Don't you dare to strut

We’re moving from the 16^th Century to 1925 for today’s Advent entry. Because it’s Bessie Smith singing “At the Christmas Ball”.

Smith was known as the Empress of the Blues, which is a powerful statement, given that she died at the relatively young age of 43. I chose “At the Christmas Ball” because of Smith’s iconic status, but also because a lot of people get the blues during this season, and it seemed like they should be represented here.

The lyrics—well, they’re kind of all over the place. But I like the lines about not worrying too much if your dance partner “don’t act fair”, just look around, because there are plenty more around the dance hall.

 

No dismay zone

Well, I think it’s time for something substantially traditional for Advent today. Hardly anything is more traditional than “God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen”. (Note the comma placement; the song is telling us to lighten up, not commenting on our existing state of jolliness.)

The carol dates from the 17^th Century, when it was associated with recusant (Roman) Catholic families in England. This was a time when "celebrating" Christmas (the word means "Christ's Mass) was dangerous; Puritans did not hold with such frippery. The melody we know was hooked up to it about a hundred years later.

I could have given you a version from King’s College, Cambridge, but then I came across Annie Lennox’s take, and I had to go with it. She changes some of the wording in the second verse (I guess “Jewry” was a sticking point?), but this is quite engaging.

 

Weary travelers

Starting tonight and continuing until Christmas Eve, Christians in Hispanoamérica (including in Latino areas of the United States) will walk through neighborhoods enacting the journey of Mary and Joseph seeking shelter at Bethlehem. They go from house to house, asking if there’s room for them. House to house—until they reach the designated “manger”—they are turned away. Finally, they are allowed in.

Whereupon everyone celebrates; there’s usually a piñata, and refreshments for the adults, too.

Las Posadas (literally, “The Inns”) is a lovely tradition. I remember going to one in LA’s Olvera Street when I was in grade school. It seemed neighborly; especially as each night the welcoming house is a different one, so nobody has to be a grinch all the time.

Today’s Advent entry is “Pidiendo Posada”, which dates back at least 400 years. The sequence is that one group of singers asks for shelter as Joseph, and the second group turns them away…until the end.

The first exchange basically goes:

“In the name of heaven, I beg you for lodging
My beloved wife cannot walk”

“This is not an inn, so keep going
I can’t open the door—you may be a rogue”

You get the idea.

Here’s Tropical Tepexpan singing it.

The ox and ass kept time

Okey-dokey, it’s time for One of Those Christmas Songs. Yes, the ones that top every list of The Christmas Songs the Entire World Universally Loathes.

I’m talking “Little Drummer Boy” here.

So—without further ado, here is Walk Off the Earth, an Ontario, Canada-based indie pop band. With some friends.

You’re welcome.

 

 

All is bright and calm

Along with Joni Mitchell, singer-actress-activist Bette Midler received Kennedy Center Honors last week.

From her early, manic days as the Divine Miss M, Midler has given us a range of performances. Onscreen she’s been a drug-addicted rock singer, a first wife, a USO entertainer, a wife kidnapped by her own husband, a witch and so many others. On Broadway, she won raves for her take on Dolly Levi in Hello, Dolly! In recordings, she’s won Grammys for everything from big band classics to Randy Newman.

One of her biggest hits was “From a Distance”, the Julie Gold song first recorded by Nanci Griffith.

Today’s Advent piece is a Christmas version of “From a Distance”, which Middler released on her Cool Yule album.

 

Gratitude Monday: walking through change

We in the District They Call Columbia have had quite the weather rollercoaster this year. Well, since October, anyhow; summer was the gawdawful steambath it always is. But lately, it’s just been bonkers.

By way of example, when I went for my morning walk on Friday, it was 29F. Saturday morning it was 51F (with the temperature going up to 70F during the day) and yesterday it was 39F, climbing to the high 40s. Flowers and shrubs do not know whether to bloom or overwinter.

Still, I’ve been able to walk every day, even if some mornings my pace is super brisk to keep me warm. And I’m grateful for that mobility, and for all the peace my walks bring me. Viz: this sight when I got home:

 

Eternal light

Today is Saint Lucy Day, honoring the martyr of the Diocletian persecutions in the Third Century. The name Lucy is derived from the Latin “lux”, “light”. So today’s Advent piece is Edward Elgar’s “Lux Aeterna”. You'll recognize the melody as Elgar's "Nimrod". Voces8 are the performers.

This is not specifically for Christmas, but a song about eternal light seems appropriate to this season. Here are the lyrics:

Lux aeterna luceat eis, Domine,

cum sanctis tuis in aeternum, quia pius es.

Requiem aeternam dona eis, Domine,

et lux perpetua luceat eis.

May eternal light shine upon them, O Lord,

with your saints in eternity, for you are merciful.

Grant them eternal rest,

O Lord, and let eternal light shine upon them.

 

Joy, joy, joy

Huh—we’re all the way to Gaudete Sunday, the third in Advent. This is the day that Christians can shake loose some of the somber reflection and revel for a bit in joyful anticipation of the birth of the Messiah.

So today’s selection is “How Great Our Joy”, which dates back to 16^th Century Germany; unknown author. It’s the Nativity told from the perspective of the shepherds.

I have to say that it’s dang near impossible to find a version in English that hasn’t been tinkled on by John Rutter; the only other arrangement, by Craig Courtney, sounds like a dirge. What’s up with that? So I went back to the original German. (And I have to say that it’s still a challenge finding a decent performance.)

Here are a bunch of choirs and choral societies performing it at Sint-Pieterskerk, in Antwerp.

And here’s the only passable English version I could find, by Liana D. A. Lloyd.