Revelation 5:12-13
(Click to Play)
Saturday, December 26, 2015
Friday, December 25, 2015
A SPECIAL PLACE ON THE TREE
As you remember Judy, Jimmy, and the Cinnamon Bear all climbed into Santa's sleigh, set out to chase down the Crazy Quilt Dragon, who was headed straight for the North Pole. If Crazy Quilt could have climbed the pole to where the Misty Folk live, he would have escaped forever with the children's precious star. But Paddy O'Cinnamon tried frantically and desperately to grab hold of the dragon. Then, in a moment of inspiration, they all hollered a loud 'boo!' And at that, Crazy Quilt tumbled down the Pole. There was a wild scramble and...
...the children suddenly heard their Mother's voice saying, “Wake up! You're all tangled up in that old crazy quilt.” Their mother didn't understand, of course, and Judy and Jimmy wondered to themselves, was it all really a dream?
In gratitude to Paddy O'Cinnamon for his help, Judy and Jimmy vowed to find the little stuffed bear a special place on their tree every year.
If you would like to do the same, give me your email address in the comments and I will send you a picture of Paddy O'Cinnamon, the Cinnamon Bear, that you can mount as an ornament for your tree.
Thursday, December 24, 2015
STILLE NACHT
May it warm you now as it warmed me then.
STILLE NACHT - words and translation
It was December 24,1818, in a small Austrian village called Oberndorf, just hours before Christmas mass and pastor Joseph Mohr was in a bind. His musical plans for the evening church service were ruined since the organ of his church (St. Nicholas Kirche) had broken down recently due to a recent flooding of the nearby river. What could he do? In a moment of inspiration, he grabbed a Christmas poem he had written two years earlier and quickly set off to the neighboring village, where his friend Franz Gruber, the church organist, lived.
It is believed that Franz Gruber was able to produce on that night in just a few short hours, the first version of the world renowned Christmas hymn “Stille Nacht”, written as a guitar accompaniment. The song that we sing today is slightly different from the original version - it is believed that folk singer and choir groups altered the original melody slightly as they performed the carol throughout Europe in the ensuing decades. (See Stille Nacht complete with an English translation for the original Stille Nacht version.). The English version we know today was written by the Episcopal priest John Freeman Young, however the standard English version contains just three verses, whereas the German version contains six. (only verses 1, 6 and 2 from the original Joseph Mohr version are sung in English.)
Deutsch
Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht,
Alles schläft; einsam wacht
Nur das traute hochheilige Paar.
Holder Knabe im lockigen Haar,
Schlaf in himmlischer Ruh!
Schlaf in himmlischer Ruh!
Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht,
Hirten erst kundgemacht
Durch der Engel Halleluja,
Tönt es laut von fern und nah:
Christ, der Retter ist da!
Christ, der Retter ist da!
Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht,
Gottes Sohn, o wie lacht
Lieb' aus deinem göttlichen Mund,
Da uns schlägt die rettende Stund'.
Christ, in deiner Geburt!
Christ, in deiner Geburt!
Words: Joseph Mohr, 1816
Music: Franz Xaver Gruber, 1818
English
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,
Heav'nly hosts sing Alleluia;
Christ the Savior is born
Christ the Savior 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
THE CRAZY QUILT DRAGON - North Pole
YESTERDAY - It's nearly Christmas now and the intact star is back with Judy and Jimmy. They are anxious to return to their home. Crazy Quilt wanted to remain at the North Pole, but the children and Paddy will return home in Santa's sleigh. As he was climbing up into the sleigh, Jimmy asked Crazy Quilt to hold the star. When he turned to ask the dragon to hand him back the shiny ornament, Jimmy and Judy discovered Crazy Quilt was gone... running away as fast as he could go!
