Music Notes – Christmas Eve, December 24, 2021
Our musicians for December 24th are Becky Burns, Amy Collins, Geoffrey Sanford, Anya, Ella, and Niko Ustin, Drew, Molly, and Sophie Watkins, UUCC Pianist Karin Tooley, and UUCC Music Director Mike Carney.
The origins of ‘Silent Night’ make for an interesting story: as legend has it, Joseph Mohr (1792-1848), the assistant priest at St. Nicholas Church in the Alpine village of Oberndorf, Austria learned the day before Christmas that the church organ was broken and would not be repaired in time for the Christmas Eve service. Mohr wrote three stanzas that could be sung by choir to guitar music, which was hastily written by the church’s organist and music director, Franz Gruber (1787-1863). “Stille Nacht, Heilige Nacht” was heard for the first time at that Midnight Mass in 1818. Today, Silent Night has been translated into more than 180 languages and has touched the hearts of millions of people.
“O Come, All Ye Faithful” (originally “Adeste fideles”) is one of the most well-loved of all Christmas carols, although its origin story is somewhat murky. The tune is most often attributed to English hymnist John Wade (1711-1786), although its authorship is the subject of scholarly debate among musicologists. Wade is sometimes credited with the original Latin text as well, but most historians believe it more likely came from a sect of Cistercian monks from Portugal or Spain during the 16th or 17th century.
“God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen” is an English Christmas carol of unknown origins. The first printed reference to the song appeared in 1650, although we have reason to believe it is significantly older still. In addition to countless arrangements and recordings, the song is also quoted in Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol and in George Eliot’s Silas Marner.
Although commonly thought of as a Christmas carol, “Deck the Halls” comes from a centuries-old Welsh New Year’s song called “Nos Galan”. Some scholars also believe the song has deeper roots in folk dance and Pagan Yule celebrations. No one knows for sure when the song originated, but we know its popularity had spread as far as Austria by the 18th century, as the tune was ‘sampled’ by both Mozart and Haydn.
The Ukrainian Bell Carol, commonly known as “Carol of the Bells”, was created by Ukrainian composer Mykola Leontovich (1877-1921) in 1916 as a variation of the Ukrainian folk song “Shchedryk”, which is about a sparrow and the bountiful year that awaits a family. The song was performed as a New Year’s carol for years until Peter J. Wilhousky (1902-1978) wrote the now-famous Christmas lyrics in 1936.
“Es ist ein Ros entsprungen” (“A Rose Has Sprung Up” or poetically translated “Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming”) is a Christmas carol of German origin. The lyrics and melody date back to the 16th century or earlier and the familiar harmonization was written by German composer Michael Praetorius (1571-1621) in 1609
“Dona nobis pacem” (“Grant Us Peace”) is a traditional Latin round of unknown origins. It is often attributed to Classical composer W.A. Mozart (1756-1791), but there is no real evidence that Mozart was its author. “Dona nobis pacem” appears as #388 in our Singing the Living Tradition hymnal.
“What Is This Fragrance?” is a traditional French nativity carol (original title: “Quelle est cette odeur agréable?”) The arrangement you’ll hear in our Christmas Eve service is an adaptation of John Huston’s choral arrangement, rewritten by UUCC’s Music Director Mike Carney for solo voice (Amy Collins) with organ with oboe (Geoffrey Sanford).
“Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy” began as an unlikely collaboration between British glam rock icon David Bowie (1947-2016) and legendary American singer Bing Crosby (1903-1977). The song was created and recorded in 1977 for Crosby’s television special Bing Crosby’s Merrie Olde Christmas. In the original recording, Crosby sings “The Little Drummer Boy” – written by Katherine Kennicott Davis in 1941 – while Bowie performs a countermelody/partner carol “Peace on Earth”, which was composed by the special’s musical supervisors Ian Fraser and Larry Grossman, with words by scriptwriter Alan Kohan. This duet was one of Bing Crosby’s final recordings before his death in October 1977, and despite the fact it was not released as a single until 1982, it has gone on to be among the most successful recordings in the careers of both its performing artists.
“Jesus de Nazareth” is a sacred Christmas carol written by French Romantic composer Charles Gounod (1818-1893). Gounod is most famously known for his operas, especially Faust and Romeo and Juliet, and for his setting of the sacred text “Ave Maria”.
Thank you to all of our wonderful Christmas Eve musicians, and I wish a wonderful and safe holiday season to all members and friends of our UUCC! I look forward to seeing you in 2022!
-Mike Carney, UUCC Music Director
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