Category Archives: Christmas

December 2 ~ Today in Music History

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Christmas Music, Part 2 – Joy To The World

• 1774 ~ Johann Friedrich Agricola, German composer, organist, singer, pedagogue, and writer on music.

• 1856 ~ Robert Kajanus, Finnish conductor and composer

• 1899 ~ Sir John Barbirolli, British conductor and cellist

• 1914 ~ Eddie Sauter, Drummer, trumpeter, composer, orchestra leader of the Sauter- Finegan Orchestra, arranger for Benny Goodman and Artie Shaw

• 1916 ~ Charlie Ventura, Tenor sax, played with Gene Krupa, Stan Kenton,Charlie Parker, Count Basie, band leader

• 1917 ~ Sylvia Syms, Singer, ‘world’s greatest saloon singer’

• 1918 ~ Milton DeLugg, Bandleader on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson; Milton DeLugg and His Orchestra: Abe Burrows’ Almanac, The Chuck Barris Rah Rah Show, Dagmar’s Canteen, Doodles Weaver, The Gong Show, Judge for Yourself, Your Hit Parade; played accordion in The Milton DeLugg Quartet and songwriter

• 1928 ~ Jörg Demus, Austrian pianist

• 1934 ~ Billy Paul (Paul Williams), Singer

• 1941 ~ Tom McGuinness, Bass, guitar with Manfred Mann; McGuinness Flint; and Blues Band

• 1942 ~ Ted Bluechel, Jr., Singer, drummer with The Association

• 1944 ~ Eric Bloom, Singer, guitarist

• 1945 ~ John Densmore, Musician with The Doors

• 1952 ~ Michael McDonald, Singer, songwriter, keyboard with The Doobie Brothers

• 1960 ~ Rick Savage, Bass with Def Leppard

• 1972 ~ Motown’s Temptations reached the #1 spot on the top 40 charts with Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone. It was the fourth #1 hit for the Temptations, joining My Girl, I Can’t Get Next to You and Just My Imagination.

Christmas Music, Part 2 – Joy To The World

Posted by MaryO on

Joy_To_The_World-Antioch

Joy To The World

Joy to the World, the Lord is come!

Let earth receive her King.

Isaac Watts wrote  the words to “Joy to the World” in 1719, based on Psalm 98 in the Bible. The hymn originally glorified Christ’s triumphant return at the end of the age, rather than a song celebrating His first coming. Only the second half of Watts’ lyrics are still used today.

The music was adapted and arranged to Watts’ lyrics by Lowell Mason in 1839 from an older melody which was then believed to have originated from Handel. The name “Antioch” is generally used for the hymn tune.

As of the late 20th century, “Joy to the World” was the most-published Christmas hymn in North America.

There are versions of Joy to the World available at the O’Connor Music Studio for any level of playing, starting with Pre-Reading, all the way up through Advanced and duets.

Christmas Music, Part 1 – Sleigh Ride

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Sleigh Ride

I’ve always liked Leroy Anderson’s Sleigh Ride as a secular Christmas song 🙂  It’s not technically a Christmas song since the words never mention Christmas but it’s often played now so it seems like a way to ease into the season.

Anderson had the original idea for the piece during a heat wave in July 1946;  he finished the work in February 1948.  Lyrics, about a person who would like to ride in a sleigh on a winter’s day with another person, were written by Mitchell Parish in 1950.

The orchestral version was first recorded in 1949 by Arthur Fiedler and The Boston Pops Orchestra. The song was a hit record and has become the equivalent of a signature song for the orchestra.

A new last year, fun arrangement has been made for piano duet.  I have copies here for loan and it’s available on amazon (of course! What isn’t?)

December 1 ~ Today in Music History

Posted by MaryO on

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Christmas Music, Part 1 – Sleigh Ride

• 1709 ~ Franz Xaver Richter, Austro-Moravian singer, violinist, composer, conductor and music theoretician

• 1879 ~ Gilbert and Sullivan’s operetta, H.M.S. Pinafore, opened. Arthur Sullivan conducted the orchestra while William Gilbert played the role of a sailor in the chorus and in the Queen’s Nay-vee.

• 1913 ~ Mary Martin, American singer and actress, primarily for the musical theater, Tony and Emmy Award-winning actress, mother of actor Larry Hagman
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• 1924 ~ Lady Be Good opened in New York City. George Gershwin wrote the music while Fred and Adele Astaire were well-received by the show’s audience for their dancing talents.

