tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4320479736034351430.post2850322102425522999..comments2023-10-03T07:01:41.144-05:00Comments on Always On Watch: Semper Vigilans: Advent Musical InterludeAlways On Watchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08192688822955022541noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4320479736034351430.post-21270547422625057262019-12-23T20:18:14.741-06:002019-12-23T20:18:14.741-06:00O Holy night! the stars are brightly shining.
tt i...<b><i>O Holy night! the stars are brightly shining.<br />tt is the night of our dear Savior's Birth,<br />Long lay the world in sin and error pining<br />till He appeared and the Soul felt its worth.<br /><br />A thrill of hope<br />Tthe weary world rejoices<br />For yonder breaks<br />a new and glorious morn.<br /><br />Fall on your knees<br />h her the angel voices<br />O night divine!<br />O night wen Christ as was born!<br />O night, O holy night, O night divine! . . .</i></b><br /><br />~ Adolphe AdamFranco Aragostahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11088635482766081825noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4320479736034351430.post-42802887916522873552019-12-23T18:00:09.274-06:002019-12-23T18:00:09.274-06:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Louisehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10746008091148216229noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4320479736034351430.post-68469024765377038832019-12-23T13:15:08.073-06:002019-12-23T13:15:08.073-06:00Rejoice! rejice! Rejoice greatly . . .
Behold thy ...<b><i>Rejoice! rejice! Rejoice greatly . . .<br />Behold thy King cmeth unto thee<br /><br />He is the righteous Savior<br />And He shall seek peace unto the heathen.<br /><br />Rejoice! Rejoice! Rejoice greatly . . .<br />SHOUT! [for joy]. . .<br />Behold, thy King cometh unto thee.<br />Behold, thy King cometh unto thee.</i></b><br /><br />!~ Soprano aria from MESSIAH by G.F. HandelFranco Aragostahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11088635482766081825noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4320479736034351430.post-83797054628620234332019-12-23T13:07:17.851-06:002019-12-23T13:07:17.851-06:00I wonder as Iwander out under the sky
How Jesus, o...<b><i>I wonder as Iwander out under the sky<br />How Jesus, our Savior, was brought forth to die<br />For poor orn'ry people like you and like I?<br />I wonder as i wander out under the sky.<br /><br />When Mary birthed Jesus 'twas in a cow's stall<br />With Angels and Wise Men, and Shepherds and all<br />But high in God's Heaven a Starlght did fall<br />And the Promse of Ages it then did recall.<br /><br />I wonder as i wander out under the sky<br />How Jesus, our Savior, was brought forth to die<br />For poor orn'ry people like you and like I<br />I wonder as i wander out under the sky? . . .</i></b><br /><br />~ Appalachian folk song, collected by John Jacob NilesFranco Aragostahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11088635482766081825noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4320479736034351430.post-60338384131307569642019-12-23T12:42:23.909-06:002019-12-23T12:42:23.909-06:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.The Shadowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04118038807715713943noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4320479736034351430.post-89441914277104150262019-12-23T12:36:48.896-06:002019-12-23T12:36:48.896-06:00_______ A Magic Word: Nowell ______
Don't let...<br /><b>_______ A Magic Word: Nowell ______<br /><br /><i>Don't let dark, dreary forces drag you down..<br />Don't let ill-natured Others make you frown.<br />Remember every single Lovely Thing<br />That made your heart feel urgent needs to sing.<br />Each depressing enervating thought<br />Uttered by vexatious spirits fraught<br />With ugly agitating, bitter things<br />Must be countered by a heart aloft on wings.<br />Resist the fiends who'd drag you down to Hell<br />Resist by singing joyously "Nowell!<br />Nowell! Nowell! Nowell! Nowell!<br />Born is the King of Israel"</i></b><br /><br />~ Kris Kringle <br />Franco Aragostahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11088635482766081825noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4320479736034351430.post-41810529180377177372019-12-23T12:35:42.716-06:002019-12-23T12:35:42.716-06:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.The Shadowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04118038807715713943noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4320479736034351430.post-55547100508896519572019-12-22T22:09:31.997-06:002019-12-22T22:09:31.997-06:00Right back at ya my friend. Give my best to Mr. A...Right back at ya my friend. Give my best to Mr. AOW.Curmudgeonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11042237845503794179noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4320479736034351430.post-41986554130285352002019-12-22T05:11:17.755-06:002019-12-22T05:11:17.755-06:00Bunkerville,