AND NOW… Episode 26: Returned to the Attic
Santa, Paddy, Judy, and Jimmy pursue Crazy Quilt to the North Pole. As Crazy Quilt begins to climb the Pole, the group scares him. When he falls down, they recover the star and the twins find themselves magically back in their attic with their mother shaking them out of a sleep. When they finally place the star on top of the tree, Judy and Jimmy wonder if it has all been a dream. Then they hear the Cinnamon Bear's song one more time. First broadcast Saturday, December 25, 1937
(Click to play)
AND NOW… Episode 26: Returned to the Attic
Santa, Paddy, Judy, and Jimmy pursue Crazy Quilt to the North Pole. As Crazy Quilt begins to climb the Pole, the group scares him. When he falls down, they recover the star and the twins find themselves magically back in their attic with their mother shaking them out of a sleep. When they finally place the star on top of the tree, Judy and Jimmy wonder if it has all been a dream. Then they hear the Cinnamon Bear's song one more time. First broadcast Saturday, December 25, 1937
(Click to play)
Wednesday, December 23, 2015
THE CRAZY QUILT DRAGON - Captain Tintop
YESTERDAY - Back in Santa's office, things became clear. Melissa had warned that the Wintergreen Witch had escaped from her exile and headed for the Snow Country. Reinforcements were sent to the soldiers battling the witch. In the meantime, Santa took his visitors on a tour of the North Pole workshop. Then came word that Capt. Tintop had returned victorious... and with the star!
AND NOW… Episode 25: Betrayed by Crazy Quilt
With the silver star now safe, and the Wintergreen Witch turned into a wreath, Santa offers to take Judy, Jimmy, Paddy, and Crazy Quilt back to the attic, but Crazy Quilt wants to remain in the snow country. As the group climbs into Santa's sleigh, Jimmy hands Crazy Quilt the silver star for just a minute - and, true to his nature, Crazy Quilt dashes off with it. First broadcast Friday, December 24, 1937
(Click to play)
AND NOW… Episode 25: Betrayed by Crazy Quilt
With the silver star now safe, and the Wintergreen Witch turned into a wreath, Santa offers to take Judy, Jimmy, Paddy, and Crazy Quilt back to the attic, but Crazy Quilt wants to remain in the snow country. As the group climbs into Santa's sleigh, Jimmy hands Crazy Quilt the silver star for just a minute - and, true to his nature, Crazy Quilt dashes off with it. First broadcast Friday, December 24, 1937
(Click to play)
Tuesday, December 22, 2015
O, SANCTISSIMA
I thought you might like hear the Catholic or Latin hymn sung to the same melody - Sicilian mariners hymn - as O du Fröhliche. Unlike O du Fröhliche the Latin O Sanctissima is not typically heard at Christmas, but more often sung in Catholic churches on Marian feast days. The very striking difference between the two songs, though sharing a melody, is that O Sanctissima is a hymn to Mary while the German and English songs speak of Jesus himself and the day of birth.
O, SANCTISSIMA
O, Sanctissima, O, Piissima,
O, Sanctissima, O, Piissima,
Dulcis Virgo Maria!
Mater amata, intemerata,
Mater amata, intemerata,
Ora, ora pro nobis!
Tua gaudia et suspiria
Tua gaudia et suspiria
Juvent nos, o, Maria!
In te speramus, ad te clamamus,
In te speramus, ad te clamamus,
Ora, ora pro nobis!
English translation
Oh, the most holy one, oh, the most pious one,
Oh, the most holy one, oh, the most pious one,
Mild Virgin Mary!
Beloved mother, the most righteous one,
Beloved mother, the most righteous one,
Pray, pray for us!
May your joy and your cry
May your joy and your cry
Help us, oh, Mary!
We believe in you, we praise you,
We believe in you, we praise you,
Pray, pray for us!
O, SANCTISSIMA
O, Sanctissima, O, Piissima,
O, Sanctissima, O, Piissima,
Dulcis Virgo Maria!
Mater amata, intemerata,
Mater amata, intemerata,
Ora, ora pro nobis!
Tua gaudia et suspiria
Tua gaudia et suspiria
Juvent nos, o, Maria!
In te speramus, ad te clamamus,
In te speramus, ad te clamamus,
Ora, ora pro nobis!
English translation
Oh, the most holy one, oh, the most pious one,
Oh, the most holy one, oh, the most pious one,
Mild Virgin Mary!
