O Holy Night

O Holy Night

The 19th century French composer Adolphe Charles Adam wrote more than fifty ballets and operas.Most are unremembered. But no one looks past Adam’s O Holy Night, the single most cherished solo number of the season.  In France it’s known simply as Cantique de...
Coventry Carol

Coventry Carol

The typical nativity scene includes Mary, Joseph, Jesus, shepherds, and Magi – not to mention a cow, a few sheep, and perhaps a humble-looking donkey.One prominent character in the original Christmas accounts, however, never makes the cut. That would be King...
I Saw Three Ships

I Saw Three Ships

When you think about, I Saw Three Ships Come Sailing In is a rather unusual Christmas carol. There are no boats in the accounts of Jesus’ birth.  The Jews of Bible times, in fact, were generally terrified of open water.  Only fishermen routinely set...
Silent Night

Silent Night

Which Christmas carol has the distinction of being written in its entirety on Christmas Eve?That would be Silent Night, which sprang from a musical 911 call at St. Nicholas’ Church in Oberndorf, Austria, in 1818.On December 22 assistant priest Josef Mohr learned...
Good Christian Men, Rejoice

Good Christian Men, Rejoice

As 2020 draws to a close, people everywhere are hungry for good news. Here are some happy news stories that have managed to stay under the radar this year: Giant pandas and manatees were taken off the endangered species list in 2020, and tigers are...