How disappointed would you be if all Christmas music were shelved this year? What song/s would you miss the most? What music inspires you--breathes new life into your soul, adds a spring to your step, and puts a smile on your faces despite a Bah-humbug day?
Rick Larsen said "Music is the backdoor to the soul." I think he meant that music can ably reach a part of us that words, example, and demands cannot. Music stirs us to loftier goals, energies, and dreams. Anne Lamott says she finally believed in the Christ because the music of a church she walked past beckoned to her. The music bypassed her hardened exterior built up by drugs, alcohol, and promiscuity. The hymns aimed directly at a softer nucleus.
So which songs of Christmas stir your soul, tickle your jolly bone, or makes you merrier than your circumstances?
Several are my favorites: "What Child is This?" "Mary did You Know?" and a couple of traditional English carols from the Renaissance era are "Down in Yon Forrest" with a refrain, "I love my Lord Jesus above everything," and I suppose a second runner up from that era for its spirited tune would be "Three Ships Sailing."
Do you have a favorite carol or song about the Christ Child or about the season such as "White Christmas" or "Jingle Bells." Leave a comment about favorite titles or personal stories connected to them.
It's a little early, but can you hear me now...."Deck the halls with boughs of holly. Tra la la la la laaaa...la la la laaaa.?
(Clip art from Surfdoggie.com)
4 comments:
My favorite one is Silent Night. To me it is so reverent and spiritual. I cannot imagine going through Christmas and getting to hear or sing Silent Night.
There are so many Christmas song that I just love but Mary did you know along with White Christmas are 2 of my very favorites!!
Debbie@A Debbie-Dabble Christmas
Your blog interested me because today is the 112th anniversary of the death of William Dix, author of "What Child Is This?" and "As with Gladness Men of Old."
If you enjoy reading about our hymns and their authors, I invite you to visit my daily blog on the subject, Wordwise Hymns. And if you want to learn more about our carols, I discuss over 60 of them in my book, Discovering the Songs of Christmas, available from Amazon or my publisher.
Bee's Place, Debbie, and Robert, thanks so much for stopping by. I truly can't imagine Christmas without the gorgeous music passed down to us and still being written by new artist.
Robert, I'm including a live link to your page. Very interesting, it takes a lot of research and a passion to put together a book like yours.
I also write a newspaper column each Friday and would love to have your permission to give a shout to your book and the history you've gathered about Christmas hymns and carols. Maybe for two or three weeks prior to the 25th.
All here's the link to Robert's site/blog where he gives history and data each day about hymns, carols, motivation for writing hymns, lyrics, music, and authors.
http://wordwisehymns.com/
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