"Christmas Music"..not carols

Over the years many a composer has made a bundle off of royalties for their seasonal music surrounding the Christmas season.  Many of us remember "Here Comes Santa Claus", written by Gene Autry and Oakley Haldman or "I saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus", sung by a thirteen year old Jimmy Boyd back in 1952, as staples of our childhood Christmas musical canon.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=76K5UU0ihow

In our parents' day, during and after the Second World War, many held memories of "I'll Be Home for Christmas" recorded in 1943 by Bing Crosby.  The song, written and composed by the lyricists Kim Gannon, Buck Ram and composer Walter Kent, is told from the point of view of a soldier away from home and thinking of those at home.  Bing later had another hit with "White Christmas" which was written by Irving Berlin in 1940.  It was featured in two films: "Holiday Inn" and later in the Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye and Rosemary Clooney musical of the same name,"White Christmas". My favorite rendition is from "Holiday Inn" which starred Bing along with Margorie Reynolds and Fred Astaire. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHu6rlK953g

Over the years I have collected my own canon of favorite secular and not so secular Christmas music...not carols...those may be addressed in another posting later this week.  Here is my list and some sort of explanation:

1. "Wonderful Christmastime" by Paul McCartney...this is just so much fun to listen to and to watch on You tube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V9BZDpni56Y

2. "All I Want for Christmas is You" by Mariah Carey.  It makes me smile. And she looks happy doing it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXQViqx6GMY

3. "Santa Baby", and not the Madonna version, got to go for the classic here: Earth Kitt's rendition is just the BEST...she made two versions..the early one is the better one.  No one could do this like Eartha. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jFMyF9fDKzE

4. "Last Christmas" by George Michael and WHAM!  Got to love the scenery and that 80"s hair!!!! What where we thinking?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E8gmARGvPlI

5. "The Rebel Jesus" by Jackson Brown is a contemporary piece that should be included in every Advent program...at least I think so.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PEC7d5jbAbo

6. "Happy Christmas: War is Over" by John Lennon...'nuf said...what have we learned?
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xw4suq_happy-xmas-happy-christmas-war-is-over-john-lennon-original-video-clip-1970_music
For those of us whose families put the "fun" is dysfunctional here is:

7. "St Stephen's Day Murders" by Elvis Costello and The Chieftains...got to love the cynicism of the Irish...hey..I am half Irish, so I can comment.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8fPvODASoI

And this has to be the weirdest combination I have seen: Bing and David:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DiXjbI3kRus

Christmas Eve 2013

Well, I am still not really ready for Christmas.  The presents for the kinder and grand-kinder are bought and wrapped. The obligatory gifts for colleagues, acquaintances, siblings, relatives and dear friends have been purchased, decorated and, for the most part, delivered. But I have not gotten around to setting out the manger or decorating the, albeit, little table top Christmas tree. 

My friend, Susan, has a great collection of nativity sets or crèches that she has collected over the years.  She often displays them and once was a news item on the NJ Public TV station as she showed them at her parish hall.  Susan is an Episcopal priest and her parishioners were treated to crèches and cookies getting to admire her very eclectic collection.

The little tree is ready to be embellished with decorations. At least I have not succumbed to the ceramic tree that once adorned my mother-in-law's home in Florida, actually I really like that one, but don't recall if I have it or if my sister-in-law in Georgia has it. A friend of mine recently referred to one of that ilk as the "senior citizens' tree", because she claimed she only saw them in the homes of those 65 and older...well, guess what, we are both fast approaching that milestone ourselves and we just may be in the market for one of those trees really soon.

I did invest in several battery operated candles and tea lights which I have used to decorate the open étagère that overlooks the harbor.  They are sitting in or behind or next to various glass figures (most notably swans) that twinkle and glow in the dark of evening. I have not put up the silver star I purchased last year at IKEA, but I still have time...right?

