After the soothing papfest which is Saturday night telly had become just a blur in the background, Arty Daughter had us all trying to work out which carol she was talking about.
"It's got a robin. A frozen robin. It's really sad. You used to sing it". The only thing I could think of was an awful song we learnt for a singing competition with our school choir. Which went something like this:
Robin on a leafless bough
Lord in heaven how he sings
Now the winter's cruel wind
Makes playmates of poor dead things.
Cheery, I know - great song for ten year olds to sing.
Anyway it turned out to be, after much deliberation, In the Bleak Midwinter (words by my fave rave Christina Rosetti). It set me to thinking what blogland's favourite carol was, or yours anyway.
Mine is Angels from the Realms of Glory (please note popups if you click through) and note that I prefer the traditional french tune not the American one. Which is yours?
13 comments:
Oh Boy.
Failing to locate my old school hymnal, I googled for Christmas Carols, and am still reeling from visiting the top site, which pronounced "Rejoice in the Christmas Spirit!" yet lists as 'Carols' Rudolf The Red Nosed Reindeer and Frosty The Snowman.
Cringe.
Husband says 'Away In A Manger'.
This is a pragmatic choice - he says it avoids all the usual frills - descants and major key changes and trilly bits and you can actually sing it through without coughing!
Back with mine in a mo - but am tempted to choose Most Highly Flaboured Gravy, as soon as I can remember the title and convince myself to use the real words.
I think I am going to settle for 'Oh Come Oh Come Emmanuel' because I do like a nice, dirge-like minor key, especially at a time of high saccharine, its almost like a Rennie.
Lulay Mine Liking was another one that was forced down our throats at school, but that, strangley, I now miss.
I am missing the braincells normally associated with spelling, also.
I'd forgotten that one - can I change mine?
It came upon the Midnight Clear is mine.
We used to go carol-singing round all the outlying farms and I can remember looking up at the stars whilst singing and it being cold cold cold, and being suddenly overcome by this immense sense of mystery and presence.
I like Once in Royal David's City, too - they used to get a very small boy to sing it in descant at our school carol service.
'While Shepherd's washed their socks by night'!
Nope as the wife said 'Away in a Manger'. It always reminds me of my first Nativity Play, I played a shepherd, and tried to hide behind the stage curtain the whole time. Who would believe little shy me!
Well I love While shepherds watched but by a different and particular cornish tune - and I'd forgotten it came upon a midnight clear too.
Mine's the cornish version of while shepherds wash their socks
:-)
you going to mum's on boxing day?
I don't think so.
My Chinese (and one Vietnamese) students wanted to sing Christmas Carols this week, and the Vietnamese student volunteered to bring a CD of Christmas carols she has.
She brought the wrong CD, and we ended up singing John Lennon's 'Yesterday' multiple times (so they could learn the words) with the last line changed to "I believe in Santa Claus."
This is my current favourite. I love my Chinese students, and they sang their hearts out.
Granda Got Run Over By A Reindeer. I used to sing this with my gran and we would always change the person who got ran over to "Grandpa" - because he did but not by a reindeer. Fond memories, there.
What a festive lot you all are!! Mary I particularly like the idea of your students.
Rantz - well it explains some of the scarring.
Huffy - change of plan - yes, Boxing Day here we come, courtesy of the happy Christmas Fairy.
hello Christmas Fairy here! Did you have a super duper nice time on Boxing Day? We all did - love you lots
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