Beloved mother, the most righteous one,
Beloved mother, the most righteous one,
Pray, pray for us!
May your joy and your cry
May your joy and your cry
Help us, oh, Mary!
We believe in you, we praise you,
We believe in you, we praise you,
Pray, pray for us!
O DU FRÖHLICHE
This very popular German Christmas carol has Italian origins.
In 1788 the German philosopher, theologian, and poet Johann Gottfried von Herder (1744-1803) found the melody during a trip to Italy and took it back to Germany. The melody is that of a Sicilian fisherman's song and was originally used for the Latin hymn "O sanctissima, o piisima, dulcis Virgo Maria" which is still sung in Italy in the Roman Catholic Church.
Johannes Daniel Falk (1768-1826) found this song in Herder's collection Stimmen der Völker in Liedern ("The Voices of the People in Song") and around 1816 wrote the German lyrics. After Falk lost four of his seven children to typhoid fever, he founded an orphanage (Rettungshaus für verwahrloste Kinder, literally the rescue center for abandoned children) and dedicated the song to the children of the orphanage. In its original version, the song was titled "Allerdreifeiertagslied", or "A Song for Three Holidays" as it mentions three festivals of Christianity - Christmas, Easter, and Pentecost. The song which is sung today and which quickly became one of the most popular German Christmas songs, retains Falk's first verse and combines with it two verses by his assistant, Heinrich Holzschuher (1798-1847).
In the protestant churches of Germany, the song is traditionally sung at the end of Christmas Eve services from the Evangelische Gesangbuch. It can also be found in various parts of the German Catholic Church's Gotteslobs, in the Free Church's Feiern u Loben, and in the Mennonite Mennonitische Gesangbuch. And because of the simplicity of the words, it is one that I can sing along with - generally out of earshot of any serious music critic or aficionado.
In 1788 the German philosopher, theologian, and poet Johann Gottfried von Herder (1744-1803) found the melody during a trip to Italy and took it back to Germany. The melody is that of a Sicilian fisherman's song and was originally used for the Latin hymn "O sanctissima, o piisima, dulcis Virgo Maria" which is still sung in Italy in the Roman Catholic Church.
Johannes Daniel Falk (1768-1826) found this song in Herder's collection Stimmen der Völker in Liedern ("The Voices of the People in Song") and around 1816 wrote the German lyrics. After Falk lost four of his seven children to typhoid fever, he founded an orphanage (Rettungshaus für verwahrloste Kinder, literally the rescue center for abandoned children) and dedicated the song to the children of the orphanage. In its original version, the song was titled "Allerdreifeiertagslied", or "A Song for Three Holidays" as it mentions three festivals of Christianity - Christmas, Easter, and Pentecost. The song which is sung today and which quickly became one of the most popular German Christmas songs, retains Falk's first verse and combines with it two verses by his assistant, Heinrich Holzschuher (1798-1847).
In the protestant churches of Germany, the song is traditionally sung at the end of Christmas Eve services from the Evangelische Gesangbuch. It can also be found in various parts of the German Catholic Church's Gotteslobs, in the Free Church's Feiern u Loben, and in the Mennonite Mennonitische Gesangbuch. And because of the simplicity of the words, it is one that I can sing along with - generally out of earshot of any serious music critic or aficionado.
O Du Fröhliche - words and translation
DEUTSCH
MELODIE: Sizilianisches Fischerlied - Johann Gottfried von Herder (1788)
TEXT: Johannes Daniel Falk (1816)/ Heinrich Holzschuher (1829)
O du fröhliche, o du selige,
Gnadenbringende Weihnachtszeit!
Welt ging verloren,
Christ ist geboren,
Freue, freue dich, o Christenheit!
O du fröhliche, o du selige,
Gnadenbringende Weihnachtszeit!
Christ ist erschienen,
Uns zu versöhnen,
Freue, freue dich, o Christenheit!
O du fröhliche, o du selige,
Gnadenbringende Weihnachtszeit!
Himmlische Heere
Jauchzen dir Ehre,
Freue, freue dich, o Christenheit!
