In honor of the birthday of English hymn writer Charles Wesley (1707-1788), here is one of his greatest hits in an arrangement by American composer Dan Forrest (b. 1978) of a melody by German composer Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847), performed by the combined choirs and orchestra of Concordia College.
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comfort & joy, musical offerings | Tagged: Charles Wesley, Christmas, Concordia Choir, Dan Forrest, Felix Mendelssohn | 
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Posted by bluebird of bitterness
In honor of the birthday of Hungarian composer Zoltán Kodály (1882-1967), here is his beautiful choral arrangement of the advent hymn “Veni, Veni, Emmanuel.”
1 Comment | comfort & joy, musical offerings | Tagged: Advent, Budapesti Monteverdi Korus, Zoltán Kodály | Permalink
Posted by bluebird of bitterness
It’s the birthday of French composer Hector Berlioz (1803-1869), whose oratorio L’enfance du Christ received its premiere in Paris on December 10, 1854. It tells the story of Mary and Joseph escaping to Egypt after Herod orders the massacre of the innocents. This beautiful chorus, “L’adieu des bergers,” depicts the shepherds at Bethlehem bidding farewell to the holy family as they depart Judea for Egypt.
Leave a Comment » | comfort & joy, musical offerings | Tagged: Christmas, Hector Berlioz | Permalink
Posted by bluebird of bitterness
1 Comment | comfort & joy, musical offerings | Tagged: Hanukkah, Nes Gadol Haya Sham, USC-Thornton Choral Artists | Permalink
Posted by bluebird of bitterness
People, look east. The time is near
Of the crowning of the year.
Make your house fair as you are able,
Trim the hearth and set the table.
People, look east and sing today:
Love, the Guest, is on the way.
Furrows, be glad. Though earth is bare,
One more seed is planted there.
Give up your strength the seed to nourish,
That in time the flower may flourish.
People, look east and sing today:
Love, the Rose, is on the way.
Stars, keep the watch. When night is dim
One more light the bowl shall brim,
Shining beyond the frosty weather,
Bright as sun and moon together.
People, look east and sing today:
Love, the Star, is on the way.
Angels announce with shouts of mirth
Him who brings new life to earth.
Set every peak and valley humming
With the word, the Lord is coming!
People, look east and sing today:
Love, the Lord, is on the way.
1 Comment | comfort & joy, musical offerings | Tagged: Advent, Canto Deo Chamber Choir | Permalink
Posted by bluebird of bitterness
Hine ma tov uma naʿim shevet achim gam yachad.
Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity. (Psalm 133:1)
1 Comment | comfort & joy, musical offerings | Tagged: Hanukkah, Hine Ma Tov, USC-Thornton Choral Artists | Permalink
Posted by bluebird of bitterness
Peace be to you and grace from Him
Who freed us from our sins,
Who loved us all and shed His blood
That we might saved be.
Sing holy, holy to our Lord,
The Lord, Almighty God,
Who was and is and is to come;
Sing holy, holy Lord!
Rejoice in heaven, all ye that dwell therein,
Rejoice on earth, ye saints below,
For Christ is coming, is coming soon,
For Christ is coming soon.
E’en so, Lord Jesus, quickly come,
And night shall be no more;
They need no light nor lamp nor sun,
For Christ will be their all.
1 Comment | comfort & joy, musical offerings | Tagged: Advent, Paul Manz, Washington Master Chorale | Permalink
Posted by bluebird of bitterness
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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 sister-in-law Sybil
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
