Author Archives: Dr. Crystal Grimes

“The Holly and the Ivy” Bonus DSE #Christmas #Music

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“The Holly and the Ivy” is a traditional British folk Christmas carol. However, it is more popular in the United States than in England. Though the song can only be traced as far as the early 19th century, the association of holly with Christmas dates back as far as Medieval times, if not earlier. The carol varied throughout traditional communities, and the standardized version we know today was first published in 1909, in a folk song collection by Cecil Sharp.

This is another double strung experiment, where I play lyre and zither at the same time. I.e. the instruments are not mixed, but are played together in real-time. In my last
double strung experiment post,
I said the next time you heard something with 2 rows of strings, it would be a real double strung harp. However, the harp won’t arrive until sometime next year (hopefully), and I really wanted to play something for Christmas. Ever since the first time I heard a double strung harp, with its ringing sound, I thought it would be especially beautiful at Christmastime.

I hope you enjoy “The Holly and the Ivy” on lyre and zither! I know I’ve enjoyed playing it!

There’s still time to participate in my
Holiday Blogging Party!
Click the link to learn how!

Fairies #Poem

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Do I believe in fairies?
After all, I’ve never seen, heard or felt them.

Yet I believe in goodness,
Hope, love, and music,
Even when I don’t feel them.

And I believe in the sunrise,
Though I’ve never seen it.

I believe in inspiration,
Life, creativity, gratitude…
Acknowledgment brings awareness.

Do I believe in fairies?
Yes! I believe I do!

—
Written for
MLMM Tale Weaver/Fairy Tale – Fairies.

Thriving on Hope #Poem

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Nature thrives on hope!
Evergreens keep their branches and color,
even when other leaves have fallen away.

Ferns blanket forest floors,
offering a soft bed, warm covering,
to all who need it.

Mountain peaks rise high above
dark valleys of this world,
reminding us… We, too, shall rise!

Hope can be a lost balloon,
perhaps stolen by a gargoyle
in the darkness, when we’re not looking.

And, when we’re not looking,
we find it in a bento box,
wrapped neatly for our opening!

Only limited by
the Boundary Waters of our awareness,
Nature thrives on hope!

—
Written for Linda Kruschke’s
Paint Chip Poetry Prompt #50.

“O Come, Little Children” #Advent #Music

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“Ihr Kinderlein, Kommet” is a traditional German Christmas carol, published in 1811. Christoph von Schmid wrote the German lyrics in 1798, and they were set to Johann Abraham Peter Schulz’s 1794 melody. You can find one English translation
here.

I hope you enjoy this carol played on lyre, viola, and Oriole soprano recorder with melody and harmony!

This post is part of my Holiday Blogging Party. You’re also invited to participate!
Click here to learn how!