This carol is based on the 1863 poem, “Christmas Bells,” by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. When sung, the two stanzas pertaining to the American Civil War are omitted. However, you can read the full poem
here.
I hope you enjoy this carol, sung and played on ukulele and Oriole soprano recorder!
you’re probably familiar with this 19th-century carol. But did you know it is based on a real Bohemian king? You can read more
here.
my arrangement contains viola and alto recorder, accompanied by zither. I hope you enjoy it!
Merry Christmas, everyone!
Thank you for following, reading, listening, for your likes and kind comments, and for sharing in my
Holiday Blogging Party!
I’ve really enjoyed it and will do it again next year, maybe before that for another occasion–or no occasion at all! 🙂
My Christmas music offerings are not over just yet! “I Sas Three Ships (Come Sailing In)” is a popular carol and traditional English folk song. The earliest printing was in the 17th century. William Sandys also published it in 1833. It was especially popular in Cornwall and remains popular today, in the United Kingdom and United States alike.
I hope you enjoy “I Saw Three Ships” on lyre! And I wish you a blessed Christmas, hope, love, and peace in the days ahead!
“Angels We Have Heard on High” was originally written in French, though its author is unknown. The English translation was written by James Chadwick in 1862. The hymn is based on Luke 2:8-15, which read:
And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.
–King James Version (KJV)
I hope you enjoy this arrangement on lyre, viola, and melody and harmony on alto recorder!
Here is a 17th-century French Christmas carol that is still sung today. The French title is “Un flambeau, Jeannette, Isabelle,” and it was translated into English in the 18th century. Originating in the Provence region of France, it was not meant to be sung at Christmas, but was considered dance music for the French nobility.
In the lyrics, two farm girls, Jeanette and Isabella, find the Christ Child with his mother in the stable. The song describes how one should speak quietly and see how the baby is peacefully sleeping, enjoying his dreams. Then, they rush to a nearby village to share the news of His birth, and everyone comes to see the baby. To this day in the Provence region, children dress as shepherds and milkmaids and sing this carol on their way to Midnight Mass, carrying torches and candles.
My arrangement contains alto recorder and zither and is played as a lullaby rather than a dance tune. I hope you enjoy it! Have a safe, peaceful, blessed, and very Merry Christmas!
Original Song on Ukulele
Well, the New Year is finally coming!
That means a new horizon for everyone–or at least, for those of us who choose to see it that way.
Right now I’m asking myself what is on my horizon?
Increased well-being, more hope, and the ability to see and embrace new opportunities!
I would also say less stress, but I’m a realist.
So, I’ll say choosing better ways to handle stress and more positive, productive responses in emotional situations are on my horizon!
—
Written for
#SixSentenceStories: Horizon.
What’s on your horizon? Leave a comment if you want to share!
There is a Light, a tiny spark,
A miracle we can behold!
So simple, yet it’s brave and bold
And dims not, even in the dark.
How we can miss its micro mark!
But still it burns quite near, not far–
So close we cannot see the Star…
It’s placed within us to provide
The Light we need to see, to guide.
We must re-learn: It’s who we are!
—
Written for
Ronovan Writes Décima Poetry Challenge Prompt No. 37: (STAR) in the C rhyme line.
This is an English carol, also known as “The Hymn for Christmas.” I learned it from
Derwent Harps
just a few weeks ago.
The lyrics are a poem written by Edward Caswall and first published in 1858. Sir John Goss composed “Humility,” a hymn tune for this carol, in 1871. This is a lovely carol, not commonly heard in the United States.
My arrangement contains lyre, viola, and alto recorder. I hope you enjoy it!
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Open to solace,
Curled in Winter’s resting time.
Hybernate and heal.
—
Written for
Ronovan Writes #Weekly #Haiku #Poetry Prompt #Challenge 337 OPEN and Solace.
This is an instrumental version of a
Metaphysical Christmas song
I wrote in 2010 and posted here in 2012. It affirms the birth of Light, or Christ Consciousness that can occur within, and for, each one of us, at any time. Christ Consciousness is simply the awareness of oneness, connectedness, positivity, peace, healing, and love that is innately ours. Living in a stressful world, we tend to lose awareness of the Christ Mind, but It is still there, within us and available to us at all times.
I hope you enjoy both versions of “Light,” the one with lyrics linked above, and this one with ukulele, Oriole soprano recorder, and viola! And no matter what you choose to call it, I hope you recognize the Light within yourself, now and always!
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Holiday Blogging Party!
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Mystical Strings 
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