Oh, hush thee, my baby, the night is behind us,
And black are the waters that sparkled so green.
The moon, o’er the combers, looks downward to find us
At rest in the hollows that rustle between.
Where billow meets billow, there soft be thy pillow;
Ah, weary wee flipperling, curl at thy ease!
The storm shall not wake thee, nor shark overtake thee,
Asleep in the arms of the slow-swinging seas.
–Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936)
2 Comments | 
comfort & joy, musical offerings | Tagged: Eric Whitacre, National Taiwan University Chorus, Rudyard Kipling | 
Permalink
Posted by bluebird of bitterness
“Siyahamba” is a Zulu folk song.
4 Comments | comfort & joy, musical offerings | Tagged: Angel City Chorale | Permalink
Posted by bluebird of bitterness
O beautiful star of Bethlehem,
Shining afar through shadows dim,
Giving a light for those who long have gone,
And guiding the wise men on their way
Unto the place where Jesus lay;
Beautiful star of Bethlehem, shine on.
Beautiful star of Bethlehem,
Shine upon us until the glory dawns;
Give us thy light to light the way
Unto the land of perfect day;
Beautiful star of Bethlehem, shine on.
O beautiful star, the hope of light,
Guiding the pilgrim through the night,
Over the mountain till the break of dawn,
And into the light of perfect day,
It will give out a lovely ray;
Beautiful star of Bethlehem, shine on.
Beautiful star of Bethlehem,
Shine upon us until the glory dawns;
Give us thy light to light the way
Unto the land of perfect day;
Beautiful star of Bethlehem, shine on.
O beautiful star, the hope of rest
For the redeemed, the good and blessed,
Yonder in glory when the crown is won;
For Jesus is now that star divine,
Brighter and brighter He will shine;
Beautiful star of Bethlehem, shine on.
Beautiful star of Bethlehem,
Shine upon us until the glory dawns;
Give us thy light to light the way
Unto the land of perfect day;
Beautiful star of Bethlehem, shine on.
2 Comments | comfort & joy, musical offerings | Tagged: Epiphany, Shawn Kirchner, USC-Thornton Choral Artists | Permalink
Posted by bluebird of bitterness
Have you heard the sound of the angel voices
Ringing out so sweetly, ringing out so clear?
Have you seen the star shining out so brightly
As a sign from God that Christ the Lord is here?
Have you heard the news that they bring from heaven
To the humble shepherds who have waited long?
Gloria in excelsis Deo! Gloria in excelsis Deo!
Hear the angels sing their joyful song.
He is come in peace in the winter’s stillness,
Like a gentle snowfall in the gentle night;
He is come in joy, like the sun at morning,
Filling all the world with radiance and with light.
He is come in love as the child of Mary;
In a simple stable we have seen his birth.
Gloria in excelsis Deo! Gloria in excelsis Deo!
Hear the angels singing peace on earth.
He will bring new light to a world in darkness,
Like a bright star shining in the skies above;
He will bring new hope to the waiting nations,
When he comes to reign in purity and love.
Let the earth rejoice at the Savior’s coming,
Let the heavens answer with the joyful morn:
Gloria in excelsis Deo! Gloria in excelsis Deo!
Hear the angels singing, Christ is born.
Leave a Comment » | comfort & joy, musical offerings | Tagged: Christmas, Jakarta Festival Chorus, John Rutter | Permalink
Posted by bluebird of bitterness
When Christ was born of maid Mary
In Bethlehem that fair city,
Angels sung e’er with mirth and glee,
Alleluia!
Some shepherds saw those angels bright
To them appeared with glorious light,
And said, “God’s son is born tonight!”
Alleluia!
This king is come to save His kind
In holy Scripture as we find;
Therefore this song we have in mind,
Alleluia!
Then dearest Lord, for Thy great grace,
Grant us the bliss to see Thy face,
Where we may sing with all the human race,
Alleluia!
Leave a Comment » | comfort & joy, musical offerings | Tagged: Alan Bullard, Atlanta Master Chorale, Christmas | Permalink
Posted by bluebird of bitterness
Angels from the realms of glory,
Hear our joyful song below;
For tonight we sing the story
Heard by shepherds long ago.
Though at first they trembled, fearing,
Wondrous tidings bid them rise;
Heavenly hosts then bright appearing
Sang these praises in the skies:
Gloria in excelsis Deo!
