Do You Hear What I Hear?

Posted on December 7, 2017 by Marie

The first time I sang this piece was when I was in the High School Choir. I thought it was one of the most beautiful pieces of the season ever written. It is! But my repertoire has broadened and there is so much to listen too that I might put it in my top ten at this point.

Many of the Christmas Carols that have stood the test of time have an interesting background. Do You Hear What I Hear? is no exception. It was written in 1962 during the Cuban Missile Crisis as a plea for peace.

It’s always been amazing to me that when our world is at its worst people put out their best. The group singing this is Home Free. If you’re not familiar with their music check them out on YouTube. They’re another of the many acapella groups that fit my need for pure musical sound.

Blessings to you and yours!

Marie

Away In A Manger

Posted on December 2, 2017 by Marie

Another of my favorite Christmas carols is often considered a children’s song. That might be partly because it first appeared in print in 1885 in a Sunday School Bulletin published by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in North America. It has long been attributed to Martin Luther but it is highly unlikely one of his writings. It is first seen in Germany in 1934 as part of a private collection of songs and is clearly a translation from English to German. All of that aside the song has stood the test of time.

Away in a manger, no crib for a bed,
The little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head.

The stars in the sky looked down where he lay,
The little Lord Jesus asleep in the hay.

The cattle are lowing, the baby awakes,
But little Lord Jesus no crying he makes.

I love Thee, Lord Jesus, look down from the sky
And stay by my cradle til morning is nigh.

Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask Thee to stay
Close by me forever, and love me, I pray.

Bless all the dear children in thy tender care,
And take us to heaven, to live with Thee there.

Of the 3 verses the last speaks most fervently to my heart. Sometimes the words pop into my mind even at other times of the year. It says some very important things to me.

First, Jesus is always with me. I don’t have to ask for His presence.

Second, He loves me and will continue loving me forever.

Next, I receive blessings upon blessings because it’s what He wants to do for me.

Last, I will be with Him in heaven for eternity.

What more does one need?

Blessings to you and yours!

Marie

Information in the first paragraph is found at this address: https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/resources/history-of-hymns-away-in-a-manger

Thematic Thursday | Thoughtful Songs of the Season

Posted on December 10, 2015 by Marie

As I said in the last post, I love Christmas music. I can listen to it all year around. I often have it in the CD player in my car and sing while I drive, even though, I get some pretty strange looks from oncoming traffic.

Today we’re going to focus on some Seasonal Music that is very thought provoking. Let’s start with Would I Know My Savior? The song asks some great questions. Would I know Him at the manger, without previous knowledge of Him? The Shepherds trusted the angelic message and knew Him. The Wise Men trusted their knowledge of the stars and knew Him. Joseph trusted God and knew Him. I’m sure I would know Him, but it’s certainly worth the inner search.

Were you in your High School Choir? I remember singing Do You Hear What I Hear? for the first time in that group. It has remained among my favorites since then.

Barbara Streisand nails it … I Wonder As I Wander. This hauntingly beautiful song had an interesting story behind it. The writer, John Jacob Niles, was leaving a fundraiser when a very dirty, ragged, and unwashed girl came to the stage. She sang only one line of the song. Niles took that fragment and turned it into this thought provoking piece.