I wouldn’t have thought that a cartoon might sum up my thoughts so well this holiday weekend. But it does. Thank you from the bottom of my heart to all of you veterans out there~~to those who’ve returned, to those who still keep watch, and to those who made the ultimate sacrifice. There simply aren’t words to express our gratitude as Americans for what you did, do, and will continue to do for our beloved country—and your countrymen—faithfully and constantly. Thank you for keeping watch so we can enjoy the lives of abundant freedom, extraordinary opportunity, and amazing resources that [...] Read more »
Happy Easter!
He is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia! And a joyful, merry Easter to you and yours~ (14th-century carol, originally in Latin; first published in 1708.) Jesus Christ Is Risen Today Jesus Christ is risen today, Alleluia! Our triumphant holy day, Alleluia! Who did once upon the cross, Alleluia! Suffer to redeem our loss. Alleluia! Hymns of praise then let us sing, Alleluia! Unto Christ, our heavenly king, Alleluia! Who endured the cross and grave, Alleluia! Sinners to redeem and save. Alleluia! But the pains which he endured, Alleluia! Our salvation have procured; Alleluia! Now above the sky he’s king, [...] Read more »
Allegri’s Miserere Mei
Traditionally sung in the Vatican during Holy Week on Wednesday and Good Friday, the Miserere Mei was most likely composed during the 1630s by Gregorio Allegri under the reign of Pope Urban VIII. This exquisite setting of Psalm 51 was jealously guarded by the Vatican: it is said that anyone who wrote the music down and tried to share or perform it elsewhere—outside of the Holy Week setting in the Sistine Chapel—would be punished by excommunication. The form in which this piece has come down to us has been altered by the passage of time: different transcriptions at different times [...] Read more »
On Hosannas and Ammo Belts
In this season of Lent, I have recently been reminded that Palm Sunday can mean very different things to different people. Perhaps the Protestant Christian church has been slightly remiss in presenting the season of Lent (including Palm Sunday) with the kind of clarity that leads to understanding. Maybe Sunday schools could revisit how they are presenting and teaching this particular season of the church year. I submit this (possible) case in point: For some reason I think the “hosannas” have been a bit lost in translation on this one… Read more »
Don’t Let Your Skirt Fly Too High Today
Happy St. Patty’s Day, everyone! Stay safe and be courteous~ Read more »
The 12 Days of Christmas Song
And on this, the 12th and last day of Christmas, we have a fabulous King’s Singers/Mormon Tabernacle Choir production of this beloved Christmas classic. The twelve days in the song are the twelve days of Christmas, starting on Christmas Day. In some traditions, though, the 12 days are counted from the day after Christmas (December 26—Boxing Day or St. Stephen’s Day, which is the feast day of St. Stephen Protomartyr) to the day before Epiphany, or the Feast of the Epiphany (January 6, or the Twelfth Day). Twelfth Night is usually considered to be the evening of January 5th, preceding [...] Read more »
The Gloucestershire Wassail Song
(NOTE: this is the 11th post in the 12 Days of Christmas series.) Today we examine the early roots of “wassailing,” or “caroling,” as it has come to be known. There are two distinct kinds of wassailing to be discussed: the house-visiting wassail and the orchard-visiting wassail. House-visiting wassailing bears some resemblance to modern-day caroling, which is singing Christmas carols door-to-door. Orchard-wassailing, on the other hand, refers to the practice of singing to the apple-producing orchard trees in cider-producing regions of England: it was believed this would promote a good harvest for the following year. This post focuses on the [...] Read more »
Jessye Norman’s Gesu Bambino
(NOTE: this is the 10th post in the 12 Days of Christmas series.) “Gesu Bambino” is an Italian Christmas carol composed by Pietro Yon in 1917. (It was translated to English by Frederick H. Martens.) The traditional Christmas song “I Saw Three Ships” derives its melody from the “Gesu Bambino” carol, even though it’s a simpler version of the same tune. And even if you’ve never heard this song before now, the chorus will seem quite familiar to you because the melody and lyrics of the “Bambino” chorus are taken from one of the most beloved Christmas carols of all [...] Read more »
Christmas Mulled Wine
Yes, this is Day 9 of my 12 Days of Christmas series…and yes, today I’m sharing my favorite recipe for mulled wine. I first had this delicious hot drink in the 13th-century Lutheran church I attended while in Prague teaching English for a year—it was their tradition to serve mulled wine at their church’s Christmas party. I have loved the piping-hot, spiced beverage ever since, and it’s a treat that I usually get to savor only during the Christmas season. Here is the recipe, originally taken from the Southern Living Slow Cooker Cookbook and modified slightly. Have fun with it! [...] Read more »
Angelus ad pastores ait
With all the revelries of New Year’s Day, I wasn’t able to get to my computer and post the 8th Day of Christmas segment yesterday. I assure you this wonderful piece is worth the wait, though! Composed by Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck (1562-1621) toward the end of his life, it was first published in Cantiones Sacrae, No 35. Sweelinck—a Dutch composer, organist, and famous teacher whose work straddled the end of the Renaissance and beginning of the Baroque eras—was among the first major keyboard composers in Europe. As a teacher, he is credited with helping establish the north German organ tradition. [...] Read more »