Monday, December 25, 2023
Band Aid - Do They Know It's Christmas (Music Video)
Sunday, December 24, 2023
Saturday, December 23, 2023
CHRISTMAS WITH ANDRÉ RIEU 2023 - Silent Night/Stille Nacht
The tale of Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
Composers Hugh Martin and Ralph Blaine were assigned to write songs for Meet Me in St. Louis, starring Judy Garland. Among those that they came up with were The Boy Next Door, The Trolley Song and Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas. The movie was about a family who must relocate to New York after the Holidays and an important part of the story was how they did not want to leave their happy life in St. Louis. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas was written for Garland to sing to child actress Margaret O’Brien. And in keeping with the plot, it was a sad song. When Frank Sinatra decided to record a cover in 1957, he requested Martin and Blaine for a happy version. This is what we now listen to from Sinatra and other artists who thought of it as a beautiful Christmas song that they just had to record their own version.
SOUNDS FAMILIAR - Baby A. Gil - The Philippine Star
December 24, 2023 | 12:00am
I was only able to watch the musical Meet Me in St. Louis on Betamax many years after it was released in 1944. But I was already familiar with one of its soundtrack songs, Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas because of the movie The Victors.
That film was a war drama from 1963 and the song was used in a scene where a deserter soldier was executed. It was a poignant moment which I never forgot. It was rendered more powerful with the sound of Frank Sinatra singing Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas as background music.
To this day, despite many other versions I still think of Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas as the saddest Christmas song ever written. Now, I recently found out that how it was originally written was even sadder.
How can anybody write a sad song about Christmas? Well, composers Hugh Martin and Ralph Blaine did. The songwriting duo was assigned to write songs for Meet Me in St. Louis, starring Judy Garland. Among those that they came up with were The Boy Next Door, The Trolley Song and Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.
The movie was about a family who must relocate to New York after the Holidays and an important part of the story was how they did not want to leave their happy life in St. Louis. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas was written for Garland to sing to child actress Margaret O’Brien. And in keeping with the plot, it was a sad song.
Very sad indeed. Check out the original lyrics which I found in an article by Ellen Gutosky in the online mag Mental Floss.
“Have yourself a merry little Christmas/ It may be your last/ Next year we may all be living in the past/ Have yourself a merry little Christmas/ Pop that champagne cork/ Next year we may all be living in New York.
“No good times like the olden days/ Happy golden days of yore/ Faithful friends who were dear to us/ will be near to us no more.
“But at least we all will be together if the Lord allows/ From now on we’ll have to muddle through somehow/ so have yourself a Merry Little Christmas now.”
The message was, have yourself a merry little Christmas while you can because next year will be different for us.
Garland’s reaction was instantaneous. “If I sing that to little Margaret O’Brien, the audience will think I’m a monster.”
The tale says that it took Martin and Blaine some convincing but they later agreed to work on the song. After some editing or I should say a little tweaking, Garland had the song she wanted and a true Christmas classic was born.
However, it was still sad. So, when Sinatra decided to record a cover in 1957, he requested Martin and Blaine for a happy version.
And this is what we now listen to from Sinatra, Michael Bublé, Ella Fitzgerald, Kelly Clarkson, The Carpenters, John Legend, Sam Smith and so many others who thought of it as a beautiful Christmas song that they just had to record their own version.
“Have yourself a merry little Christmas/ let your heart be light/ from now on our troubles will be out of sight/ Have yourself a merry little Christmas/ Make the Yuletide gay/ From now on our troubles will be miles away.
“Here we are as in olden days happy golden days of yore/ Faithful friends who are dear to us will be near to us once more.
“Through the years we all will be together/ if the fates allow/ Hang a shining star upon the highest bough/ and have yourself a merry little Christmas now.”
And that is how that shining star made it to the highest bough. Isn’t it just amazing what a little tweaking can do to the lyrics of a song.
Merry Christmas, everyone.
Friday, December 22, 2023
Transcending Tunes of Light and Shade Handel: Messiah
by
George Frideric Handel © portlandhandelsociety.org
The reasons for this tradition are somewhat apocryphal: one version is that at the first London performance in 1743, the audience “together with the King”, were so moved by the ‘Hallelujah’ Chorus that they spontaneously rose to their feet. An alternative explanation is that King George II was so tone-deaf that he thought the performance had finished, and the orchestra was playing the National Anthem: once the King stood, everyone present was obliged to stand too. Whatever the reason, there is something really special about standing for such an uplifting and triumphant piece of music.
