Wednesday Open Thread: Favorite Christmas Carols
Posted by Eric Scheidler, December 19th, 2007
At Saturday's protest, we restored 70 of the memorial crosses torn apart by city workers after the November protest. Here are two of them, and if you look to the lower left corner of this picture you can see how effectively the booted feet of our two hundred picketers cleared the sidewalk.
In anticipation of this Saturday's "Empty Manger" Christmas Caroling Day, I thought I would launch the Wednesday Open Thread with this question: What is your favorite Christmas carol?
Hands down, my favorite carol is "Silent Night". I especially love Franz Gruber's original melody and the six original verses in German by Fr. Josef Mohr. The German lyrics are more earthy and detailed than the English translation we know; they speak of the holy infant's "curly hair" and "how he laughs".
There's a kind of rapture over the Baby Jesus in many German carols (I try to learn a couple new ones every year). I find lines like "Oh, how I want to be Yours," and "Your beauty goes right to the heart of me"—reminiscent of the feelings that a parent has over a newborn baby.
These carols get at something essential about the Christmas mystery, that God the Son is born not only as Lord and Savior but as a baby to be cared for as parent would do. There's a sense in which we nurse the life of Jesus within us, just as Mary nursed Jesus—we give our own inner life over to Him.
Another favorite carol, in a completely different vein, is "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day", a plaintive carol that affirms but then responds to the feelings of woe that can taint this season. This carols also illustrates the importance of learning all the verses of a song, for if you sang only the first one you'd think it's nothing more than a sweet song about hearing bells:
I heard the bells on Christmas day
Their old familiar carols play,
And mild and sweet the words repeat
Of peace on earth, good will to men.And thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along the unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.And in despair I bowed my head
"There is no peace on earth," I said,
"For hate is strong and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good will to men."Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
"God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail
With peace on earth, good will to men."Till ringing, singing on its way
The world revolved from night to day,
A voice, a chime, a chant sublime
Of peace on earth, good will to men.
(I understand that originally the last two stanzas of this carol, as written by Henry Wordsworth Longfellow during the Civil War ,were much darker, with no glimpse of hope.)
So: What is your favorite Christmas carol?
Mine is Carol of the Bells. I think mostly because of the haunting minor key and the fact that when it's sung it is usually done so with a chior which sounds like angels to me….not a deeply religious favorite, I know. But it's probably not one that will get a lot of votes…and I've always been a little "fringe" in my tastes! Besides, the Trans Siberian Orchastra version has got to be the coolest Christmas song ever produced!
December 19th, 2007 at 2:30 pm
My favorite Christmas carol is O Holy Night!
O holy night, the stars are brightly shining, it is the night of our dear Saviour's birth, long lay the world in sin and error pining till he appeared and the soul felt it's worth. The thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices, for yonder brings a new and glorious morn, FALL ON YOUR KNEES! Oh hear the angel voices O NIGHT DIVINE! Oh night, when Christ was born!
December 19th, 2007 at 2:35 pm
I really love "See how the Virgin Waits". It's an Eastern European folk song, but the English translation is so visual, I can almost see the "silver olive trees" when I sing it.I wish I could make it Saturday!
December 19th, 2007 at 2:43 pm
Hark the herald angels sing, glory to the newborn King! Peace on earth and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled!
I believe I've heard the church choir do it with trumpets. It was fabulous and very majestic for our King, Savior, and God, Jesus Christ.
December 19th, 2007 at 2:45 pm
My favorite is "Joy to the World"! Merry Christmas to all.
December 19th, 2007 at 2:53 pm
Do You Hear What I Hear, followed closely by God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen — which, I found out just recently whilst helping Eric prepare the song sheets for Saturday's Caroling Day, actually has seven [!] verses. (Unfortunately, we were only able to fit the first three.)
December 19th, 2007 at 3:21 pm
Very sad, but also very meaningful and beautiful; it's called "Mary did you Know?" It was most recently recorded by Kenny Rogers.
December 19th, 2007 at 3:27 pm
My favorite Christmas carol in the category entitled, "Not performed as much as all the other beautiful carols" is: Mary, Did You Know?.
December 19th, 2007 at 3:36 pm
I like all songs with the spirit of Christmas.
I do not like songs about the holiday spirit.
I believe these special days are about reminding
us that Christ was born forgive us of our sins -
the Christmas spirit.
December 19th, 2007 at 4:45 pm
Mine is God Rest You Merry Gentleman, with all the verses. I also like the Little Drummer Boy, and then there's the Coventry Carol, which is about the slaughter of the Holy Innocents; very fitting for the current slaughter taking place.