ENGLISH (Literal translation of the German)
O you merry, o you blessed,
Merciful Christmastide!
The world was lost,
Christ was born,
Rejoice, rejoice o Christendom!
O you merry, o you blessed,
Merciful Christmastide!
Christ appeared,
To reconcile us,
Rejoice, rejoice o Christendom!
O you merry, o you blessed,
Merciful Christmastide!
Heavenly hosts,
Exult your honor,
Rejoice, rejoice o Christendom!
THE CRAZY QUILT DRAGON - The Parade
YESTERDAY - Jack Frost raised the window in time to spot the Bad Dolls dashing away with the star. Santa ordered out the detachment of tin soldiers to pursue the dolls. But bad news, Captain Tintop radioed back that the troops were encountering difficulties. A strange creature, never before seen in the Snow Country, was aiding the Bad Dolls.
AND NOW… Episode 24: Thrilled by a Train Ride
Santa tells the twins not to worry and gives everybody a train ride. While riding on the train, they see all the toys. Eventually Santa is informed that the Captain of the Tin Soldiers is waiting in his office with the silver star in hand. His troops have defeated the enemy! First broadcast Thursday, December 23, 1937
(Click to play)
AND NOW… Episode 24: Thrilled by a Train Ride
Santa tells the twins not to worry and gives everybody a train ride. While riding on the train, they see all the toys. Eventually Santa is informed that the Captain of the Tin Soldiers is waiting in his office with the silver star in hand. His troops have defeated the enemy! First broadcast Thursday, December 23, 1937
(Click to play)
Monday, December 21, 2015
THE CRAZY QUILT DRAGON - The Bad Dolls
YESTERDAY - Santa made the group welcome and ordered up his reindeer to take the four adventurers to the shop of Jack Frost, who quicker than quick, repaired the Silver Star as good as new. He put it on his window sill to get good and cold, but when they were ready to go, they found it missing!
AND NOW… Episode 23: Enchanted by Santa's Storeroom
Jack Frost observes the Bad Dolls - a group of mean-spirited dolls made with bad sawdust - running off with the silver star. Santa sends out the Tin Soldiers and invites Paddy, Judy, and Jimmy to the big storeroom where they reunite with Crazy Quilt. Eventually, Santa receives word that the soldiers need reinforcements because some hideous green creature is leading the Bad Dolls. First broadcast Wednesday, December 22, 1937
(Click to play)
AND NOW… Episode 23: Enchanted by Santa's Storeroom
Jack Frost observes the Bad Dolls - a group of mean-spirited dolls made with bad sawdust - running off with the silver star. Santa sends out the Tin Soldiers and invites Paddy, Judy, and Jimmy to the big storeroom where they reunite with Crazy Quilt. Eventually, Santa receives word that the soldiers need reinforcements because some hideous green creature is leading the Bad Dolls. First broadcast Wednesday, December 22, 1937
(Click to play)
Sunday, December 20, 2015
LEISE RIESELT DER SCHNEE
This popular German children's carol is about the Christ Child's arrival. It invites the listener to imagine a child sitting by a window watching the snow gently falling in anticipation of Christmas Eve. The original 1895 title was "Weihnachtsgruß" ("Christmas greeting") and was included in Eduard Ebel's Gesammelte Gedichte ("Collection of Poems"). Ebel was a Protestant pastor, poet, and composer. This carol was his effort at capturing the wintery and celebratory mood of Advent, a word derived from Latin that means "arrival."
In 1839 Hamburg resident and missionary Johann Hinrich Wichern introduced the Adventskranz (Advent wreath) for the children of the "Rauhen Haus" who would ask, "When will it be Christmas?" It was made from an old wagon wheel with enough candles for each day of the Advent season. Originally there were four large white candles for the Sundays and Christmas Eve with smaller red candles filling in between. From this was developed the idea of the Advent wreath with four candles and since 1860 the wreath has been made of greenery - generally fir or spruce. For many years my family either bought or made an Adventskranz as a reminder of Christmas in Germany - and what and why we celebrate at this time of year.
And I do dream of a white Christmas like the child I see when I hear this song.