But whatever happens here this afternoon, I will be happily on the altar at Christ Church for the four o'clock pm Children's service at which our fabulous Children's Choir will be singing, and then later at the solemn high mass at ten o'clock PM with some great Christmas music and carols.

Christmas isn't really about presents and decorations.  It is really about love come down; and that is the most important thing.

Christmas Traditions 2

 

Blue Christmas Tree

Growing up in New York City in mid-twentieth  century there were certain holiday rules and rituals that we all seemed to follow. Everyone, except my Aunt Irene, had a live tree.   Aunt Irene and Uncle Bill who, in the early years of their marriage, lived in an apartment house down the street from my parents' building, were the first "hip" couple in our extended family to actually have an artificial tree. And in true post-modern 1950's fashion, their's was a silver aluminum tree with blue lights and blue ornaments.  I thought it was wonderful, but I think my Grandmother was taken aback by it. 

There was good reason for the introduction of artificial trees.  As a child I remember that during each Christmas season there would be news stories about house fires caused by neglected trees.  The new artificial trees were not so great in the early years.  They were rather roughly fashioned wire and their "needles" were more like bottle washers than the real supine needles of a traditional Douglas fir.

My family always had a real tree; even when I married, the tradition continued. I had always wanted to get an artificial one, especially the year I was still vacuuming up needles as I prepared for Easter, but I usually lost the annual family "vote"...it usually  wound up as a tie.  One daughter and I would vote "yes"; the son and the husband voted "no",  and the final child was always "neutral"...no majority, no change. Only last year did I buy a small artificial tree for my condo.  This past Tuesday my grandson picked it up and proclaimed it, "Tree!".

During the recent Christmas Markets cruise I was surprised that all of the trees onboard were real.  In all of the markets we visited and along the streets of  cities and towns like Cologne, Mainz, Speyer and Munich, all of the trees lining the streets were real trees.



And in some households the old tradition of using candles on the tree for illumination still exists.  I think this must give it a lovely glow, but I would be very leery of doing this today.  In the department store in Munich they still sell clip-on candle holders and variously colored Christmas candles for the tree.  I was told that the candle laden-holders are attached to the branches the day before you want to light the tree.  They are then allowed to "settle" overnight due to the weight of the filled holders.  The tree is then lit on Christmas Eve while everyone is in the room, and then , once everyone is leaving...all candles are snuffed out.  I am happy to report that the relative we visited in Munich has electric lights on her tree.

Another interesting tradition in Germany is the importance of the Advent Calendar.  Here in the states an Advent Calendar is usually given by churches to the young children in the congregation.  Most have little tabs that you open up every morning of Advent.  It may have a prayer, Bible verse or picture inside.  If you are among the lucky, your Advent Calendar has a piece of candy behind each door.                                                                                             



In Germany the calendar often holds a small gift for each day. It is more than a cardboard concoction and often consists of intricately hung numbered bags into which a small toy , fruits, nuts or candies are placed.  Toy companies like "Lego", "Barbie" or "Playmobile" sell "Advent Calendar" fillers for parents too busy to  compile these serial gifts for each child.  It is certainly good marketing, because you can provided the accessories for the major Christmas toy as part of the Advent preparation.

But my favorite old world tradition caught me unaware.  One thing we used to do back in the "day" was to go to Rockefeller Center in Manhattan to see the tree.  While we were there, we would buy some roasted chestnuts from local street vendors. My Mom would also make chestnut stuffing for our holiday turkeys, which I loved to eat the next day as turkey and stuffing sandwiches.

But, there are no American chestnuts anymore.  The local chestnut trees in New York and New Jersey were killed by a blight many years ago.  So imagine my delight at being assailed by the smell of "chestnuts roasting on an open fire" in the various Christmas markets along the river.  I finally succumbed and bought some in Strasbourg and in Nurnberg.  Their fulsome and rich nutty taste brought me back, and there I was: watching the skaters at Rockefeller Center and waiting on line to see the Rockettes dance their way across the Christmas Spectacular...Ahh, the power of smell and memory!