Peace on earth good will to men!
Gloria in excelsis Deo!
Hasten now to Bethlehem!
All good souls who’ve gone before us,
Hear the ancient Christmas lay;
On this night we join in chorus,
Love came down this Holy Day.
He awaits us in the manger
Smiling there in purest white.
Unto us He is no stranger,
But Creator, Life, and Light.
Gloria in excelsis Deo!
Peace on earth good will to men!
Gloria in excelsis Deo!
Hasten now to Bethlehem!
Heaven and nature here abiding,
Hear the chimes of ages ring;
Woods and rivers shout glad tidings,
Tell the wonders of your King.
Mountains cry aloud forever,
Solid rocks now weep for joy;
Sun, moon, stars all sing together.
Let this song our hearts employ:
Gloria in excelsis Deo!
Peace on earth good will to men!
Gloria in excelsis Deo!
Hasten now to Bethlehem!
2 Comments | comfort & joy, musical offerings | Tagged: Christmas, Mack Wilberg, Mormon Tabernacle Choir | Permalink
Posted by bluebird of bitterness
Sing we now of Christmas,
Noël sing we here;
Hear our grateful praises
To the babe so dear.
Sing we Noël, the king is born, Noël!
Sing we now of Christmas, sing we all Noël!
Angels called to shepherds,
“Leave your flocks at rest,
Journey forth to Bethlehem,
Find the child so blest.”
Sing we Noël, the king is born, Noël!
Sing we now of Christmas, sing we all Noël!
In Bethlehem they found him,
Joseph and Mary mild,
Seated by the manger,
Watching the holy child.
Sing we Noël, the king is born, Noël!
Sing we now of Christmas, sing we all Noël!
2 Comments | comfort & joy, musical offerings | Tagged: Christmas, Portland Choir & Orchestra | Permalink
Posted by bluebird of bitterness
You are currently browsing the archives for the musical offerings category.
 | ibikenyc on Monday chuckles |
 | V.M.Sang on Sunday funnies |
 | Melanie B Cee on Monday chuckles |
 | Eliza Ayres on Monday chuckles |
 | JBosh on Monday chuckles |
 | julesmomcat on Sunday funnies |
 | dreamweaver333 on Sunday musical offering |
| Eliza Ayres on Sunday funnies |
 | Brothers Campfire on Sunday funnies |
| ibikenyc on Sunday funnies |
Home sweet home
Bob's sister Hannah
Bob's sister Ada
Bob's brother Otto
Bob's sister Eve
Bob's sister Nan
A baby picture of Bob and his siblings (clockwise from upper left: Otto, Eve, Hannah, Ada, Bob, and Nan)
Bob's childhood home
Bob's mom and dad
Bob in his youth
Bob's cousin Alphonse
Bob's Uncle Ralph and Aunt Edna
Bob's cousin Archibald
Bob's stepbrother Herbie (who really needs to quit smoking)
Bob's cousin Chester
Bob's Great Uncle Norbert and Great Aunt Phyllis
Bob's cousin Saffron (who will do anything for a drink)
Bob's cousin Thorndike
Bob's brother-in-law Vinnie
Bob's cousin Orville, who loves the Green Bay Packers
Bob's nieces Lulu and Bitsy, the biker chicks
Bob's stepsister Eloise, with the twins, Rudy and Trudy
Bob's Uncle Henry and Aunt Rowena
Bob's niece Esmerelda (who likes to live dangerously)
Bob's Great Uncle Arthur up in Saskatchewan
Bob's cousin Louie, the grackle of grumpiness
Miss Screech, Bob's journalism teacher
Bob's nephew Winthrop, who loves sports
Bob's Uncle Seymour and Aunt Bernice
Bob's second cousin Schlomo in Brooklyn
Bob's nephew Baxter
Bob's cousin Darrell
Nigel, Bob's pen pal in New Zealand
Bob's sister-in-law Delphine, who volunteers at the animal shelter
Percy the Pickpocket, Bob's third cousin once removed (the relative no one likes to talk about... every family has one)
The Bluebird of Happiness™ (no relation to Bob)
A pair of boobies (also no relation to Bob, but included for readers who desire titillation)
A pair of tits (in case the boobies were insufficiently titillating)
Bluebird Bitter™, the beer they named for Bob
