Christmas Carols – Sentinel2Sentinel

#LightTheWorld: The song of the righteous

The music in our Sacrament Meeting was really wonderful today. I always love it when the congregation gets to sing a lot on Christmas day! It was absolutely joyous!

Opening Hymn: Joy to the World
Sacrament Hymn: Jesus, Once of Humble Birth
Congregation: Come, All Ye Faithful
Choir: Still, Still, Still
Special Number, The Hoyt Family: When Joseph Went to Bethlehem and Once Within A Lowly Stable
Special Musical Number, Flute – Kristen Lind accompanied by Mary Ann Crabtree: Silent Night
Congregation: The First Noel
Women’s Choir: It Came Upon the Midnight Clear
Congregation: Angels We Have Heard On High
Choir: Far, Far Away on Judea’s Plains
Choir, Congregation joins on Verse 3: O Holy Night
Closing Hymn: Hark! The Herald Angels Sing

In my Church we are taught that the song of the righteous is a prayer unto God. That scripture makes me think often about the kind of music I listen to and sing. Especially when we are also taught that we must watch and pray always.

I want to be praying to the one, true God, not false ones.

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On a Christmas music roll

I love the feeling at Christmas time. Getting ready for the 2017 Montgomery Interfaith Nativity has really put me in the Christmas music mood that I have been playing some clips and past television programs.

The MoTab always has a variety of musical talent every year. Usually they focus on classical singers one year and then more contemporary/broadway artists the next. Richard Elliot at the organ is absolutely fascinating to watch and listen to in this clip as he interacts with Count von Count from Sesame Street:

Perry Como specials were always fun to watch back in the day.

And of course Andy Williams always had a marvelous program too.

One of my favorite memories is the story of The Christmas Truce, featuring the hymn Silent Night:

On that note, enjoy The Story of Silent Night here.

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Trying to learn a song in French

I am pretty nervous and excited about the opportunity to sing on Thursday, November 30th at 6:30 p.m. for the 2017 Montgomery Interfaith Nativity in Montgomery, Alabama. My friend, Tina Gann, has graciously agreed to accompany me. She is a fabulous accompanist and quite the accomplished pianist. We will be getting together this week to talk about our twenty minute musical lineup.

One of my favorite songs we are definitely performing is Gesu Bambino, text by Frederick Herman Martens, music by Piertro Alessandro Yon, and edited by Charles J. Cardin.

Another song I want to sing is Bring a Torch, Jeanette Isabelle however I would love to learn it in French as originally published, Un Flambeau, Jeanette, Isabelle.

Today I have been listening to two different YouTube versions of the song in order to translate the French phonetically so I can learn the pronunciation. Then, I will have my French-American CrossFit Coach Charles help me make any final corrections to my pronunciation before I commit it all to memory.

Pretty amazing technology. And how cool is that to have a native French speaking CrossFit Coach to help me in the middle of Alabama?

Awesome I tell ya! Simply Awesome.

And it will truly be Christmas miracle awesome if I can learn it in French over the next few weeks!

259/365 …. argh… missed posting this by a minute or two… oh well. The new norm.

Never too early for Christmas decor

There are folks who think nothing of Christmas should be seen before Halloween, but I say BRING IT ON! I love the Christmas decor, especially in the South where the seasons are not as obvious as they are up North. Of course I understand the commercialism side of not wanting to see the decor up too soon. However, knowing what the real meaning of Christmas is, it makes me ever so happy the moment the first of the fake trees or decorations or wrapping paper or whatever appears! Especially Music!

Having a ton of decorations all over my house is not my thing. I have several Nativity sets that I love to display. Normally I have them in my hutch for display year round. Last year we moved to a smaller place in another state so I only have one out now and use the rest of the space to store all of my dishes, flatware, and glassware.

That reminds me to put in a plug for the MONTGOMERY INTERFAITH NATIVITY EXHIBIT this year. It was so lovely last year. It was my first time attending the display. This year should really be lovely as members from many congregations bring their Nativity sets to share with the Montgomery community. It is an incredible display of unity where we can demonstrate that we truly are of one heart and one mind in celebrating the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

The photos below are some I took from last year’s event where I volunteered to be a hostess for a few sessions. Definitely, I will be volunteering as a hostess again this year and look forward to doing so with great anticipation.

The Music Event Coordinator, my dear friend Stephanie Ladner, invited me to sing for a twenty minute segment. That is a long stretch for me as a soloist. She smiled and said she would take fifteen if I was willing.

IF I say (teeth chattering) Yes, it will probably only be for fifteen because twenty is a long time. #LookingUpSheetMusicNow

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