And I was going to watch SportsCenter.......
But something else happened. I watched a choir. Now mind you, I am not a huge choir aficionado. I live in Southern California, mind you. Flip flops and Hawaiian shirts are the typical attire in our area. Sacred music in our world is often played by dudes who have forgotten modern shaving techniques, and who are also wearing Hawaiian shirts. Sacred music, schmakred music. Please.
Pictured above is the Choir of St. Olaf college, in Northfield, Minnesota. The other night, as the day ended, I flipped on the TV to see what might be on, and found on PBS the St. Olaf Christmas Festival. This is big time choral music, one of America's longest running musical celebrations of the Holiday Season, and has been named one of five significant global Holiday events by the New York Times. This is serious, major league, unbelievable music, performed on a scale that will nearly blow your shoes off. At one point in the program, I think there must have been more than 250 voices together. Whew! I want to go to this Festival once before I die.
Three words describe this concert and this choir. Oh. My. Goodness!
One song deeply touched me. Know alternately as This Christmastide, and also "Jessye's Carol" (as it was first performed by opera star Jessye Norman), composed by Donald Fraser. This is a choral piece that is, all at once, loud and resounding, praiseworthy, yet gentle, sweet, and thoughtful; referring to the gift of the Christ Child. The song develops in a perfect sine wave. I was a complete mess by the time it was over. Wonderful.
This Christmastide
Green and silver, red and gold and a story born of old,
Truth and love and hope abide, this Christmastide.
Holly, ivy, mistletoe and the gently falling snow,
Truth and love and hope abide, this Christmastide.
From a simple ox's stall came the greatest gift of all,
Truth and love and hope abide, this Christmastide.
Children sing of hope and joy at the birth of one small boy,
Truth and love and hope abide, this Christmastide.
Let the bells ring loud and clear, ring out now, for all to hear,
Truth and love and hope abide, this Christmastide.
Trumpets sound and voices raise
in an endless stream of praise,
Truth and love and hope abide, this Christmastide.
Green and silver, red and gold and a story born of old,
Peace and love and hope abide, this Christmastide.
We need these things. In a world that is wandering - Truth. For lives that feel empty - Love. For us all, facing loss, struggle, confusion - Hope.
This Christmastide.
Thank you, St. Olaf College Choir. Every last one of you. I have been blessed beyond words. You have expressed in song, things that reside deep within my soul.
You may be in a place where this is being rebroadcast. If you can watch it, drop everything, and do so. Forget SportsCenter, just for one night.
The video of the PBS broadcast is not yet on the web. To give you a taste of the musical ability of this choir, check this out:
But something else happened. I watched a choir. Now mind you, I am not a huge choir aficionado. I live in Southern California, mind you. Flip flops and Hawaiian shirts are the typical attire in our area. Sacred music in our world is often played by dudes who have forgotten modern shaving techniques, and who are also wearing Hawaiian shirts. Sacred music, schmakred music. Please.
Pictured above is the Choir of St. Olaf college, in Northfield, Minnesota. The other night, as the day ended, I flipped on the TV to see what might be on, and found on PBS the St. Olaf Christmas Festival. This is big time choral music, one of America's longest running musical celebrations of the Holiday Season, and has been named one of five significant global Holiday events by the New York Times. This is serious, major league, unbelievable music, performed on a scale that will nearly blow your shoes off. At one point in the program, I think there must have been more than 250 voices together. Whew! I want to go to this Festival once before I die.
Three words describe this concert and this choir. Oh. My. Goodness!
One song deeply touched me. Know alternately as This Christmastide, and also "Jessye's Carol" (as it was first performed by opera star Jessye Norman), composed by Donald Fraser. This is a choral piece that is, all at once, loud and resounding, praiseworthy, yet gentle, sweet, and thoughtful; referring to the gift of the Christ Child. The song develops in a perfect sine wave. I was a complete mess by the time it was over. Wonderful.
This Christmastide
Green and silver, red and gold and a story born of old,
Truth and love and hope abide, this Christmastide.
Holly, ivy, mistletoe and the gently falling snow,
Truth and love and hope abide, this Christmastide.
From a simple ox's stall came the greatest gift of all,
Truth and love and hope abide, this Christmastide.
Children sing of hope and joy at the birth of one small boy,
Truth and love and hope abide, this Christmastide.
Let the bells ring loud and clear, ring out now, for all to hear,
Truth and love and hope abide, this Christmastide.
Trumpets sound and voices raise
in an endless stream of praise,
Truth and love and hope abide, this Christmastide.
Green and silver, red and gold and a story born of old,
Peace and love and hope abide, this Christmastide.
We need these things. In a world that is wandering - Truth. For lives that feel empty - Love. For us all, facing loss, struggle, confusion - Hope.
This Christmastide.
Thank you, St. Olaf College Choir. Every last one of you. I have been blessed beyond words. You have expressed in song, things that reside deep within my soul.
You may be in a place where this is being rebroadcast. If you can watch it, drop everything, and do so. Forget SportsCenter, just for one night.
The video of the PBS broadcast is not yet on the web. To give you a taste of the musical ability of this choir, check this out:
