Tag Archives: Christmas music

Christmas Music: Silent Night

December 24, 2023 Mark Taylor

Silent Night Chapel in Oberndorf bei Salzburg, Austria.
Photo:Gakuro

Silent Night(Stille Nacht in German, Silens Nox in Latin) is perhaps the most beloved Christmas Carol. It was composed in 1818 by Franz Guber, an organist and schoolmaster, to lyrics by Father Joseph Mohr of the St. Nicholas parish in Oberndorf bei Salzburg, Austria. It was first performed on Christmas Eve in 1818 and since the organ was broken, the only musical accompaniment was the guitar. The popularity of the song spread and the version commonly used today comes from a translation in 1859. John Freeman Young, serving as an Episcopal priest at Trinity Church in New York City, translated and changed the tempo of the song. The original rendition by Gruber was more like a dance tune and sung faster. Young made into a slower lullaby style that is the most common version today. Because it has been so widely translated, it is the one Christmas carol that is known worldwide.

In Austria Silent Night is not heard until Christmas Eve, usually around 9 p.m. Then it is played on the radio once an hour and of course during church services.

Silent night, Holy Night
All is calm, all is bright
round yon Virgin Mother and Child,
Holy infant so tender and mild,
sleep in Heavenly peace!
sleep in Heavenly peace!

Silent night! Holy night!
Shepherds quake at the sight;
glories stream from Heaven afar,
Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia,
Christ, the Saviour, is born!
Christ, the Saviour, is born!

Silent night! Holy night!
Son of God, Love’s pure light
radiant, beams from Thy Holy face,
with the dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus, Lord at Thy birth,
Jesus, Lord at Thy birth.

(In German)
Stille Nacht! Heilige Nacht!
Alles schläft; einsam wacht
Nur das traute hoch heilige Paar.
Holder Knab’ im lockigen Haar,
Schlafe in himmlischer Ruh!
Schlafe in himmlischer Ruh!

Stille Nacht! Heilige Nacht!
Gottes Sohn, o wie lacht
Lieb’ aus deinem göttlichen Mund,
Da uns schlägt die rettende Stund’.
Jesus in deiner Geburt!
Jesus in deiner Geburt!

Stille Nacht! Heilige Nacht!
Die der Welt Heil gebracht,
Aus des Himmels goldenen Höhn,
Uns der Gnaden Fülle läßt sehn,
Jesum in Menschengestalt!
Jesum in Menschengestalt!

Christmas

Christmas Music: Silent Night

December 23, 2022 Mark Taylor

In Austria Silent Night is not heard until Christmas Eve, usually around 9 p.m. Then it is played on the radio once an hour and of course during church services.

Silent night, Holy Night
All is calm, all is bright
round yon Virgin Mother and Child,
Holy infant so tender and mild,
sleep in Heavenly peace!
sleep in Heavenly peace!

Stille Nacht! Heilige Nacht!
Die der Welt Heil gebracht,
Aus des Himmels goldenen Höhn,
Uns der Gnaden Fülle läßt sehn,
Jesum in Menschengestalt!
Jesum in Menschengestalt!

Christmas

Christmas Music: Carol of the Bells

December 22, 2022 Mark Taylor

Christmas Time In The City
Photo: Alex Grichenko(publicdomainpictures.net)

Carol of the Bells has become a holiday favorite and a part of any musical celebration of the season. It originated from a Ukrainian folk tradition to celebrate the new year (the original name Shchedryk meant generous evening). It was composed in 1914 when the Ukraine was a republic and was a hit. Of course, when the Russian Revolution occurred, the Soviet Union did not recognize its independence and invaded the country in 1919. The song became a means to tell the world of what has happening to the Ukraine and became part of national choir tours in Europe and the U.S. The song was a hit, though many did not understand the lyrics but loved the music and singing.

It was in 1936 when what we know as Carol of the Bells. Peter Wilhousky, a choral director born in America but with Ukrainian ancestry, needed a choral arrangement to fil out a radio program for Arturo Toscanini’s NBC Symphony Orchestra. He turned to the tune but knew that the choir could not sing Ukrainian. Since the melody reminded him of bells ringing, he sat down and composed lyrics about bells and Christmas for the song. The carol (a carol is a song or ballad of religious joy) became an instant success. Demands for the sheet music poured in and the song was soon on radio and popular with Christmas choirs. There are countless adaptations using full choirs and orchestras to simple ones using guitars.

With lyrics that reflect the joy of the season, it is no wonder the song has become popular. When it was heard in the Great Depression, it gave hope to many listening to it. Today with what is going on in the Ukraine, it also reminds us to pray for peace and that joy will return to that country. The song celebrates the birth of the Prince of Peace and the joy that he brings to the world.

Hark! how the bells
Sweet silver bells
All seem to say
‘throw cares away.’
Christmas is here
Bringing good cheer
To young and old
Meek and the bold
Ding, dong, ding, dong
That is their song
With joyful ring
All carolling
One seems to hear
Words of good cheer
From ev’rywhere
Filling the air
Oh how they pound
Raising the sound
O’er hill and dale
Telling their tale
Gaily they ring
While people sing
Songs of good cheer
Christmas is here
Merry, merry, merry, merry Christmas
Merry, merry, merry, merry Christmas
On, on they send
On without end
Their joyful tone
To ev’ry home
Hark! how the bells
Sweet silver bells
All seem to say
‘throw cares away.’
Christmas is here
Bringing good cheer
To young and old
Meek and the bold
Ding, dong, ding, dong
That is their song
With joyful ring
All carolling
One seems to hear
Words of good cheer
From ev’rywhere
Filling the air
Oh how they pound
Raising the sound
O’er hill and dale
Telling their tale
Gaily they ring
While people sing
Songs of good cheer
Christmas is here
Merry, merry, merry, merry Christmas
Merry, merry, merry, merry Christmas
On, on they send
On without end
Their joyful tone
To ev’ry home

