mmcd3182
12-16-2006, 12:49 PM
Here is some history behind some of the mentioned favorite Christmas Carols.
1. Silent Night: This most universally sung of all Christmas songs was first heard in the tiny church of St. Nicholas in Oberdorf, Upper Austria. On Christmas Eve, 1818, the church's organ broke down. Not to be daunted, the urate, Joseph Mohr, hastily wrote a song as a substitute for organ music and asked Franz Gruber, the organist, to set it to music for two solo voices with guitar accompaniment.
2. Here We Come A-Caroling (Traditional): In the north of England in the 17th Century, this carol was sung as "Here We Come A-Wassailinng." "Wassail" then meant "good health," conveying the spirit of fellowship and the love of fellowman. But in "wassail" there was also an implication of spirits, and those who came a-wassailing were often rewarded with Christmas spirits. Since wassailers were frequently children, and attitudes changed over the years, the title was changed to "Here We Come A-Caroling."
3. Oh Little Town of Bethlehem: Inspired by a trip he had made to the Holy Land, America's famous preacher, Phillips Brooks, wrote "O Little Town of Bethlehem," in 1868 for the Sunday School of Philadelphia's Church of the Advent, of which he was rector. The music was composed by the Church's organist, Lewis H. Redner. After working on the assignment unsuccessfully for a week, Redman went to sleep one night and the melody came to him in a dream.
Several more to come -- but there's 3 to start you out. I have a large variety of Christmas music books that cover the traditional to the contemporary and most come with notes on the history and tradition behind it.
There are 20 songs in this book. I'll cover all 20 of them if there is interest.
1. Silent Night: This most universally sung of all Christmas songs was first heard in the tiny church of St. Nicholas in Oberdorf, Upper Austria. On Christmas Eve, 1818, the church's organ broke down. Not to be daunted, the urate, Joseph Mohr, hastily wrote a song as a substitute for organ music and asked Franz Gruber, the organist, to set it to music for two solo voices with guitar accompaniment.
2. Here We Come A-Caroling (Traditional): In the north of England in the 17th Century, this carol was sung as "Here We Come A-Wassailinng." "Wassail" then meant "good health," conveying the spirit of fellowship and the love of fellowman. But in "wassail" there was also an implication of spirits, and those who came a-wassailing were often rewarded with Christmas spirits. Since wassailers were frequently children, and attitudes changed over the years, the title was changed to "Here We Come A-Caroling."
3. Oh Little Town of Bethlehem: Inspired by a trip he had made to the Holy Land, America's famous preacher, Phillips Brooks, wrote "O Little Town of Bethlehem," in 1868 for the Sunday School of Philadelphia's Church of the Advent, of which he was rector. The music was composed by the Church's organist, Lewis H. Redner. After working on the assignment unsuccessfully for a week, Redman went to sleep one night and the melody came to him in a dream.
Several more to come -- but there's 3 to start you out. I have a large variety of Christmas music books that cover the traditional to the contemporary and most come with notes on the history and tradition behind it.
There are 20 songs in this book. I'll cover all 20 of them if there is interest.