• 1936 ~ Lou Rawls (Louis Allen), American Grammy Award-winning singer of popular music, TV regular on Dean Martin Presents

• 1938 ~ Sandy Nelson, Drummer

• 1939 ~ Diane Lennon, Singer with The Lennon Sisters on Lawrence Welk Show,Jimmy Durante Presents the Lennon Sisters

• 1940 ~ Glenn Miller got a call from ASCAP (American Society of Composers and Publishers). He was informed that he couldn’t use his Moonlight Serenade as his band’s theme song. He had to use Slumber Song instead because of an ASCAP ban.

• 1945 ~ Bette Midler, American Grammy Award-winning pop-rock singer and actress

• 1945 ~ Burl Ives made his concert debut. He appeared at New York’s Town Hall. We lovingly listen every year for the voice of this old-time radio personality as the narrator and banjo-pickin’ snowman in TV’s Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.

• 1946 ~ Gilbert (Raymond) O’Sullivan, Singer

• 1950 ~ John Wesley Ryles, Singer

• 1950 ~ Ernest John Moeran passed away

• 1968 ~ Promises, Promises opened on Broadway. The play ran for 1,281 performances, earning $35,000 in profits each week of 1969. Dionne Warwick had a hit version of the title song.

• 1986 ~ Horace Heidt passed away

• 1989 ~ Alvin Ailey passed away

• 1990 ~ Russell Markert passed away

Sleigh Ride Duet

Posted by MaryO on

sleigh-ride

 

I have loved this version of Sleigh Ride since I first saw it on YouTube:

When I found out it was available in sheet music, I rushed to amazon to buy several copies for myself, my son, my friend, basically everyone I thought could play it.

Lots of fun to play and to hear.

Amazon says:

Leroy Anderson’s “Sleigh Ride” is a holiday favorite, and this setting for advanced piano duet gives it a fresh twist. It begins with Anderson’s jingling melody and some musical “banter” between the Primo and Secondo players, and then it launches into a series of variations which take the listener on a journey through a variety of styles—from gently swirling, impressionistic arpeggios to a triumphant coda with brilliant, virtuosic passagework. Audiences will enjoy a number of other musical surprises along the way.

If you want to borrow it, let me know early because someone at the studio may already be playing it!

 

maryOpianoplayer

Pender Christmas VBS Registration

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Who: Kids Ages 3 (must be potty-trained)- 6th Grade

What:“Under Wraps: The Gift We Never Expected”

Where: Pender UMC Christmas VBS

Why: Celebrate Christmas and the Gift of Jesus Christ

When: Saturday, Dec. 5th @ 10 am – 2 pm

Cost: $10 per Kid or $20 total per Family

 

Join us for Christmas VBS on December 5, 2015 while your parents enjoy the gift of time to prepare for Christmas. We will enjoy music, crafts, lunch, recreation, a story and more! 

RSVP: Register online on our website by clicking on this link, beginning November 1st & ending November 30th.

Local Musical Events this Sunday!

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christmas-music

The Pender UMC Choir, Handbells, Orchestra and Liturgical Dancer will present Joel Raney’s Christmas Cantata, Celebrate the Season, at 8:15 and 11:00 am on Sunday, December 7.

Contemporary and upbeat, this superb cantata celebrates the excitement, joy and true meaning of the Christmas season. Joel Raney retells the Christmas story through a unique partnering of creative, original songs with traditional carols. Most of the originals incorporate strains from traditional carols, weaving a tapestry with just enough familiarity  to warm our hearts and with enough originality to surprise our ears and lift our spirits. The styles he uses range from traditional classical, to jazz and everything in between.

At Pender’s neighbor, Christ Presbyterian:

The Cathedral Brass will perform “A Cathedral Brass Christmas” at Christ Presbyterian Church, Fairfax, on Sunday, December 7th at 4:00 pm. The concert features beloved Christmas carols and other holiday favorites, including ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas, narrated by Alan Cole.

Other selections includeLeRoy Anderson’s Suite of Carols, Antonio DiLorenzo’s The Toymaker, and Alfred Reed’s Joyeux Noel. Jazz trumpeter Roger Rossi, former member of the Army Blues, will be featured. The concert is free; voluntary donations are gratefully accepted.

Cathedral Brass is a brass choir based at Vienna Presbyterian Church and performs under the direction of L. Thomas Vining.