Thursday, December 1, 2011

Day One, all over again, but a little different

It's hard to believe, but after posting my thankfulness updates last month, I've decided to (try to) continue another daily blog...only this time, it will be all about something I neglected to mention last month:
MUSIC!!!!
I love,
LOVE
L-O-V-E
music of all kinds.
I grew up with music...
singing along while my grandmother played the piano,
singing along while my dad played the guitar,
playing the piano,
singing at church,
playing handbells at church,
playing the clarinet,
singing at school,
and singing some more!
I am a happier person when I can listen to music, and my "favorites" change based on my activity and my mood (quiet, classical music or Enya when I'm mellow; something crazy and dancey when I'm running.) And don't get me started on the amazing times of worship I experience when singing songs of praise to God!
Christmas music is like the penultimate of music for me. I do my best to wait until Thanksgiving is over before I start listening to Christmas music, but I admit it's very hard for me!! This year, I've discovered both Pandora and Spotify to maximize my Christmas music-listening pleasure. Eureka!!
This month, my goal is to post daily about a "significant" Christmas song, whether it's the music, lyrics and/or arrangement...and the story about why it is "significant" to me.
So here is Day One of my Christmas Music month of posts:
I think my favorite Christmas song of all time is "O Holy Night" and I know: it's been a tad overplayed on the radio, a tad overdone my some artists. But this year, I discovered a new arrangement, by BarlowGirl...it is a little rockish, a little edgy, but the descant/harmony on "di-vi-i-ine" gives me HEAD TO TOE GOOSEBUMPS every time!
This song is also very special to me because it was my father's mother's favorite...my Gram was pretty much tone deaf, but she would sing her heart out to this song! I can still smell the leather of her gloves and feel the soft fur of her fancy coat, as we would sing together at church.
And as someone who is a follower of Christ, the lyrics are particularly powerful:

O Holy Night! The stars are brightly shining,
It is the night of the dear Saviour's birth.
Long lay the world in sin and error pining.
Till He appeared and the Spirit 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 angel voices!
O night divine, the night when Christ was born;
O night, O Holy Night , O night divine!
O night, O Holy Night , O night divine!

Led by the light of faith serenely beaming,
With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand.
O'er the world a star is sweetly gleaming,
Now come the wisemen from out of the Orient land.
The King of kings lay thus lowly manger;
In all our trials born to be our friends.
He knows our need, our weakness is no stranger,

Behold your King! Before him lowly bend!
Behold your King! Before him lowly bend!

Truly He taught us to love one another,
His law is love and His gospel is peace.
Chains he shall break, for the slave is our brother.
And in his name all oppression shall cease.
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
With all our hearts we praise His holy name.
Christ is the Lord! Then ever, ever praise we,
His power and glory ever more proclaim!
His power and glory ever more proclaim!

2 comments:

  1. i love music too. but i don't play any instruments or sing very well! LOL! but i do appreciate a good symphony/chorus every once in a while. and i love musicals!

    o holy night is what the children's choir is doing this year <3 shhhh!

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  2. Can that song really be over played??? My favorite too! And I get goose bumps just thinking about "divine". Now I have to find the barlowgirl version right away!

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