. Keifer lifting George M. Robeson holding a bag labeled “Partners in the New Naval Scheme”, John Roach holding a bag labeled “New Navy Scheme”, Henry L. Dawes holding a bag labeled “River & Harbor Bill”, Francis M. Cockrell holding a bag labeled “Improvement of Mississippi River”, Eugene Hale holding a bag labeled “River & Harbor Bill”, John J. Ingalls holding a bag labeled “More Pensions”, Benjamin F. Jonas holding a bag labeled “Improvement of Mississippi River”, and Elbridge G. Lapham who is speaking to two well-dressed women, one holding a bag labeled “Lobby”, he is also the angel holding a banner labeled “Help Yourself” at the top of the tree. Uncle Sam dances with three men in the foreground and, on the right, a lone “Tax Payer” stands outside in the snow.

Recorded from The U.S. Army Band’s 2015 American Holiday Festival at DAR Constitution Hall, Washington, DC, December 4-6, 2015 |
Bluegrass Christmas Medley, arr. MSG Michael Brown| Joy to the World; Children, Go Where I Send Thee; and Christmas is Near | SFC Dean G. Woods, guitar. SFC Marlisa D. Woods, fiddle. MSG Michael J. Ford, harmonica. SFC Kristopher C. Armstrong, string bass. CW5 (ret.) Charles Vollherbst, banjo

Boogie Woogie Santa Claus by Leon René arr. by Senior Chief Musician Scott Silbert Commodores Jazz Ensemble Conductor: Capt. Brian Walden vocalist: Musician 1st Class Kristine Hsia Recorded at DAR Constitution Hall, Washington D.C. on Dec. 21, 2014

GIRL SCOUTS GIVE FIRST LADY FLOWERS. PAULINE MARTIN, MEMBER OF TROOP NO. 23 OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA GIRL SCOUTS OF AMERICA, PRESENTS A WREATH OF FLOWERS TO MRS. FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT AT THE CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION IN WASHINGTON ON CHRISTMAS EVE IN 1934.

PRESIDENT AND FAMILY LEAVE WHITE HOUSE FOR CHRISTMAS CHURCH SERVICES. WASHINGTON, D.C. December 25. PRESIDENT AND MRS. ROOSEVELT WITH MEMBERS OF THEIR FAMILY LEAVING THE WHITE HOUSE TODAY FOR ST. THOMAS EPISCOPAL CHURCH WHERE THEY ATTENDED CHRISTMAS SERVICES. L TO R: MRS. J. ROOSEVELT, SISTER-IN-LAW OF THE PRESIDENT; MRS. FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT; MRS. SARAH ROOSEVELT, MOTHER OF THE PRESIDENT; PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT; JAMES ROOSEVELT; MRS. JAMES ROOSEVELT; FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT, JR; AND HARRY HOPKINS, NEW SECRETARY OF COMMERCE. IN THE FRONT ARE SARAH DELANO ROOSEVELT, DAUGHTER OF MR. AND MRS. JAMES ROOSEVELT, AND DIANA HOPKINS, DAUGHTER OF HARRY HOPKINS. Harris & Ewing, photographer created / Published[1938] December 25, 1938.

Sleigh Ride Duet Fantasy

Composed by Leroy Anderson Arranged by Zach Heyde and Frank Tedesco Petty Officers 1st Class Justin Cody and Dan Lamaestra Recorded Live at the United States Navy Band Annual Holiday Concert at DAR Constitution Hall on Dec. 21, 2014.

PRESIDENT ATTENDS CHURCH. WASHINGTON, D.C. December 25, 1936. PRESIDENT AND THE PRESIDENTIAL FAMILY ATTEND SERVICES HERE IN WASHINGTON ON CHRISTMAS DAY, PHOTO SHOWS, L TO R IN THE CAR: THE PRESIDENT, SISSIE DALL, MRS. JAMES ROOSEVELT, THE PRESIDENT’S MOTHER, JAMES ROOSEVELT, AND BUZZIE DALL

You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch
By Albert Hague Arranged by Senior Chief Musician Scott Silbert Commodores Jazz Ensemble
Conducted by Capt. Brian Walden Vocalist: Chief Musician Courtney Williams Recorded at DAR Constitution Hall, Washington D.C. Dec. 21, 2014

Midshipmen donate dolls for poor kiddies of Capitol. Washington D.C., Dec 22, 1937. Hundreds of midshipmen from Annapolis enroute to their homes for the holidays arrived in Washington today, their arms loaded with dolls for the poor kiddies of the city. The dolls were donated to the dollhouse in the center of the city from where they will be distributed to unfortunate youngsters on Christmas Day. Dec. 27, 1937.

First Lady assists Santa.
Mrs. Herbert Hoover took an active part in the Christmas affair for Washington’s less fortunate residents. She is shown handing out one of the 1,500 bags of food and presents which were distributed by the Central Union Mission at a party held at the Fox Theatre. Assisting Mrs. Hoover are Santa Claus, in the person of John S. Bennett, and Mrs. Bennett, who have charge of the Mission. December 24, 1930.