Christmas Carol Quiz

We just got our first invitation of the year to a Christmas party. Yes, I know, Thanksgiving hasn't happened yet. But people are thinking ahead. If you are one of those thinking ahead to your own Christmas party, here is a fun activity to do with friends:

This is a non-threatening game that is equally fun to do as a group, in teams, as families, or individually. For this game you will need to recall words to familiar Christmas carols and traditional Christmas songs.
INSTRUCTIONS
1. Announce the name of the carol and then ask the question. Depending on how you choose to play the game, the answers can be called out, sung, or written.
2. Be prepared to share a copy of the questions and answers for your guests to take home.
3. If you know an accomplished pianist, provide music and words (or just words for the guests and music for the accompanist) for a Christmas sing-a-long when you have finished the quiz.

CHRISTMAS CAROL QUIZ
1. The First Noel - To whom was the first noel given?
2. O Little Town of Bethlehem - What was shining in the streets of Bethlehem?
3. It Came upon the Midnight Clear - What came upon the midnight clear?
4. We Three Kings - Where were the three kings from?
5. Hark, the Herald Angels Sing - What three things did the angels sing about?
6. Away in a Manger - What piece of baby furniture did the little Lord Jesus not have?
7. Angels We Have Heard on High - What echoed the angels' song?
8. O Come, O Come Emmanuel - Who is Emmanuel?
9. While Shepherds Watched their Flocks by Night - Where were the shepherds seated when the angels came?
10. Deck the Halls - What are we to "troll"?
11. Santa Claus is Coming to Town - Santa may not be omniscient, but what three things does he know about you?
12. Winter Wonderland - How do you feel walking in a winter wonderland?
13. The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire) - What part of your anatomy is Jack Frost nipping at?
14. Jingle Bells - What are we doing when we're dashing through the snow in a one-horse open sleigh?
15. Rudolph, the Red-nosed Reindeer - What would you say if you saw Rudolph's nose?
16. White Christmas - What are the children listening for?
17. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen - What could be a cause for dismay?
18. Jolly Old Saint Nicolas - What is Santa supposed to whisper?
19. Winter Wonderland - What does the new bird sing?
20. Joy to the World - What is every heart to do regarding the king?

ANSWERS (according to the words in the carols)
1. certain poor shepherds
2. everlasting Light
3. that glorious song of old
4. Orient
5. glory to the newborn King, peace on earth and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled
6. crib
7. mountains
8. the Son of God
9. the ground
10. the ancient yuletide carol
11. when you're sleeping, when you're awake, if you've been bad or good
12. happy
13. nose
14. laughing
15. It glows!
16. sleigh-bells in the snow
17. nothing
18. what you'll bring to me
19. a love song
20 prepare Him room

Merry Christmas,
Paulita

Catching Up

I'm catching up on my Christmas gift buying. After all, there are only 52 days until Christmas. I don't know how many shopping days that is. I bought two gifts last month. One for my daughter that she really wants but will be very surprised to receive, and one for my son-in-law that he will like. Actually I have two daughters and I won't say which one gets the gift. Likewise, I have two sons-in-law so I can't say which one of them gets the gift either.

This month, so far, I have bought one gift (and it was an impulse buy) for my husband. I think I have 5 more peple to buy for.

There is one other minor problem. In November we have three birthdays. In December there are three, and in January there are two!!! Oh well, I'm determined to get Christmas done first.

Merry Christmas,
Paulita

October Carol

Somehow it seems appropriate amidst the loud claims and protestations of the upcoming election, to focus on the peace which the birth of Jesus brings. Join me

It Came Upon the Midnight Clear

It came upon the midnight clear, that glorious song of old,
From angels bending near the earth to touch their harps of gold:
"Peace on the earth, goodwill to men, from heaven's all-gracious King"
The world in solemn stillness lay to hear the angels sing.

And ye, beneath life's crushing load, whose forms are bending low,
Who toil along the climbing way with painful steps and slow,
Look now! for glad and golden hours come swiftly on the wing:
O rest beside the weary load, and hear the angels sing.

For lo, the days are hastening on, by prophet seen of old,
When, with the evercircling years, shall come the time foretold,
When the new heaven and earth shall own the Prince of Peace their King,
And the whole world send back the song which now the angels sing.
- Edmund H. Sears

Merry Christmas,
Paulita

Onward to the Hallelujah Chorus

In case I forget to tell you, I did purchase one Christmas gift this month. I can't tell you anything about it though, because the person I got it for reads this blog! I am beginning to feel a little pressured. I am only about half-way through my Christmas gift list and there are only 87 days 'till Christmas!

There are also only 17 more songs before the Hallelujah Chorus. But take heart. Only nine of them are used regularly in a Christmas Messiah concert. Of those total 18, eight are written for the tenor soloist. Of those eight, only four are usually used. Poor tenor!

Here are the words. We'll start with the tenor. "Thy rebuke hath broken His heart; He is full of heaviness. He looked for some to have pity on Him, but there was no man; neihter found He any to comfort Him." Those words are from Psalm 69:20. The tenor continues with his aria, "Behold, and see if there be any sorrow like unto His sorrow." (Lamantations 1:12)

The chorus next sings, "Lift up your heads, O ye gates, and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. Who is the King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. Who is the King of glory? The Lord of Hosts, He is the King of glory." (Psalm 24: 9-10)

Now in my opinion that song would make a lot more sense if we had let the tenor sing his preceeding recitative and aria. What we missed was, "He was cut off out of the land of the living; for the transgression of Thy people was He stricken." (Isaiah 53:8) "But Thou didst not leave His soul in hell; nor didst Thou suffer Thy Holy One to see corruption. (Psalm 16:10) See what I mean? Jesus had to die before he could be resurrected.

