Domestic Bliss: Christmas Music

Monday, December 29, 2008

Christmas Music

I haven't really blogged about our Christmas yet. It was quiet, fun, and full of family time and music. We stayed in town, just the four of us, and have been enjoying each other, with everyone off until January 5. The boys aren't fighting (much), we've been playing games, cooking and eating together, and laughing a lot.

Musically, this season has been rich.

On Sunday December 21, I went with a friend to Tafelmusik's Sing-Along Messiah. We sat with the altos and sung our hearts out. It was a great afternoon, even if it ended up with me cooling my heels in the ER with my sweetie after the concert.

Our parish choir sang Midnight Mass and Christmas Day.

Midnight Mass:

Processional: O Come All Ye Faithful

Offertory: O Holy Night (Adolphe Adam) with soloist

Communion: Wexford Carol (arr. Rutter) with soloists

Recessional: Hark the Herald Angels Sing

Christmas Day:

Processional: Joy to the World

Offertory: Gesu Bambino (Pietro Yon, translated by F. Martens)

Communion: Wexford Carol (arr. Rutter) with soloists

Recessional: Good Christian Friends Rejoice (eek...why can't we just sing "Men" anymore???)

I didn't know the Italian Hymn Gesu Bambino. We sang it in English...this is the gorgeous text:

When blossoms flower e'er 'mid the snow
Upon a winter night
Was born the Child, the Christmas Rose
The King of Love and Light.
The angels sang, the shepherds sang
The grateful earth rejoiced
And at His blessed birth the stars
Their exultation voiced.
O come let us adore Him
O come let us adore Him
O come let us adore Him
Christ the Lord.
Again the heart with rapture glows
To greet the holy night
That gave the world its Christmas Rose
Its King of Love and Light.
Let ev'ry voice acclaim His name
The grateful chorus swell
From paradise to earth He came
That we with Him might dwell.
O come let us adore Him ...