Mike Serpa
Major
- Joined
- Jan 24, 2013
I didn't realize so many Christmas standards are 150+ years old!
I didn't realize so many Christmas standards are 150+ years old!
Thank you. Merry Christmas to you!Merry Christmas Mike! It's amazing the number of songs we still love today that can be traced back to the 19th century.
Not a favorite if you're Southern - it's a Southern hate song, Longfellows's son was injured and he was bitter, and looking for the day the South would be conquered. "the wrong shall fail, the right prevail" then there will be peace on earth.
Just for fun, here’s a list of carols written during or around the mid-19th century.
Angels We Have Heard on High (1862)
Come Buy my Nice Fresh Ivy or O’Carolan’s Lament (1849)
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen (1833)
Good King Wenceslas (1853)
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing (1855)
Jingle Bells (1857)
Joy to the World (1839)
O Christmas Tree (1824)
O Holy Night (1847)
Silent Night (1859)
We Three Kings (1863)
What Child is This (1865)
Is your favorite traditional carol on the list? Whether it is or isn't, please share your favorite carol with your CWT friends! I'll start us off. My favorite is "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day." This carol is based on the 1863 poem "Christmas Bells" by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. It reflects the despair of hearing Christmas bells during the American Civil War. I love that it ends with the bells ringing renewed hope for peace among men.
Not a favorite if you're Southern - it's a Southern hate song, Longfellows's son was injured and he was bitter, and looking for the day the South would be conquered. "the wrong shall fail, the right prevail" then there will be peace on earth.
This includes most of mine, and most of these are indeed favorites - the only one I notice missing is Good Christian Men Rejoice which I have on a favorite Robert Shaw Christmas album.
Just for fun, here’s a list of carols written during or around the mid-19th century.
Angels We Have Heard on High (1862)
Come Buy my Nice Fresh Ivy or O’Carolan’s Lament (1849)
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen (1833)
Good King Wenceslas (1853)
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing (1855)
Jingle Bells (1857)
Joy to the World (1839)
O Christmas Tree (1824)
O Holy Night (1847)
Silent Night (1859)
We Three Kings (1863)
What Child is This (1865)
Is your favorite traditional carol on the list? Whether it is or isn't, please share your favorite carol with your CWT friends! I'll start us off. My favorite is "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day." This carol is based on the 1863 poem "Christmas Bells" by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. It reflects the despair of hearing Christmas bells during the American Civil War. I love that it ends with the bells ringing renewed hope for peace among men.
I love them all. O Come, O Come, Emmanuel, translated into English in 1861, wasn’t on the list and I like it too. O Little Town of Bethlehem, 1868, is also a favorite though not included. It just depends on the mood. Joy to the World is uplifting. Silent Night is perfectly simple and direct and perfect: the story behind it so appealing. They’re all grand!
Oh, Christian Men Rejoice which I have on a favorite Robert Shaw Christmas album.
"I'll be Home for Christmas " was always sad to me , though well done . It came out in 1943 and is from the perspective of a GI serving in WW2.
Of course similarly, White Christmas was written around the same time for a movie in which its Southern California Hollywood-based character is pining away for a "real" Christmas!I never knew the story behind it Kurt, but I have always found it to be sad too. This explains it. A lot of folks are separated from the ones they love at Christmas for various reasons.
You can't beat Robert Shaw .This includes most of mine, and most of these are indeed favorites - the only one I notice missing is Oh, Christian Men Rejoice which I have on a favorite Robert Shaw Christmas album.
And Merry Christmas to you and Southern Unionist too!Merry Christmas to you and Mrs. P!!! Thanks for adding O Come, O Come, Emmanuel and O Little Town of Bethlehem to the list. They are both lovely!
No doubt! Merry Christmas, JPK!Ring Silver Bells.
All time favorite would be The Messiah. Hallelujah Chorus? It may be because I can't sing but listening to those who can ( @Mrs. V ) sing that is magic.
No doubt! Merry Christmas, JPK!