"Thus did Herod sore afray and grievously bewilder"

Tonight we sang our first (and only) Holiday Sing-Along concert and it made me think we need to have more good ol' fashioned carol singing at parties like they do in movies where everyone gathers 'round the piano and has a grand old time. The blog title comes from one of the songs we sang, "Unto Us Is Born A Son". I just love archaic and awkward language, it pleases me greatly and in a way makes me sad that the majority of our speech is nowhere near as creative. Our director called the song "stodgy", but I call it something we would have sung in Chamber Singers and that makes me both happy and sad. (I missed Westmont Christmas for the first time in six years and it just about breaks my heart).

When singing in choirs our directors always remind us over and over again to THINK about what we're singing--the WORDS and the HARMONIES, the MOOD. It's surprisingly hard to not just do them by rote (come on, I've been singing it every year since I can remember!), but they really do become something much more special. Here are a few that I've seen in a new way the past few years.

Good King Wenceslas: How entertainingly masculine is that song?

Bring me flesh and bring me wine!/Bring me pine logs hither!

And again, my beloved archaic language:

Hither page, and stand me by/ If thou know'st it telling/Yonder peasant, who is he?/Where and what his dwelling?

How much better is it than "Hey, who's that guy?" And the tune is so hearty and hopeful! Try belting it out without smiling--I dare you! (well, maybe don't, I'd hate to find out I was the only one who liked this song--leave me to my delusions).

The First Noel: We sang a beautiful arrangement by Mark Hoover that reminded me how lovely this piece is.

O Holy Night: How many FRIGGIN times do I have to sing this song? It is NOT a fun song to sing--in fact, it's pretty damn boring....but the WORDS. Look at them some time.

Hark! the Herald Angels Sing: I distinctly remember the Westmont Christmas Festival the first year after I graduated. I was working at the program and was in the back of the audience when they sang it. I didn't really remember the lyrics, so I was reading along and I just couldn't believe it was the same blah, straight-forward song I'd been trampling through for the past twenty-odd years. The words that keep coming back to me now. I say that "Lo, How a Rose" is my favorite Christmas song, but when I'm reminded of these words, I realize I should probably change my answer. So I will leave you with the lyrics:

Hark the herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!
Peace on earth and mercy mild
God and sinners reconciled"
Joyful all ye nations rise
Join the triumph of the skies
With angelic host proclaim:
"Christ is born in Bethlehem"
Hark the herald angels sing:
"Glory to the newborn King."

Christ by highest heav'n adored
Christ the everlasting Lord!
Late in time behold Him come
Offspring of a virgin's womb
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see
Hail the incarnate Deity
Pleased as man with man to dwell
Jesus, our Emmanuel
Hark the herald angels sing:
"Glory to the newborn King."

Hail the heav'n-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Son of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings
Ris'n with healing in his wings
Mild He lays His glory by
Born that man no more may die
Born to raise the sons of earth
Born to give them second birth
Hark the herald angels sing:
"Glory to the newborn King."