In 1839 Hamburg resident and missionary Johann Hinrich Wichern introduced the Adventskranz (Advent wreath) for the children of the "Rauhen Haus" who would ask, "When will it be Christmas?" It was made from an old wagon wheel with enough candles for each day of the Advent season. Originally there were four large white candles for the Sundays and Christmas Eve with smaller red candles filling in between. From this was developed the idea of the Advent wreath with four candles and since 1860 the wreath has been made of greenery - generally fir or spruce. For many years my family either bought or made an Adventskranz as a reminder of Christmas in Germany - and what and why we celebrate at this time of year.
And I do dream of a white Christmas like the child I see when I hear this song.
Leise rieselt der Schnee - words and translation
DEUTSCH
Melodie: Traditional (Volkweise)
Text: Eduard Ebel (1839-1905)
Leise rieselt der Schnee,
Still und starr liegt der See.
Weihnachtlich glänzet der Wald:
Freue Dich, Christkind kommt bald!
In den Herzen ist’s warm,
Still schweigt Kummer und Harm,
Sorge des Lebens verhallt:
Freue Dich, Christkind kommt bald!
Bald ist Heilige Nacht,
Chor der Engel erwacht,
Horch’ nur wie lieblich es schallt:
Freue Dich, Christkind kommt bald!
ENGLISH (Literal translation of the German)
Softly falls the snow,
Quiet and frozen lies the lake.
Christmas-like sparkles the forest:
Rejoice! The Christ Child will soon be here.
In our hearts it’s warm,
Silent are sorrow and grief,
Life’s worries fade away:
Rejoice! The Christ Child will soon be here.
Soon it’s Christmas Eve,
Choir of angels awakes,
Just hear how lovely it sounds:
Rejoice! The Christ Child will soon be here.
Melodie: Traditional (Volkweise)
Text: Eduard Ebel (1839-1905)
Leise rieselt der Schnee,
Still und starr liegt der See.
Weihnachtlich glänzet der Wald:
Freue Dich, Christkind kommt bald!
In den Herzen ist’s warm,
Still schweigt Kummer und Harm,
Sorge des Lebens verhallt:
Freue Dich, Christkind kommt bald!
Bald ist Heilige Nacht,
Chor der Engel erwacht,
Horch’ nur wie lieblich es schallt:
Freue Dich, Christkind kommt bald!
ENGLISH (Literal translation of the German)
Softly falls the snow,
Quiet and frozen lies the lake.
Christmas-like sparkles the forest:
Rejoice! The Christ Child will soon be here.
In our hearts it’s warm,
Silent are sorrow and grief,
Life’s worries fade away:
Rejoice! The Christ Child will soon be here.
Soon it’s Christmas Eve,
Choir of angels awakes,
Just hear how lovely it sounds:
Rejoice! The Christ Child will soon be here.
THE CRAZY QUILT DRAGON - Santa Claus
YESTERDAY - Settled into the Fly Hat our travelers took off for the Snow Country. There, on Melissa's instructions, they sought for someone known as Nicky Froodle. A W.C. Fields-sounding snowman directed them to a nearby castle and the little elf named Nicky. He told them that he would take them to someone who could help them mend the broken star, none other than Santa Claus himself.
AND NOW… Episode 22: Welcomed by Santa Claus
Santa warmly receives Paddy, Crazy Quilt, and the Barton twins. Crazy Quilt stays behind, as Santa takes Paddy and the twins to the home of Jack Frost who will repair the star. Jack puts magic snow cement on the star and the pieces fit back together again. After he puts it on his windowsill to harden, the star is stolen. First broadcast Tuesday, December 21, 1937
(Click to play)
AND NOW… Episode 22: Welcomed by Santa Claus
Santa warmly receives Paddy, Crazy Quilt, and the Barton twins. Crazy Quilt stays behind, as Santa takes Paddy and the twins to the home of Jack Frost who will repair the star. Jack puts magic snow cement on the star and the pieces fit back together again. After he puts it on his windowsill to harden, the star is stolen. First broadcast Tuesday, December 21, 1937
(Click to play)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)