Welcome to Winter; Merry Christmas; Some Favorites
Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2018 10:55 pm
Winter officially began a few days ago. Christmas arrives in two days. My very best wishes to all Boston Whaler boaters who visit here.
I really like this time of year: the days finally start to get longer. And I love the music.
My suggestion for the most appropriate Christmas carol for boaters: "I Saw Three Ships Come Sailing In."
Lyrics: I saw three ships come sailing in
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day
The melody is quite unusual.
Cf.: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Saw_Three_Ships
My favorite church hymn: "The Mariner's Hymn"
Lyrics: Oh hear us, father, when we pray to Thee
For those in peril on the sea.
Cf.: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eternal_Father,_Strong_to_Save
My favorite Christmas poem: "A Child's Christmas in Wales," by Dylan Thomas.
It uses a number of sea-related figures of speech, and it essentially began the spoken-word recording industry in 1952. Dylan Thomas's voice is wonderful.
Cf.: https://www.loc.gov/programs/static/national-recording-preservation-board/documents/CHILD%27S%20CHRISTMAS--FINAL.pdf
My favorite Christmas orchestral music: J. S. Bach's "Christmas Oratorio", particularly
Part 1: For the First Day of Christmas; The Chorus.
It is very frequently performed around the world at Christmas. The amazing aspect: Bach only conducted it once--in 1734. After that it fell into obscurity and was not performed again for 123-years, only being revived in 1857. Today there are dozens and dozens of recordings available. It's sung in German--but it's easy German.
See: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_Oratorio
Another great song--not really related to Christmas but in the modern day secular holiday motif has become very popular--is Sleighride. It has the hardest lyrics to remember. Another bit of trivia: the orchestral work was written first, and then the lyrics added several years later.
Okay, as long as I am on this topic, I will mention two other somewhat less-known Christmas carols: Good King Wenceslas and In the Bleak Mid-winter. Why these: they both have a limited vocal range, and that means I can actually sing them.
Have a great Christmas. May Santa bring you a new 345 CONQUEST--or whatever new Boston Whaler you'd love to have.
I really like this time of year: the days finally start to get longer. And I love the music.
My suggestion for the most appropriate Christmas carol for boaters: "I Saw Three Ships Come Sailing In."
Lyrics: I saw three ships come sailing in
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day
The melody is quite unusual.
Cf.: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Saw_Three_Ships
My favorite church hymn: "The Mariner's Hymn"
Lyrics: Oh hear us, father, when we pray to Thee
For those in peril on the sea.
Cf.: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eternal_Father,_Strong_to_Save
My favorite Christmas poem: "A Child's Christmas in Wales," by Dylan Thomas.
It uses a number of sea-related figures of speech, and it essentially began the spoken-word recording industry in 1952. Dylan Thomas's voice is wonderful.
Cf.: https://www.loc.gov/programs/static/national-recording-preservation-board/documents/CHILD%27S%20CHRISTMAS--FINAL.pdf
My favorite Christmas orchestral music: J. S. Bach's "Christmas Oratorio", particularly
Part 1: For the First Day of Christmas; The Chorus.
It is very frequently performed around the world at Christmas. The amazing aspect: Bach only conducted it once--in 1734. After that it fell into obscurity and was not performed again for 123-years, only being revived in 1857. Today there are dozens and dozens of recordings available. It's sung in German--but it's easy German.
See: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_Oratorio
Another great song--not really related to Christmas but in the modern day secular holiday motif has become very popular--is Sleighride. It has the hardest lyrics to remember. Another bit of trivia: the orchestral work was written first, and then the lyrics added several years later.
Okay, as long as I am on this topic, I will mention two other somewhat less-known Christmas carols: Good King Wenceslas and In the Bleak Mid-winter. Why these: they both have a limited vocal range, and that means I can actually sing them.
Have a great Christmas. May Santa bring you a new 345 CONQUEST--or whatever new Boston Whaler you'd love to have.