1. Lullay, Thou little tiny Child,
By, by, lully, lullay.
Lullay, Thou little tiny Child.
By, by, lully, lullay.
2. O sisters, too, how may we do,
For to preserve this day;
This poor Youngling for whom we sing,
By, by, lully, lullay.
3. Herod the King, in his raging,
Charged he hath this day;
His men of might, in his own sight,
All children young, to slay.
4. Then woe is me, poor Child, for Thee,
And ever mourn and say;
For Thy parting, nor say nor sing,
By, by, lully, lullay.
December 19th, 2007 at 4:56 pm
I love all the Christmas carols already mentioned here, but I particularly love O Holy Night. Last year, I was blessed to portray the Blessed Mother in a "Silent Nativity" performance (all music and choreography - no words…very moving), and that song played a special role. It has a special place in my heart!
Oh holy night! The stars are brightly shining,
It is the night of our dear Saviour's birth.
Long lay the world in sin and error pining,
Till He appear'd and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.
Fall on your knees! Oh, hear the angels' voices!
Oh night divine, Oh night when Christ was born;
Oh night divine, Oh night, Oh night Divine.
Led by the light of Faith serenely beaming,
With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand.
So led by light of a star sweetly gleaming,
Here come the wise men from Orient land.
The King of Kings lay thus in lowly manger;
In all our trials born to be our friend.
He knows our need, to our weakness is no stranger,
Behold your King! Before Him lowly bend!
Behold your King, Behold your King.
Truly He taught us to love one another;
His law is love and His gospel is peace.
Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother;
And in His name all oppression shall cease.
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
Let all within us praise His holy name.
Christ is the Lord! O praise His Name forever,
His power and glory evermore proclaim.
His power and glory evermore proclaim.
December 19th, 2007 at 4:56 pm
Even though it is SO difficult to pinpoint one, I particularly love "Angels We Have Heard on High" with its exultant chorus, Gloria In Excelsis Deo". It really makes the joy and triumph of Christmas resound in a special way for me–
December 19th, 2007 at 5:00 pm
My favorite is "Carol of the Bells." I will be practicing it for Saturday's performance. Will this be a paid performance? (only jokin')
December 19th, 2007 at 5:58 pm
Renee—The kids and April and I have been singing "Coventry Carol" quite a bit, with harmony. Also on the regular "play list" are:
December 19th, 2007 at 6:07 pm
My favorite is Child of the Poor by Scott Soper. It is absolutely beautiful when it sung on top of the traditional "What Child is This"
Helpless and hungry, lowly, afraid,
Wrapped in the chill of midwinter,
Comes now among us,
Born into poverty's embrace,
New life for the world
Ref.
Who is this who lives with the lowly,
Sharing their sorrows, knowing their hunger?
This is Christ, revealed to the world
In the eyes of a child, a child of the poor.
Who is this stranger here in our midst,
Looking for shelter among us?
Who is the outcast?
Who do we see amid the poor,
The children of God?
Ref.
Bring all the thirsty, all who seek peace;
Bring those with nothing to offer.
Strengthen the feeble,
Say to the frightened heart:
Fear not, here is your God!
December 19th, 2007 at 6:41 pm
STILLE NACHT HEILIGE NACHT (Silent night, Holy Night in German) always was, is now and always will be my favorite Christmas carol. My parents are German immigrants and we celebrated Christmas considerably differently than folks do today. On the eve of St. Nicholas Day, Mike Johannesson borrowed Monsignor Schumacher's robe, crozier and miter and dressed as St. Nick and the May brothers from Pigeon Hill dressed in dark ashen clothes. The trio went house to house starting on Pigeon Hill. Children received one small gift. I was always so excited in anticipation but also terrified as they threatened to take away bad little kids. I often wondered why the trio staggered. Years later, I found out that every family left a bottle for the three and apparently,they drank every drop. We were the last house and by the time they got to our house, they were really schnockered! Christmas Eve was a night for family members and anyone who wanted to be family to gather for good food, friendship and singing, singing, singing. My Uncle was a musician, an accomplished organist and the festivities started with "STILLE NACHT, HEILIGE NACHT" and ended with "STILLE NACHT, HEILIGE NACHT". The culmination was Midnight Mass. Christmas Day was a repeat of Christmas Eve. I cherish these memories. Now all of the elders, except for my 94 year old mother have gone to be with Jesus. Recently diagnosed with cancer, this will be Mama's last Christmas. I have tried to keep Christmas holy and hand down these traditions but today Christmas can turn into a rather materialistic affair unless we work hard to let everyone know "the reason for the season". STILLE NACHT, HEILIGE NACHT, that quiet, holy night when Jesus was born is what it's all about!