Christmas Traditions Pt 1

Amsterdam from my hotel
 

I must admit, I  have not paid much attention to the "Happy Holidays" v." Merry Christmas" debate that seems to be the new hot topic on Fox News, nor to the "War on Christmas" as it has been purported by Sarah Palin and reported by Jon Stewart.  But I must tell you, if you have become a "humbug" around this time of year and want to return to the feelings around Christmas you had as a child, then go on a Christmas Market trip through Germany and Central Europe.  The two most popular river cruises this time of year sail along the Danube and Rhine Rivers stopping at various Weihnachtsmarkten, or Christmas markets, along the way. This year I sailed with a group of five other relatives and friends along the Rhine to enjoy the markets along it shores.

MS Concerto

My travelling companions and I met up in Amsterdam a few days before the cruise to get un-jet-lagged and to take in some of the local sights. Amsterdam, much like my hometown of New York City, is a rather cosmopolitan, secular city, and, as such, it's Christmas Market, along the commercial strip, is mainly food stands a with a smattering of local craftsmen's stalls.  We were here for St Nicholas' Day, which is a big deal in the Netherlands.  The good bishop arrives to bring special treats to good children. He is also immortalized in consumable chocolate facsimiles wrapped in foil with his jolly and comforting façade on the outside.

The one disturbing thing I noted was the presence of "Schwartze Piet", his dark-skinned assistant, who accompanies the "bish" checking on the "good" vs "bad" behavior of the local kinder. 

St Nicholas and Piets
 

As an American, I found this more than offensive, but was told it was their tradition of 300 years or more. I did point out that in the U.S. we did abolish slavery over a hundred years after over 200 years of involuntary servitude. But I was assured by  many locals that Piet's countenance was the result of his living in chimneys...I did not buy that one.  So I "googled" him only to find out that Piet was originally a Moor (read African Muslim) who was taken under the wing of the good bishop and converted to Christianity. My first encounter with this tradition was when a tug boat pulled up next to the ship and St. Nick and his "crew" threw candy onto the deck of the ship.  I am still amazed that this tradition continues, but I understand some recent immigrants from Surinam are putting the screws to St. Nick encouraging him to get rid of his objectionable assistant. I wish them luck on that one.  They are going to need it.


Because of when we left, we were out of the States on Thanksgiving, a thing my well-adjusted middle child was constantly reminding me of before I left. She and her siblings would attend the annual feast hosted by my cousin Fred and his wife, Kathy, a high school friend of mine.  They were well fed and entertained.  On the ship we had a festive Thanksgiving dinner as we sailed out of Arnhem in the Netherlands.  The next day we arrived at our first official Chriskindelsmarket in Cologne. This is the place where the first cologne was invented, and you can still buy the original scent here.  At the time of its invention, the folks around town did not bathe but three times a year, and there was definitely a need for the body-odor hiding elixir.  The cathedral here was the largest and tallest for over
100 years and is quite grand and cavernous. 

The markets were fun and we had our very first Gluhwein here.  It is basically hot mulled and spiced wine...red wine usually.  Similar to glogg with out the added distilled spitrits, although you could order it with rum or schnapps if  wished. 

Thus began my collection of "gluhwein cups" which will make a fine serving set for some traditional Swanson family glogg. That is one tradition I think I will continue. 

The next day saw us in Koblenz enjoying the town in the morning and its market.  The afternoon we sailed the Rhine looking at castles and the mythic Lorelei Rock upon which a beautiful maiden lured mariners to their deaths against her rocky coast.

Anyway, enough for now...I have things to do today....to be continued...

Theater 101: How NOT to behave.

Last night I attended a performance of Handel's "Messiah" at NY's Carnegie Hall.  A dear friend was in the production offered by the Cecilia Society of New York. It was a wonderful performance of a holiday classic, but it came at a cost. 