The next four songs are usually omitted. So onward we gallop. The soprano sings, "How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things. (Isaiah 52:7 and quoted in Romans 10:15)

Another chorus is omitted and then the bass sings one of my two favorite bass solos in the oratorio. Here comes the drama of the end times: "Why do the nations so furiously rage together? (and) why do the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth rise up, and the rulers take counsel against the Lord, and against His Anointed." (Psalm 2:1-2) The chorus answers, "Let us break their bonds asunder, and cast away their yokes from us." (Psalm 2:3) Then the tenor agrees, "He that dwelleth in heaven shall laugh them to scorn; the Lord shall have them in derision." (Psalm 2:4) "Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; Thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel." (Psalm 2:9)

Now comes the resounding, "Hallelujah! for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. The kingdom of this world is become the kingdom of our Lord, and of His Christ; and He shall reign for ever and ever. King of Kings, and Lord of Lords, Hallelujah!" (Revelation 19: 6 and 16)

Well, as the song says, "You may think that this is the end. Well it..."
I have to think about this. The oratorio continues, but I may want to save the last part for next year's blog, A Year of Easter.
Merry Christmas,
Paulita

Handel's Messiah, Part II

Part II of Handel's Messiah is all about Jesus' sacrifice for us. Many of the choruses are used in Christmas concerts, and indeed, this section ends with the triumphant "Hallelujah Chorus," a Christmas favorite.

But after seeing the emphasis Mr. Jennens (who compiled the Scriptures for the oratorio) places on this part and his central positioning of it, I have to agree with him and Handel that this oratorio was meant to be performed at Easter.

Nevertheless, here's what you may hear this Christmas season: the chorus opens with the very startling and moving, "Behold the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world." (John 1:29) This, of course, is the reason Jesus was born, and is the central message of the Bible.

The alto soloist followed by the chorus gives us much of Isaiah's prophecy concerning Christ's death. "He was despised and rejected of men: a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief." (Isaiah 53:3)

The next part of the alto's solo is usually omitted. It is not a quote from the Isaiah passage which preceeds and follows it, but is quoted from Isaiah 50:6 It almost seems to be a tag ending to say, "Hey, this was real and violent." In fact, it is verified and testified to in Matthew's gospel account. (Matthew 26:67 and Matthew 27:30) The orchestral accompaniment is very agitated as these words are sung: "He gave His back to the smiters, and His cheeks to them that plucked off the hair; He hid not his face from shame and spitting."

The chorus continues directly with the Isaiah 53 prophecy: "Surely He hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows; He was wounded for our transgressions; He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon Him, and with His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all." (Isaiah 53:4-6)

Far from being distracting during the Christmas celebration, these words emphasize why Jesus was born. If Jesus remains only a baby in a manger, he cannot do much for me, but I can rejoice that God kept His Christmas promise and sent a Savior for my soul.
Merry Christmas,
Paulita

Shepherds and Angels

After the Pastoral Symphony in Handel's Messiah comes the soprano's delight. I should know. I am a soprano and I used to sing this. Only one time was it not a delight and that was at a college Christmas concert, when I had my usual Christmas laryngitis. (which is a whole nuther story)

The soprano sings from Luke 2:8-13: "There were shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flocks by night. And lo! the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them, and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, 'Fear not, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.' And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying:"

To which the chorus responds: "Glory to God in the highest, and peace on earth, good will towards men."

What a thrill!

Following this, is more prophecy from the books of Zechariah and Isaiah which tell about Jesus' earthly life. (Remember they were written more than 500 years before Jesus was born.) The soprano sings, "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold thy king cometh unto thee. He is the righteous Saviour, and He shall speak peace unto the heathen." (Zechariah 9:9-10)

From Isaiah 35:5-6 an alto sings, "Then shall the eyes of the blind be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb shall sing."

Yep, that's Jesus.

She continues: "He shall feed His flock like a shepherd, and He shall gather the lambs with His arm, and carry them in His bosom, and gently lead those that are with young." (Isaiah 40:11)

This was beautifully pictured in a stained glass window over the choir loft in the church I attended as a child. I stared at it every Sunday and loved it.

The soprano extends the invitation: "Come unto Him, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and He shall give you rest. Take His yoke upon you and learn of Him; for He is meek and lowly of heart and ye shall find rest unto your souls." (Matthew 11:28-29)

To end Part I of the Messiah, the chorus responds, "His yoke is easy and His burden is light."

Thus ends the Christmas portion of the Messiah. But wait, you say. Where is the Hallelujah Chorus? Hm-m-m, I think I'll tell you next time.
Merry Christmas,
Paulita

Pastoal Symphony/Silent Night

The next part of The Messiah by Handel is an orchestral interlude which sets the stage for the angel's announcement to the shepherds who are out in the fields watching their sheep.

Unfortunately, since it is the only selection without words, it is often used at an intermission break, or as a background to taking an offering (if it is part of a church service).

Since the Pastoral Symphony does not have words, I am going to insert our September Carol of the month here. It will also set the mood for the angel's announcement to the shepherds: the first verse showing the newborn baby, the second telling of the shepherds surprise, and the third proclaiming who this baby is.

"Silent Night" by Franz Gruber

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, heavenly 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.
Merry Christmas,
Paulita
P.S. Last night, our choir director introduced the cantata for this Christmas season. Did yours?