December 19th, 2007 at 8:06 pm
Hi, just to mention some that may not have been mentioned yet (and ALL of the ones mentioned are wonderful!). "Adeste Fideles" (O Come All Ye Faithfull), "The Infant King", "We Three Kings", "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing". And so many more. I wish I could be there for the caroling.
December 19th, 2007 at 8:49 pm
Sing " AWAY IN A MANAGER"
Is that not why we are PRO-LIFE?
Mary said "yes" in a crisis pregnancy and even though there was no room to be born, God found a way (the stable).
God will always find a way if we say "YES" to His Will.
Merry Christmas.
Our Savior lives.
Praise Be Jesus Christ, Now and Forever. Amen
December 19th, 2007 at 8:51 pm
O Little Town of Bethlemhem
December 19th, 2007 at 11:10 pm
Greensleeves is the best:)
December 19th, 2007 at 11:34 pm
I would have to say… Mary did you Know!
Just Kidding!!!
I cannot pin down a favorite but my top 3 picks are…
Angels We Have Heard on High
What Child is This
Silent Night
O Come all Ye Faithful
December 20th, 2007 at 12:09 am
For me O Holy Night, hands down. Sung at it's best will make me weak in the knees.
December 20th, 2007 at 12:32 am
I have to say my favorite christmas carol is the first noel and a close second would be lo, how a rose ( es ist ein ros') we sang it (the english version) in church and I just love it!
December 20th, 2007 at 1:38 am
Mary Did You Know?
written by: Mark Lowry
December 20th, 2007 at 9:07 am
Oh Holy Night…..gives me the chills & tears in my eyes every time!
December 20th, 2007 at 10:04 am
My favorite is Breath of Heaven(Mary's Song). It is so beautiful.
A close second is Welcome To Our World and What Child is This.
Did anyone know that Greensleaves (tune for What Child is This), was written by King Henry the VIII? Can one imagine such beautiful music being written by such a horrid person?
December 20th, 2007 at 10:22 am
"What Child is This?" always makes me teary, And is a
favorite for both my husband and myself.
What a beautiful event- we're looking forward to Sat.
Thank You for Sharing, Eric!
Merry Christmas to ALL @ PLAL!
December 20th, 2007 at 10:34 am
My favorite is "Away in the Manger" — especially the last verse. I used it as a lullaby with my kids all through the Advent and Christmas season.
Be near me Lord Jesus,
I ask you to stay
Close by me forever
and love me I pray.
Bless all the dear children
in they tender care
And bring us to heaven
to live with thee there.
It is so comforting.
December 20th, 2007 at 12:17 pm
All those mentioned, of course, especially "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day". Here's one that I love that hasn't been mentioned yet.
"In the Bleak Midwinter"
Words by Christina Rossetti, Music by Gustav T. Holst
In the bleak midwinter, frosty wind made moan,
Earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone;
Snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow,
In the bleak midwinter, long ago.
Our God, Heaven cannot hold Him, nor earth sustain;
Heaven and earth shall flee away when He comes to reign.
In the bleak midwinter a stable place sufficed
The Lord God Almighty, Jesus Christ.
Enough for Him, whom cherubim, worship night and day,
Breastful of milk, and a mangerful of hay;
Enough for Him, whom angels fall before,
The ox and ass and camel which adore.
Angels and archangels may have gathered there,
Cherubim and seraphim thronged the air;
But His mother only, in her maiden bliss,
Worshipped the beloved with a kiss.
What can I give Him, poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb;
If I were a Wise Man, I would do my part;
Yet what I can I give Him: give my heart.
Midi + score at http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/i/n/intbleak.htm
December 20th, 2007 at 12:41 pm
my very favorite carol is O HOLY NIGHT AND IT IS ALSO VERY BEAUTIFUL IN FRENCH, AS MY DAUGHTER-ON-LAW SANG IN CHURCH A COUPLE YEARS AGO.
December 20th, 2007 at 1:42 pm
My favorite carol is " Hark the Herald Angels Sing"
December 20th, 2007 at 5:40 pm
My favorite carol is "O Holy Night" I like the way it describes that holy night when Jesus was born.
December 20th, 2007 at 5:43 pm
silent night because i love to hear it every day.
