Tag: Christmas music

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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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

TBT^16: “Silent Night” Turns 200

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One of my favorite Christmas carols, “Silent Night,” is 207-years old this year.  It’s also one of the rare years where I’m not programming it for our Christmas Concert at school.  That’s not for any particular reason, and it will surely make a comeback in future years; there are just a lot of great Christmas songs!

That said, I have a soft spot for this piece.  It’s not my all-time favorite Christmas carol, but it’s definitely in the Top 3.  The piece is so rich theologically, but it also musically captures the Peace that passes all understanding—the Peace that comes from the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ.

With that, here is 19 December 2024’s “TBT^4: ‘Silent Night’ Turns 200“:

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TBT^65,536: O Little Town of Bethlehem and the Pressures of Songwriting

The Portly Politico2 Comments

The Christmas season is upon us again, which means it’s time for yours portly to dust off some classic posts of yesteryuletide, including this timeless classic about a timeless carol.

My students have their big Christmas concert next Friday, 12 December 2025, and while we’re not playing this carol this year, I will surely be playing it at church soon.  That said, this sweet, simple carol will always hold a special place in my heart.

With that, here is 5 December 2024’s “TBT^256: ‘O Little Town of Bethlehem’ and the Pressures of Songwriting“:

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TBT^4: “Silent Night” Turns 200

The Portly Politico6 Comments

It’s hard to believe that “Silent Night” is now 206-years old!  While the weary world has changed quite a bit in that time, this Christmas carol remains an eternal classic, and I imagine it will remain that way for another 206 years—and more.

“Silent Night” did make it onto the Christmas Concert program this year, with my Middle School Music Ensemble giving a traditional rendition, followed by a rocked-up version in 4/4 time (just like last year).  It’s hard for me not to program it, as it is one of the most iconic Christmas carols ever penned.

I’ve also played it quite a bit recently, notably at church, but also at a little Christmas show my buddy John and I hosted, our annual “Yulestravaganza.”  The only attendees were the barista, Dr. Girlfriend, and a lonely fellow who sauntered in halfway through the show and drank his coffee in solitude on the far opposite end of the coffee shop.  Regardless, Dr. Girlfriend, John, and I had a rollicking good time.  There is some footage out there from a Facebook livestream that I’ll need to hunt down and figure out how to share here (here are the first and second sets), but we had fun.  I also finished eating a burrito while John sang “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch”—live on stage!

Finally, I did a performance at Tuesday night’s open mic night—my first one in months!—with the wife of a former colleague singing beautiful harmonies.  Sadly, I did not capture it on video—d’oh!—but if I can hunt down footage, I’ll share it here.  It was a good, un-rehearsed performance, but at one point we both slipped into harmonies—ha!

Needless to say, I love this little carol.

With that, here is 21 December 2023’s “TBT^2: ‘Silent Night’ Turns 200“:

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Phone it in Friday LXXIV: Christmas Concert 2024

The Portly Politico2 Comments

This morning at around 8:21 AM EST my students will perform their annual Christmas Concert.  It’s a time-honored tradition, and represents the biggest performance of the first semester.

I often describe the Christmas Concert as my favorite and least favorite day of the school year.  It’s my favorite because it is incredible seeing my students perform, especially while glorifying God.  It’s my least favorite because it’s usually a stressful and busy day, after which I am completely drained.

However, this year I am feeling much better about it than I normally do.  My kids always do a great job, and the concert always comes off without a hitch (or without too many of them).  I think I am feeling confident about the concert because I have actually had time to prepare myself and my students for it properly.

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TBT^2: Joy to the World

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Tomorrow my students have their annual Christmas concert.  Neither of my Ensembles are performing “Joy to the World” this year, but it remains one of my favorites.  I love its rollicking and robust melody, which seems to charge forth, first with that delicious downward D major scale, and then it’s jaunty, bouncy return back up the scale in leaps.

I’ll have to dust this one off for next year’s concert, and I will certainly be playing it at church (if I have not already done so by the time this post publishes).  It’s one of the best to belt out with a room full of people.

With that, here is 14 December 2023’s “TBT: Joy to the World“:

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