Tag: Christmas

TBT^4: Joy to the World

The Portly Politico2 Comments

At this year’s Christmas Concert, the program accidentally included the lyrics to “Joy to the World.”  In the past, my students have played it as a singalong for the audience, but we haven’t done so in a few years.  I’m not sure why the lyrics got included in the program, but I briefly contemplated “winging it” and shouting the chords at my students while everyone sang.

I did not give into that temptation.  One that I have learned is that other people’s errors do not necessitate me fixing them in haphazard ways (usually).  We simply announced there was a mistake in the program and went on from there.

That said, the larger mistake was, indeed, mine—I should have put it in the Christmas Concert!  I love “Joy to the World,” and it’s really fun to play and sing.  I suppose next year I’ll have to toss it into the mix.

With that, here is 12 December 2024’s “TBT^2: Joy to the World“:

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Open Mic Adventures CLIX: “Dido’s Lament”

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Want to play the sax like yours portly?  Read my ultimate guide to getting started for under $350.

Years ago, my dear mom found a copy of The Usborne Book of Piano Classics (that’s an Amazon Affiliate link; I receive a portion of any purchases made through that link, at no additional cost to you) at a book sale and picked it up for me.  I have used that book countless times over the years for gigs, piano lessons, practice, arranging, etc.  My High School and Middle School Music Ensembles have performed arrangements based on those in the book many times at the annual South Carolina Independent School Association Music Festival.

While it consists of piano arrangements of famous pieces from the Baroque, Classical, and Romantic periods, I often play the pieces on saxophone.  I found myself pulling the book out in preparation for a gig this past Sunday (a wedding proposal—the client’s girlfriend said yes!), and came upon a melancholy piece from the Baroque composer Henry Purcell, “When I am laid in earth,” perhaps better known as “Dido’s Lament.”  It’s from Purcell’s opera Dido and Aeneas.

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Lazy Sunday CCCXLIX: Christmas Cheer 2025, Part II

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Merry Christmas, TPP Readers!  I’m back with some more Christmas-related posts from the last week:

Happy Sunday—and Merry Christmas!

—TPP

SubscribeStar Saturday: Christmas Concert 2025 Postmortem

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Today’s post is a SubscribeStar Saturday exclusive.  To read the full post, subscribe to my SubscribeStar page for $1 a month or more.  For a full rundown of everything your subscription gets, click here.

Good afternoon, my loyal subscribers!  Apologies for a late post today; yours portly crashed out after a long but productive day at work yesterday, which included my students’ annual Christmas Concert.

I’ll allow GEOTUS to articulate this sentiment in the way only he can:

Regardless, in the grand tradition of The Portly Politico, it’s time the annual Christmas Concert Postmortem, where I break down the program and how everything went.

For non-paying subscribers, don’t worry—the kids did a fabulous job, as they always do.  My Middle School Music Ensemble (MSME) played three pieces:

  • “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen”
  • “We Wish You a Merry Christmas”
  • “Last Christmas”

And my High School Music Ensemble (HSME) played four pieces:

  • “What Child is This?”
  • “Mary Did You Know?”
  • “Do They Know It’s Christmas?”
  • “O Holy Night”

For whatever reason, the HSME played a lot of songs whose titles are questions.  Don’t ask me why!

To read the rest of this post, subscribe to my SubscribeStar page for $1 a month or more.

 

Lazy Sunday CCCXLVIII: Christmas Cheer 2025, Part I

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The Christmas season is here!  As such, here are some classic posts of yesterweek to get you into the yuletide spirit:

Happy Sunday!

—TPP

A Yuletide Request for Reader Recommendations

The Portly Politico13 Comments

Happy Monday, TPP Readers!

In lieu of my usual Monday Morning Movie Review, I wanted to do something a bit different:  what are some of your favorite films to watch during the month of December, in the build-up to Christmas?

I’m thinking of doing the Christmas equivalent of the 31 Days of Halloween series, but probably not for all thirty-one days of December.  That said, there are some great Christmas movies out there that would be fun to give the 31 Days treatment.

For those that missed that series, here is the idea:  these videos will also be super lo-fi, as a.) I believe in the lo-fi ethic and, more honestly, b.) my video editing skills and capabilities are virtually non-existent.  We’re talking one take with minimal in-camera editing—and that’s it.  No fancy cutaways to clips from the movies; no wacky angles; no green screens placing me in a haunted castle.  At most I’ll hold up a DVD of the flicks if I have one.

My only caveats:  no Polar Express (2004) and no Elf (2003).  Even I have standards!

Let me know your picks in the comments below, or through the contact form on this site.

Thanks!

—TPP

Phone it in Friday LXXVIII: YouTube Roundup XXX: Assorted Foolishness

The Portly Politico10 Comments

Right at the end of 2024, I churned out some truly absurd content for my YouTube channel.  I may have shared some of this content here on the blog, but I can’t quite remember—that whole festive season is now a foggy, happy blur.

Regardless, you’re in for a treat.  I’ve got a sultry, satin pillowcase; a pizza covered in Vidalia onions; and a glimpse back into the Christmases of yesteryear.

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