December 20th, 2007 at 5:50 pm
As a child we often attended the Polish Masses at St Mary of the Angels in Chicago especially for Christmas. My favorite is the Polish lulaby–"Lulaj, Jesu" (I think that's the name)and I would sing it to our children as newborns while I rocked them.
December 20th, 2007 at 6:18 pm
My favorite Christmas song is……The Little Drummer Boy. So simple and beautiful. It reminds me of ST. Therese saying,.. that we can do little things with great love for God.All the little boy had was his drum, but in the song everyone enjoyed it. Simple but full of love.
December 20th, 2007 at 9:07 pm
My favorite is an old Italiano classic written by Saint Alfonso Maria de' Liguori, Tu Scendi Dalle Stelle (You Came Down From the Stars).
Tu scendi dalle stelle,
O Re del Cielo,
e vieni in una grotta,
al freddo al gelo.
O Bambino mio Divino
Io ti vedo qui a tremar,
O Dio Beato
Ahi, quanto ti costò
l'averci amato!
A te, che sei del mondo
il Creatore,
mancano panni e fuoco;
O mio Signore!
Caro eletto Pargoletto,
Quanto questa povertà
più mi innamora!
Giacché ti fece amor
povero ancora!
English:
You come down from the stars
Oh King of Heavens
And you come in a cave
In the cold, in the frost
And you come in a cave
In the cold, in the frost
Oh my Divine Baby
I see you trembling here,
Oh Blessed God
Ah, how much it cost you,
Your loving me
For you, who are of all the world
The creator
No robes and fire, oh my Lord
Dear chosen one, little infant
This dire poverty
Makes me love you more
Since Love made you
Still poor now.
December 21st, 2007 at 2:13 am
Well, I came in here to see what you all liked the best, and got the chills reading these entries. They are fabulous. I love so many of these carols, I couldn't pick one, but Joy to the World, Hark the Herald Angels Sing, and Away in the Manger are certainly among my top three!
Merry Christmas everyone! God be with you.
December 21st, 2007 at 10:58 am
I love O Holy Night (especially as sung by Nat King Cole) and Adeste Fideles ("Venite Adoremus… Dominum")
December 21st, 2007 at 2:04 pm
I have two favorite Christmas carols, Silent Night, in German and O Holy Night. O Holy Night, if sung well, always makes me cry and raises my heart and soul up to God.
Does anyone else have this? Whenever I hear profound words of truth, let say in the church readings or listening to Bishop Sheen, Father Corapi, Pope John Paul II, or certain hymns or sermons in church, I cry. My teenage son and daughter get embarrassed as I joke back the tears and try to compose myself, which then of course leads to quiet laughter.
December 21st, 2007 at 2:20 pm
Karen-
You are not alone! The same thing happens to me. Sometimes when faced with something so powerful and beyond my small human experience, my only response is to cry.
I hope that some day your teenagers, instead of being embarrassed, will also be affected. I know it's possible because I was once an embarrassed teenager when my mom would get emotional at church!
December 21st, 2007 at 5:12 pm
I have another favorite christmas carol: "We Three Kings of Orient Are". It has such a lovely melody, and the words explain the different reasons behind the gifts the wse men brought.
December 22nd, 2007 at 2:42 am
Hi Karen!
Yep…happens to me, also! Sometimes, even thinking about how good God is, I'll start crying! Oh Holy Night gets me EVERY time!
December 23rd, 2007 at 1:47 pm
What child is this
who lay to rest
on Mary's lap
is sleeping
Whom angels greet
with anthems sweet,
while shepherds
watch are keeping
This, this is
Christ the king
whom shepherds guard
and angels sing
Hail, hail the
Word made flesh
the babe the
son of Mary
December 24th, 2007 at 12:42 am
By the way, I noticed that Eric has personally (as opposed to the FVFAPP or the PLAL) endorsed Chris Lauzen for Congress (I think a yard sign constitutes an endorsement). I live in the Holy Angels area, and I'm about one of ten houses with an Oberweis sign up. Lauzen has done a great job of getting yard signs up in this area, and while the Hastert endorsement cuts against him, Lauzen seems to have a lot of grassroots energy for him.
January 13th, 2008 at 10:27 pm
Brian,
I just returned from picking something up from Eric's house. There was no sign in his yard except for the yellow Families Against Planned Parenthood one. Perhaps you mistook his neighbor's yard for his.
January 14th, 2008 at 4:44 pm
Maybe I was wrong. I thought I saw it yesterday. Could be his neighbor.
January 14th, 2008 at 5:45 pm
oberweiss did make the effort to show up at the city council meeting to speak in favor of the parental notification resolution
January 14th, 2008 at 10:38 pm