For me ‘Messiah’ will forever be associated with the beginning of the Christmas season. When I was at school, it formed an integral part of the concert which ended the Autumn term, along with the service of nine lessons and carols at the church next door to my school. I must have sung Handel’s ‘Messiah’ at least 10 times, for the tradition of performing it at Christmas continued when I joined my university choir.
Background
‘Messiah’ was composed in 1741, with a text compiled by Charles Jennens from the King James Bible and the version of the Psalms included with the Book of Common Prayer. It was first performed in Dublin on 13 April 1742 and received its London premiere nearly a year later. Initially it received a modest public reception, despite Handel’s established reputation in England, where he had lived since 1712, but gradually the oratorio gained in popularity and it is now one of the best-known, much-loved and most frequently performed choral works in Western music.
The Story
The work is organised in three sections: Part 1 tells the story of the birth of Christ and includes all the familiar elements of the Christmas story. Part 2 is concerned with Christ’s passion and death, his resurrection and ascension, and ends with the joyous ‘Hallelujah’ chorus. It is this aspect of the work which makes it just as applicable for performance at Easter as well as at Christmas (in fact, its premiere in Dublin took place 19 days after Easter 1742). Part 3 returns to the theme of resurrection and represents the real core of the work as Christ’s resurrection is connected to our own redemption and sense of hope, beautifully affirmed in one of the work’s most famous arias, ‘I Know that My Redeemer Liveth’. And I suppose the best thing about ‘Messiah’ really is all the memorable ‘tunes’ – from ‘Ev’ry Valley Shall be Exalted’ to ‘The Trumpet Shall Sound’, ‘I Know My Redeemer Liveth’ to the charming duet between tenor and alto ‘O Death Where is Thy Sting’. Then there are the choruses: ‘And the Glory of the Lord’, ‘All We Like Sheep’, ‘For Unto Us a Child is Born, ‘Hallelujah’, and the wonderful fugue of the final chorus. In between all this are some beautiful solos, recitatives, which serve to move the narrative forward, and delightful orchestral interludes.
Handel brings the text to life with light and shade, storms and sunshine, fugue and counterpoint, and a huge variety of textures and “word painting”, the technique of having the melody mimic the literal meaning of the libretto. Because of the skilful way in which Handel organises the material, and the universal, redemptive message of the text, Messiah remains a work which is uplifting and life-affirming, regardless of how it is performed.
Thursday, December 21, 2023
Simbanggabi | Philippine Madrigal Singers, UP Singing Ambassadors & Aten...
Tuesday, December 19, 2023
Silver Bells
Bach For Christmas - A Musical Celebration (Classical Music)
Monday, December 18, 2023
Band Aid - Do They Know It's Christmas? (Live Aid 1985)
"The First Noel," 550 BYU Musicians Celebrate Christmas
8 modern Pinoy Christmas songs to add to your holiday playlists
By: Andrei Yuvallos - @inquirerdotnet
While many of the most popular Filipino Christmas songs we listen to today were made in the 20th century and the early ’00s, that doesn’t mean Pinoy artists aren’t coming out with new holiday tunes every year.
The local Filipino music scene is alive and thriving, and the holiday season is another source of inspiration for these artists. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with listening to the same nostalgic Christmas music as our parents, but if you’re looking for something new (both to you and in general), here are a few newer Christmas tracks that can help you expand your OPM listening horizons.
“Bibingka” by Ben&Ben
If you really want to feel the Filipino Christmas spirit, this love song by Ben&Ben will do just the trick. What could be more romantic and Filipino at the same time than offering your crush some bibingka after Simbang Gabi? Probably next to nothing.
“Ligaya” by SB19
P-pop group SB19 is on their way to world domination, but they’re stopping by the holiday music genre on their way there with a heartfelt song about the true joy of Christmas.
“No Snow” by Reese Lansangan
Reese Lansangan’s “No Snow” perfectly encapsulates the hurdles of being in a tropical country (while being very in love) during Christmas time. It’s sometimes too warm to cuddle, but you’ll still want to anyway.
“Baby, Merry Christmas” by Keiko Necesario
“Baby, Merry Christmas” is another addition to the cozy, romantic song genre. Necesario’s jazzy vocals fill the room with warm and fuzzy feelings that’ll make you want to cuddle up to someone (even if that someone is your family pet) this Christmas.