Lyrics: Mykola Leontovych, Peter J. Wilhousky, Steve Kupferschmid

Christmas

Christmas Music-The Christmas Song

December 14, 2022 Mark Taylor

The Christmas Song was written in 1945 by Mel Tormé and Robert Wells during a blistering hot summer in Los Angeles. It was subtitled Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire and also Merry Christmas to You. It was first recorded in June 1946 by Nat King Cole. He did a second recording of the song, which Capitol Records objected to, using a smaller musical accompaniment of strings. This version became a hit and rocketed to the top on both the Pop and R&B charts, a remarkable thing for a Christmas song. Cole re-recorded the tune again using a full orchestra in 1953 and again in 1961. This 1961 version done in stereophonic and with the orchestra conducted by Ralph Carmichael, became the definitive version of the song you here today on the radio or streamed on Christmas music channels. The original 1946 version was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1974. The 1961 version has been included for preservation by the U.S. Library of Congress as being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.”

Christmas

Christmas Music: Have Yourself A Merry Christmas (Judy Garland)

December 8, 2022 Mark Taylor

The Christmas tune Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas was written in 1943 by Hugh Martin and Ralph Blane and was sung by Judy Garland in the movie Meet Me in St. Louis(1944). It became a hit for Garland and other artists would sing it as well as part of their Christmas music. The most famous adaptation is by Frank Sinatra, whose version is the one most commonly heard.

The song has been on lists of favorite movie songs for years and, of course, is a favorite during the Christmas season. The movie itself is about a family that has to move to New York City and leave St. Louis. The song is heard during a scene where Judy Garland’s character sings it to her despondent sister about the move. The original song is more sad than the revised version. And apparently some of the original lyrics were dropped as they were too depressing.

The song performed by Judy Garland became popular to American troops and, according to accounts, brought them to tears. Frank Sinatra asked in 1957 that the tune be made more jolly. He had performed the song before but thought it should be rewritten to make it more upbeat for his new Christmas album. Hugh Martin adjusted the lyrics and Sinatra’s performance is highly rated as well. Here are both the original version and the one sung by Frank Sinatra.

Christmas, Holidays

Christmas Eve: Silent Night

December 24, 2021 Mark Taylor

Silent Night (Stille Nacht in German, Silens Nox in Latin) is perhaps the most beloved Christmas Carol. It was composed in 1818 by Franz Guber, an organist and schoolmaster, to lyrics by Father Joseph Mohr of the St. Nicholas parish in Oberndorf bei Salzburg, Austria. It was first performed on Christmas Eve in 1818 and since the organ was broken, the only musical accompaniment was the guitar. The popularity of the song spread and the version commonly used today comes from a translation in 1859. John Freeman Young, serving as an Episcopal priest at Trinity Church in New York City, translated and changed the tempo of the song. The original rendition by Gruber was more like a dance tune and sung faster. Young made into a slower lullaby style that is the most common version today. Because it has been so widely translated, it is the one Christmas carol that is known worldwide.

In Austria, Silent Night is not heard until Christmas Eve, usually around 9 p.m. Then it is played on the radio once an hour and of course during church services. Enjoy this wonderful carol. Merry Christmas!

Christmas

Christmas Music for your Saturday

December 18, 2021 Mark Taylor

Not sure what the weather is like where you are, but it is chilly where I am today with temps in the 30’s and low 40’s. A perfect day for a nice hot cup of tea, coffee or cocoa. And listening to some good Christmas music. Happy Saturday everyone.

(Note-YouTube creators now restrict playing of music away from YouTube. By clicking on the link, it will take you to YouTube. Sadly you may have endure some ads. Sorry about that)

A Good Hour of good old classic Christmas songs

Holidays

The Christmas Song (Nat King Cole)

December 12, 2021 Mark Taylor

As we draw closer to Christmas Day, songs that remind us of the various aspects of it fill the air. Some are sacred, some are fun, and some are just satirical or even worse in some cases. Not the case with Nat King Cole. It is a wonderful rendition of a timeless classic. Enjoy.

(Important note: Due to license restrictions, for some music and videos you must now click to view on YouTube. Sorry about that but that is the way it is. Sadly, you may have to see some advertising before it starts unless you have used extensions to block them from appearing even if you are allowed to click and view it here.)

Christmas

Christmas Eve:Silent Night (Mannheim Steamroller)

December 24, 2020 Mark Taylor

Silent Night(Stille Nacht in German, Silens Nox in Latin) is perhaps the most beloved Christmas Carol. It was composed in 1818 by Franz Guber, an organist and schoolmaster, to lyrics by Father Joseph Mohr of the St. Nicholas parish in Oberndorf bei Salzburg, Austria. It was first performed on Christmas Eve in 1818 and since the organ was broken, the only musical accompaniment was the guitar. The popularity of the song spread and the version commonly used today comes from a translation in 1859. John Freeman Young, serving as an Episcopal priest at Trinity Church in New York City, translated and changed the tempo of the song. The original rendition by Gruber was more like a dance tune and sung faster. Young made into a slower lullaby style that is the most common version today. Because it has been so widely translated, it is the one Christmas carol that is known worldwide.

In Austria Silent Night is not heard until Christmas Eve, usually around 9 p.m. Then it is played on the radio once an hour and of course during church services.

There are many renditions of this simple tune from simple solo to full ensemble. Mannheim Steamroller made a version for their first Christmas album in 1984. And it still enthralls many who hear it for the first or perhaps the tenth time.

Christmas, Holidays