Welcome to December and The Christmas Musical Notes!!!
Are you ready? "Christmas time is here, bringing us good cheer!" "Love and joy come to you!", "Here we come a caroling!" Dinners to prepare. Church to attend. Malls to shop at. Family to visit. Friends to see. Trees to trim. Equally important.....We get to listen to Christmas music while doing it all!!!! What is your favorite. "Grandma, got run over..." is not a real Christmas song.....
Lauded as the most performed Christmas song by BMI (Broadcast Music Incorporated), Mel Torme's ode to the Christmas season was originally an attempt to "stay cool by thinking cool" on a hot summer day with his friend Bob Wells who would get co-writing credits for what would become known as "The Christmas Song". It would be 8 years before Mel Torme would put a rendition of his classic Christmas melody on an album. It continues to be covered on Christmas records with each passing generation of artists.
The most heralded version of this Christmas standard was by Nat King Cole, who would record it on 4 different albums. With each successive release of "The Christmas Song", Cole would introduce an additional nuance from the originals and see its reception improve with each subsequent release. The last recording was with full orchestra, directed by Ralph Carmichael, and would be recorded in stereophonic. This version from 1961 is the arrangement that most of the general public has come to regard as one of their most beloved Christmas songs. So grab some egg nog, find your favorite sweater or throw and reminisce about the first time you heard Nat King Cole.....
"Chestnuts roasting on an open fire....."
Nat King Cole "The Christmas Song"
The images detailed in "The Christmas Song" evoke memories of friends and family. It reflects the
Christmas story of legend with Santa bringing gifts to good children.
It shows a simpler time when "turkey and some mistletoe, help to make
the season bright". It encourages the magic that surrounds a time of year when people tend to be nicer, more giving, and more responsive to remembering the standards that were set for "good" boys and girls.
"The Christmas Song" also ignites a memory of other songs hidden in the recesses of the mind:
"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men."
This was a song that a multitude of angels sang as they shared the Christmas story with shepherds on the outskirts of Bethlehem. It was one of 2 songs that are told of in the account of the birth of Jesus, our deliverer. The other is that of Mary, wife to Joseph, mother to Jesus, as she proclaimed her joy while visiting her cousin Elizabeth. Early Latin churches simply called it: Magnificat
46 And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,
47 And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
48 For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
49 For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name.
50 And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation.
51 He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
52 He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree.
53 He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.
54 He hath helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy;
55 As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever.
"Holy Is His Name "John Michael Talbot
In both songs we see the very nature of God's deliverance and the incredible gift that was given to mankind. In a world where peace was rarely seen, peace was promised. At a time where the mighty were elevated, God was exalting those of low degree. The liberator promised from the beginning of time was now here for us to worship for the remainder of time and his name is Emmanuel, Jesus, God with us. As we listen to music this Christmas season, we may hear about "chestnuts roasting", and "Jack Frost nipping", but as God's "peculiar" people, let us allow those songs to point us to the Redeemer who was saving.....
'Til Tuesday,
Loving HIM by loving you,
Randy
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