As I was preparing to head off for church two Sundays ago I listened to a conversation on the radio about Christmas music. The host offered "I love that carol" in response to a traditional Christmas carol. She then asked her guest "do you have a favorite carol?" The person responded by naming what I would call a Christmas song, a secular piece celebrating the season. There are some wonderful songs of the season -- I enjoy Der Bingle's version of White Christmas -- but to my mind they aren't carols unless they have something to do with the birth of Christ. Good King Wenceslas is an exception to the rule, but you get what I mean.
Sunday evening a gang of people gathered after an outing to the zoo for The Animal's Christmas and they sang carols. On Boxing Day morning (a Sunday) we will be singing carol requests. Truth be told, those Christmas songs do sneak in, but the overall focus is Jesus.
Do you have a favorite carol? How about a favorite Christmas song? Are the songs bumping the carols in our increasingly secular and politically correct society?
Yes oh Yes - the seasonal songs are bumping out the Christmas carols. This afternoon, I attended my nieces'school 'holiday concert' and at this moment, I am so sick of We wish you a merry Christmas, Frosty the Snowman and Jingle Bells. I realize and appreciate that the school does not want to sing or play Christmas carols but there is a wonderful selection of seasonal songs other the above mentioned three - White Christmas, Blue Christmas, Home for Christmas, Chestnuts roasting, Jingle Bell Rock, to name but a few. But to give the school credit, there was a solo from a Grade 7/8 student singing all 3 verses of Silent Night during the concert and she did a wonderful job. My favorite non carol song - White Christmas and you're right David - nobody does it like Bing. My favorite carol - it's hard to choose but at the moment it is tied between O Come All Ye Faithful and Joy to the World (although in reality, Joy to the World is not really a carol because, it has no mention of Christ's birth). Perhaps I will come to St. Paul's on Boxing Day if your service is a carol service - since I was not able to sing at my church's carol service. Merry singing!
ReplyDeleteMy all time favourite carol and the one that makes me feel the "true meaning of Christmas" is Lo How A Rose E're Blooming. Now I'm thinking "is this actually in the hymn book" or have I just sung it so much in choirs that I think it is?
ReplyDeleteI heard that you had a wonderful carol sing on Sunday, in large part to the enthusiasm of the kids! AND that the 12 Days of Christmas went well! You can be sure I was there in spirit, especially when you got to five gold rings!
I would like to give a little "shout out" (if I may) to the folks of the United Church in Nova Scotia. A storm went through on Monday night and destroyed at least 50 of the cabins in their Church Camp in Berwick. My cousin and family go to this camp every year and it has been a very important part of their lives. We can only hope that the community can come together and get the camp up and running for the summer!
I love the carols. They are one of the things I look most forward to as Christmas approaches.
ReplyDeleteI noticed at a Sunday afternoon church service recently, at a longterm care facility, that many residents are able to sing along with the comforting words of these old carols, yet are able to remember little else, as they go through their days.
On the other end, my teens and tweens are loving all the new versions that are hitting the airwaves of the old traditionals...like Taylor Swift's version of Silent Night...I teeter on those, beautiful yes, but the original seemed near perfect to me.
Watch out if you live in Wilmot this weekend as some of our teens will be warbling at your door. It is an event they look forward to, (and we hope you do too.)
You know you are welcome Susan. Yes, some of those old chesnuts are sung so often they should be roasted over an open fire. Mind you, I look at some of the interesting newer carols and realize that we have to repeat the "greatest hits" --or else!
ReplyDeleteLo, How a Rose E'er Blooming is in Voices United, number eight. The words date to the 15th century and the tune to the 19th century. A tad before your time Lynn, but some of my favorites are centuries old as well.
This new tradition (how many years before it is just a tradition?) of the young people singing in Wilmot Creel is lovely. I'm glad you're continuing Laura.
I always play "Good King Wenceslas," "Angels We Have Heard on High" and "The Holly & The Ivy" in a medley when I sit down to play at Christmas time functions.
ReplyDeleteSome of the most beautiful music ever was written for this beautiful time of year. We should always keep that in mind.
One of my favourite Christmas songs is "Have Yourself a Merry Christmas. I am singing it with two others on Sunday at a community choir concert, and I love the harmonies that we have created.
ReplyDeleteAs for carols, I love Silent Night and Holy Night. Speaking of trios, one of the songs I miss singing in Bowmanville with the trio is O Holy Night. Maybe we'll do it again one day.
Merry Christmas and happy singing!