Sunday, December 11, 2011

Music Notes for December 11, 2011

And the Grinch with his Grinch-feet ice cold in the snow stood puzzling and puzzling
How could it be so?
IT came without ribbons
It came without tags
It came without packages, boxes and bags
And he puzzled and puzzled ‘till his puzzler was sore.
Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn’t before.
What if Christmas, he thought, doesn’t come from a store?
What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more? -Dr. Suess



PRELUDE: GOD REST YE MERRY GENTLEMEN

This arrangement is by Chip Davis of Mannheim Steamroller fame. Davis did two arrangements: a traditional and modern version. This is the modern version with Steve Musker on trumpet. Carols were originally sacred songs written by the laity based on popular tunes of the time. Many of the tunes were dance tunes and were written for all seasons. Carols disappeared in England when the Puritan Parliament of 1647 forbade all festivals, including Christmas. They were revived under Queen Victoria and this carol was one of the most popular of the 19th century. It was so popular that it is quoted in Charles Dickens’, A Christmas Carol. “At the sound of “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen”, Scrooge seized the ruler with such energy of action, that the singers fled in terror.” In fact, this is the Christmas Carol referred to in the title. Perhaps if Scrooge had listened to the words of the carol, he could have saved himself a sleepless night.

A TIME FOR SINGING

# 254: WE THREE KINGS

No one knows the background of the Three Kings of this carol.  The Biblical account of the three wise men is very sparse. We are told that they are magi but the Bible does not say much more. We don’t know their number. We don’t know their ages or names. We don’t know where they came from except that it was from the “East”. We don’t know what they looked like. We just know the gifts: gold, frankincense and myrrh. The earliest historical account of the Three Wise men is from the 7th century saint Bede. His description, based on earlier sources, states that there were three wise men: Melchoir who was old with a gray beard and hair offered gold in recognition of Christ’s sovereignty. Jaspar, was young with no beard, and offered frankincense in recognition of Christ’s divinity. Balthasar was a dark skinned Moor who offered myrrh in recognition of Christ’s humanity.

# 245: THE FIRST NOEL

The origin of this hymn is unclear. Some say French, as Noel is a French word. Some say English and the word Noel is a contraction of “Now all is well”. It is clear that the song has been around for centuries and was sung for years before it was ever put into print. It has been tied to the miracle plays of the Middle Ages where the gospel story was acted and sung for the common people. The song tells the story in verse of the visitation of the shepherds and their reaction to the good news. (Another possible translation of Noel is from the Gauls meaning “new light”)

#234: O COME ALL YE FAITHFUL

This hymn was composed in 1743 with Latin words. Although the composer was English, the carol was not translated until 1841.  It’s a favorite on Christmas recordings having been recorded by Celine Dion and Twisted Sister. This is probably the only thing those people have it common.

ANTHEM: LISTEN CHILDREN HEAR THE ANGELS SING

Today’s selection is to honor the children’s music program of the church. The kids worked hard over the past two months to learn their three songs that they are singing today. So listen parents (and congregation) to the children sing. We are saving them a spot in the choir loft. Perhaps in ten years or so, they will be singing this anthem on another children’s choir Sunday.

OFFERTORY: IN THE BLEAK MIDWINTER

The lyrics to this carol (#221 in the hymnal) are based on a poem by Christina Rossetti, a British Romantic poet. Rossetti had a gift for expressing profound thought in simple concise words. The poem is short but the message is deep. God left everything to become a child in harsh circumstances. You know the story but Rossetti’s words make it new. Gustav Holst’s melody preserves the simplicity of the words and it seems more like a folksong than a hymn.

POSTLUDE: O CHRISTMAS TREE/CHRISTMAS TIME IS HERE

Some songs are not expressly sacred but evoke the Christmas season powerfully. O Christmas Tree does have sacred words. However, Christmas Time is Here is just a Christmas song. The Vince Guaraldi version of “O Christmas Tree” and his original song "Christmas Time is Here" conjure up prior Christmases watching “Merry Christmas Charlie Brown” and memories of Linus reciting the story from Luke 2 and the poor little Christmas Tree that no one loved- but Charlie Brown. The song may not be liturgically correct but I still hear the Christmas message from Charlie Brown every year.

Childrens' selections 
SPARKLING STARS
Sparkling starts shining in the night. Who would have thought they could be so bright?
Twinkle, twinkle dancing in the sky, I want to dance along, but they are much too high
But there in the east is a star so bright; the world is lit by its wonderful light
Twinkle, twinkle beautiful star, How I wonder what you are!
Magi followed the brilliant star
They packed their bags for a journey far
To worship Christ was their intent, with gold and myrrh and frankincense
When they came to the place where the star came to rest they knew they were forever blessed
They worshipped Jesus they leaped for joy for the Savior was just a tiny boy
Twinkle twinkle beautify star! Now2 I know just what you are
Start of wonder sparkling in the night you lead us all to Jesus with your light.

EVERY LITTLE ANGEL
Long ago in Bethlehem there was a special star
Shining brightly in the east, it guided men from afar
T’ward a stable dark and cold where Mary and Joseph lay.
She gave birth to a little boy and laid him in the hay.
Men were trav’ling from the east with gifts for the little child.
There were also shepherds there to see the baby smile.
Mary heard the angel say, “Jesus is his name”
For he is a special boy; no other’s quite the same”.
Every little angel saw the light of a little baby born that night.
In the King of Kings they took delight! Every little angel sang that night.

I SAW THREE SHIPS        
I saw three ships come sailing in on Christmas day in the morning,
And what was in the ships all three on Christmas day in the morning?
Our Savior Christ and his lady on Christmas day in the morning.    

No comments:

Post a Comment