We don't hear this lovely Christm...Bunkerville,<br />We don't hear this lovely Christmas hymn often enough, IMO.<br /><br />Merry Christmas to you.Always On Watchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08192688822955022541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4320479736034351430.post-83376843660549239742019-12-22T05:10:14.105-06:002019-12-22T05:10:14.105-06:00Franco,
I love "the Back Chorale sound."...Franco,<br />I love "the Back Chorale sound."<br /><br />I chose this particular rendition of "Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming" after listening to several different renditions. It does indeed lift the soul.<br /><br />Merry Christmas, my friend.Always On Watchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08192688822955022541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4320479736034351430.post-11013749255889421452019-12-22T05:06:55.560-06:002019-12-22T05:06:55.560-06:00Curmudgeon and Franco,
I studied German years ago ...Curmudgeon and Franco,<br />I studied German years ago -- over 50 years now -- but can't really speak it now. <br /><br />That said, I can read and typically understand written German. I appreciate your well wishes for this Holy Season. Danke schön! Always On Watchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08192688822955022541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4320479736034351430.post-31091089256963289092019-12-21T18:11:56.190-06:002019-12-21T18:11:56.190-06:00Möge Ihre Weihnachtszeit mit Freude über das Komme...Möge Ihre Weihnachtszeit mit Freude über das Kommen des Christkindes erfüllt sein.Curmudgeonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11042237845503794179noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4320479736034351430.post-66882436766866889662019-12-21T09:38:52.281-06:002019-12-21T09:38:52.281-06:00Froeliche Weinachten und beste Wuenschen fuer den ...<b><i>Froeliche Weinachten und beste Wuenschen fuer den neuen Jahr!</i></b>Franco Aragostahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11088635482766081825noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4320479736034351430.post-1662880740822931012019-12-21T09:34:52.089-06:002019-12-21T09:34:52.089-06:00An exceptionally beautiful, heartfelt performance ...An exceptionally beautiful, heartfelt performance by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. They are never less than excellent, but rarely have they achieved such depth of feeling, understanding of text, and beauty of musical expression as they have here.<br /><br />During my many years as an organist and choirmaster I usually had few singers capable of blending harmoniously singing in tune, but there were always one or two notable exceptions, tank Heaven.<br /><br />One year I composed a two-part arrangement of this ancient tune for two gifted sopranos –– a mother and daughter as it so happened. Each verse for the two equal voices was was subtle different. The effect was an ethereal beauty rarely experienced in humble parish churches. We followed the unaccompanied singing with Brahms's famous chorale prelude for organ on this same tune written near the end of the composer's life.<br /><br />A quiet, reverent, <i>prayerful</i> way to begin a Christmas Eve Service.<br /><br />I've had great joy in performing music for the church –– first as an eight-year-old boy soprano, later as an adult chorister, organist and composer of custom-crafted liturgical music specifically designed for the various churches i served.<br /><br />However, the Christmas Eve when we performed the special arrangement of <i>Lo, How Rose E'er Blooming</i> stays in my memory as on of the grestest high points in a modest-but-very-satisfying career.<br /><br />Happy Christmas to Everyone, and a healthy measure of SERENITY and an enriched store of WISDOM in the New Year!Franco Aragostahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11088635482766081825noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4320479736034351430.post-41961692308183469832019-12-21T05:27:45.476-06:002019-12-21T05:27:45.476-06:00Wonderful selection AOW. Easy to miss this beautif...Wonderful selection AOW. Easy to miss this beautiful work this time of year.Bunkervillehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14427978686579892380noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4320479736034351430.post-49294140702874210272019-12-21T04:30:26.493-06:002019-12-21T04:30:26.493-06:00AOW,
My mother was German. When she wed my fathe...AOW,<br /><br />My mother was German. When she wed my father after the war ended she came to America. Shortly thereafter, my parents arranged for her mother to join them here. Both became naturalized citizens. No one was prouder to be a American than my mom and grandmother.<br /><br />In our home, all the traditions of Christmas came with them. I grew up with carols like the one you've shared here. One of my favorites will always be "O, du Fröhliche and "Schlafe, Mein Prinzchen, Schlaf Ein".<br /><br />Enjoy this Christmastime. May it be filled with joyous memories.Curmudgeonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11042237845503794179noreply@blogger.com