Handel and his "Messiah"

And that cost was the completely out of line behavior of a group of teenagers who had probably never attended a live performance before.

Now, as an educator, I firmly believe that we need to expose all children to the joy of live performances, and since I spent the sum total  of my career in New York City, I have taken my share of students to both on and off Broadway productions, and even to Stratford, CT for an unforgettable journey to see Hamlet on its stage...that is a whole other story.

I would  always preface my trip with a series of lessons on what we would see; how they would be expected to dress, and what my expectations for what their behavior would be.  Going on any class trip was always a reward for good behavior, and I have been known to call a parent to ask that they pick up a child whose behavior is not up to snuff.

Carnegie Hall interior

Any student at any socio-economic level can learn what the expectations for behavior are, and learn before hand what is and is not acceptable "theater" protocol.  But the adults in charge must be willing to address this issue PRIOR to the trip.

Just in case you wonder what is unacceptable behavior, let me list the ones I saw last evening that did not cut the mustard:

• Surfing the internet on your I-pad or I-phone is not a good idea.  This is especially true if you do not turn off the sound.
• Receiving incoming calls is another bad idea, especially if the one calling you is the one sitting behind you.
• Talking loudly to be heard over the singers and cracking your gum in rhythm to the music may have seemed like a good idea, but it really isn't.
• Pointing to the ceiling and loudly counting the number of light bulbs may keep you temporarily busy, but it is distracting to others.
• Stretching out your legs in the aisle whilst snuggling into a fetal sleeping position and napping through the first section does not endear you to the others trying to listen over your gentle snoring.
• Covering your head with your coat and playing "peek-a-boo" with your neighbor might have been cute when you were two, but at  fifteen it gets old...fast.

I do, however, commend the adults who accompanied this motley crew.  Although one could easily observe their evident unease with the behaviors of their young charges; the adults quickly seized the moment and led the group up the stairs and out the doors as soon as the intermission lights went on, thus giving the rest of us the ability to enjoy the remainder of the concert in peace. 

 I only hope the group will be tactfully debriefed on Monday regarding their behavior and perhaps the educators can make this behavioral debacle a true learning experience.  I wish them luck.

Cruising Up the River....

Sunday morning,  December 1, 2013, finds me sitting on the Rhine River on the MS Concerto sailing up the river on my way to Basel, Switzerland.  This has been a trip three years in the making.  In the summer of 2010 I was part of a group of three couples who travelled to Germany to go to the Passion Play in Obergamerau.  After seeing the play four of us sailed on the Danube from Nurenburg to Budapest, and we fell in love with river cruising.  We then and there decided that we would all be together to sail on a Christmas Market cruise as soon as the last teacher in the group retired.  This finally happened this year, and in early January we began our preparation for this trip.

Amsterdam from the water

The cast of characters has changed.  I am now single again after the death of my spouse, and we picked up another traveller who also was left suddenly single with the death of his wife. The good thing for us is that he is a retired German teacher who spent many years teaching English to German children, and is able to assist in bargaining at the markets.

We arrived last Monday morning in Amsterdam and spend time there visiting various museums like the VanGogh and the Dutch Resistance Museum, and of course, taking a canal cruise.  We got to see lots and lots...actually hundreds, of bicycles and riders wheeling their way around town.They seem to do  much better than NYC cyclists, mainly because they ALL understand and FOLLOW the rules of the road for cyclists.




Remembrance Monument Njmegen


 

On Wednesday we boarded the ship and on Thursday morning arrived in Njmegen where we went to the National Resistance Museum  that told the story of the Dutch and their liberation by the Canadians and Americans during the end time of World War II. This museum has volunteer guides whose families had connections to the war and told personal recollections of events during that time.

 

Cologne Cathedral

Friday we were in Cologne, the place that held the largest Cathedral  for over a hundred years.  It is an impressive structure, to say the least. We had our first gluhwein here and hoped to have more as we sail up the river to Switzerland.