“Xmas Lights” by Ang Bandang Shirley
Longing is another common theme in Pinoy Christmas music, and “Xmas Lights” by Ang Bandang Shirley has the capability to make you miss someone who’s right next to you. It’s a light and nostalgic Filipino rock song that’s perfect if you’re a bit of a grinch because of a long distance relationship.
“Tayong Dalawa sa Pasko” by NOBITA
In another entry to the nostalgic, longing category, “Tayong Dalawa sa Pasko” by NOBITA is a grand, Christmassy love letter to someone you wish was in your arms instead of somewhere else this Christmas. Someone please get me some tissues and a cup of hot chocolate.
“Christmas Party” by Eraserheads
Local rock legends Eraserheads’ entry to the Christmas song genre is a funky, uplifting, celebratory song that talks about making a change, uniting, and enjoying Christmas as a community. It’s a good change-up if you’re getting too bummed by all the longing.
“Wish Ko sa Pasko” by The Sexbomb Girls
What would a modern Christmas song list be without a song from the Philippines’ original national girl group, The Sexbomb Girls? It’s a light, cheery track filled with all our favorite Sexbomb Girl sighs and adlibs. There’s some longing, but it’s still a fun track.
Ryan Cayabyab’s one-man 1991 Christmas album now streaming
By: Allan Policarpio - Reporter
After years of physical and digital unavailability, “One Christmas,” the landmark a cappella holiday album by National Artist Ryan Cayabyab, is now officially up for streaming on various music-streaming platforms.
The 10-track collection was produced by Telesis Records in 1991 and stayed in the market for years, before curiously disappearing from the shelves. But with Viva Music’s recent acquisition of Ivory Records—the original distributor of the said album—“One Christmas” can now be enjoyed by everyone and provide some much-needed variety to Filipino revelers’ Christmas playlists.
“This year, the album resurfaced through Viva. And although I only know vaguely how it meandered its sway to an online release, it gives me great joy to see it in the market again,” Cayabyab told the Inquirer.
In 1981, Cayabyab put out “One,” a groundbreaking album of original songs and Filipino classics that had the eminent composer weaving together more than a dozen variations of his voice to simulate the sound of a vocal ensemble or a choir singing a cappella. He also served as the arranger and producer.
Ten years later, Cayabyab — together with Telesis’ Margot Gallardo and sound engineer Monching Payumo — used that very same concept for what would have been his first Christmas album.
32-year-old project
“‘One Christmas’ was recorded in 1991, 10 years after ‘One’ was recorded and released… This makes ‘One Christmas’ a 32-year-old project done in analog format without the help of a pitch editor, like Melodyne,” he said.
True to form, the one-man multitrack a cappella album is a colorful mix of well-loved carols and new compositions, which vacillated from joyous and festive anthems to more haunting, sentimental pieces.
“Like ‘One,’ I went for traditional Filipino songs — this time, with Christmas as the theme, and added a couple of original songs such as: ‘Heto Na Naman,’ ‘Ano’ng Gagawin Mo Ngayong Pasko?’ and ‘Kumukutikutitap’ (written with Jose Javier Reyes),” Cayabyab said.
National Artist Felipe de Leon’s “Pasko Na Naman” was used as a binder music for the album, which also includes “Ang Aking Pamasko” by Antonio Velarde and National Artist Levi Celerio; “Maligayang Pasko at Masaganang Bagong Taon” (Vicente Rubi and Celerio); “Himig Pasko” by Serapio Ramos; and “Payapang Daigdig” (De Leon).
Sprinkling of pop
There’s also a sprinkling of contemporary pop tunes like “Miss Kita Kung Christmas” (Hermie Uy and Fe Ayala) and “Pasko Na Sinta Ko” (Francis Dandan and Aurelio Estanislao).
Some of the recordings of the traditional tracks in the said album, Cayabyab pointed out, would later serve as the basis of orchestrations and arrangements of his subsequent Christmas albums, “Pasko 1” and “Pasko 2” (San Miguel Foundation for the Performing Arts) in the mid-2000s.
Unfortunately, these two albums aren’t officially available on digital platforms. “I’m still praying that they get released in the market, too, in observance of the unique Filipino Christmas celebrations during this season of love!” Cayabyab said.