OT Advent Calendar Day 24: The Coventry Carol
Another I’ve loved all my life, this and tomorrow’s song are lullabies. “The Coventry Carol” was the second of two songs included in a 16th century nativity play
Category: Music
OT Advent Calendar Day 23: Once in Royal David’s City
“Once in Royal David’s City” is, as so many of our Christmas traditions are, a child of the 19th century. Written by Cecil Frances Alexander and published in her 1848 hymnbook Hymns for Little Children
OT Advent Calendar Day 22: The Friendly Beasts
“The Friendly Beasts” is also remarkably old, going back to 12th century France and sometimes attributed to Pierre de Corbeil, Bishop of Sens.
OT Advent Calendar Day 21: Silly Christmas Songs
Today’s theme is a catch all for the light, silly songs we encounter around the Holidays: silly Christmas songs
OT Advent Calendar Day 25: Lullay Mine Liking
The word “lullaby” is, in fact, onomatopoeia; it is the “lu lu,” “la la” and “bye bye” sounds mothers often make to calm infants. Which suggests a new meaning to Radiohead’s “There There,” but—as I so often do—I digress.
OT Advent Calendar Day 19: The Holly & The Ivy
Today’s song, “The Holly and The Ivy,” shows great evidence of being endemic for quite a while before it was collected and standardized.
OT Advent Calendar Day 18: Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming
This German song entitled “Es ist ein Ros entsprungen”—literally, “It Is a Rose Sprung Up”—is one of the most Marian of Christmas Carols.
OT Advent Calendar Day 17: I Saw Three Ships
I love the simple chords and melody of the song and its simple faith. And I do mean simple. Let’s just say Bethlehem is not a port.
OT Advent Calendar Day 14: Strange Christmas
You said the theme for this Saturday was “Strange Christmas.” I did. There’s nothing strange about this. Not yet…
OT Advent Calendar Day 12, Holiday Hip Hop Edition
Your OT advent calendar will be musical. Today’s tunes are “I Am the Grinch,” by Tyler, the Creator versus “Christmas in Hollis” by Run DMC.
OT Advent Calendar Day 11: Christmas Time Is Here, Charlie Brown
Your Ordinary Times advent calendar will be musical this year: Today’s song is “Christmas Time Is Here” of Peanuts frame.
OT Advent Calendar Day 10: I’ll Be Home For Christmas
Your OT Advent calendar will be musical. Today’s song: “I’ll Be Home For Christmas”
OT Advent Calendar Day 9: Put the Lights on the Tree
Your OT Advent Calendar this year will be musical. Today’s tune is “Put the Lights on the Tree,” by Sufjan Stevens
OT Advent Calendar (& Hanukkah!) Day 8: White Christmas
Your Ordinary Times Advent calendar will be musical this year. Today’s tunes are “White Christmas” and “Mi Yimaleil.”
OT Advent Calendar (& Hanukkah!) Day 7: Musical Crimes Against Christmas
Today is Saturday, so it is Theme Day and our theme is Crimes Against Christmas. Our Hanukkah song is “Al Hanisim.”
OT Advent Calendar (& Hanukkah!) Day 6: Dreidel
You’re OT Advent will be musical. Today’s tunes are “Here We Come a-Wassailing” and “I Have a Little Dreidel”
OT Advent Calendar (& Hanukkah!) Day 5: How Do You Wassail Them Apples
Your Ordinary Times Advent will be musical. Today’s tunes are the “Apple Tree Wassail” and “Don’t Let the Light Go Out.”
OT Advent Calendar (& Hanukkah!) Day 4
Your OT Advent Calendar this year will be musical. Today’s tunes are the “Gower Wassail” and “Bring on the Light.”
OT Advent Calendar (& Hanukkah!) Day 3
Your OT Advent calendar this year will be musical. Today’s tunes are the “Malpas Wassail” and “Ocho Kandelikas.”
OT Advent Calendar (& Hannukah!) Day 2: Straddling The Line Between Wassail and Hymn
Your OT advent calendar will be musical. Todays songs are “God Bless the Master” and the English and Yiddish song “Hannukah, Oh Hannukah.”
