New Holiday songs you are learning!

Subject: New Holiday songs you are learning!
From: Kim C
Date: 27 Nov 01 - 01:43 PM

Well, I am feeling a little proud of myself... for a couple of years now I have wanted to learn the Wexford Carol but never got around to it. Till now! So what are some new/old holiday tunes the rest of you are learning/relearning?

Subject: RE: New Holiday songs you are learning!
From: MMario
Date: 27 Nov 01 - 01:52 PM

'I wonder as I wander' this week. I'm going to try to learn at least one new one each week from now to Christmas.

Subject: RE: New Holiday songs you are learning!
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 27 Nov 01 - 01:58 PM

I'm revisiting "X-mas in the Trenches" trying to put a little different spin on the guitar work...

Subject: RE: New Holiday songs you are learning!
From: Kim C
Date: 27 Nov 01 - 02:00 PM

That's a good plan... I have tried it before though and it never seems to work - lol - just because Christmas always sneaks up on me. Even if I start early, it just blindsides me every time. So Mister and I have hatched a plan to work on a holiday song every month all year long - either a new one, or an old one that needs refurbishing.

We'll see how that works. mwahahahaha

Subject: RE: New Holiday songs you are learning!
From: Mrrzy
Date: 27 Nov 01 - 02:04 PM

Hayo Haya, which isn't really any fun, but boy is it hauntingly beautiful.

Subject: RE: New Holiday songs you are learning!
From: Kim C
Date: 27 Nov 01 - 02:09 PM

One of these days I am going to tackle Riu Riu Chiu and the Huron Carol. And thanks to Mousethief for turning me on to the Bruce Cockburn Christmas album LAST year. :-)

Subject: RE: New Holiday songs you are learning!
From: MMario
Date: 27 Nov 01 - 02:26 PM

Kim - do try the Huron Carol - I've been doing that for about 5 or six years.

I have an incentive in that I am performing every weekend from Thanksgiving to Christmas - primarily acapella carols - and a lot of times solo- and you get bored really fast if you only know a few and end up singing almost non-stop for 4 hours. So they get "brushed off" every year during the four weeks of rehearsals - then I try to learn a couple new ones each year. or at least memorize an "old" one so I can do it without cheat sheets.

Subject: RE: New Holiday songs you are learning!
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 27 Nov 01 - 02:39 PM

I also wanna nail John Gorkas version of "I heard the bells on X-mas day" this year for sure...

Subject: RE: New Holiday songs you are learning!
From: MMario
Date: 27 Nov 01 - 02:43 PM

Thanks clinton - that was the other one i WAS LOOKING FOR

Subject: RE: New Holiday songs you are learning!
From: Kim C
Date: 27 Nov 01 - 02:55 PM

MMario do you do the Huron Carol in English or Huron?

Clinton that is one of my absolute favorites! Guess I'll have to add that to the list too... I only know it about halfway.

Subject: RE: New Holiday songs you are learning!
From: MMario
Date: 27 Nov 01 - 02:57 PM

English. I have a friend who does it in french. Haven't ever heard it live in Huron.

Subject: RE: New Holiday songs you are learning!
From: 53
Date: 27 Nov 01 - 03:26 PM

it's not a new song but i'm working on oh holy night and so far so good. BOB

Subject: RE: New Holiday songs you are learning!
From: Kim C
Date: 27 Nov 01 - 04:35 PM

That's also one of my favorites, Bob.

So many songs, so little time..........

Subject: RE: New Holiday songs you are learning!
From: sophocleese
Date: 27 Nov 01 - 05:52 PM

Down in Yon Forest, I'm trying to mix it up on recorder with another dance tune in 6/8. Reginald Jacques put a Normandy tune to the words of Away in a Manger which is lovely and minor; its in the Oxford Carols for Choirs. I'm also swelling my husband's church choir for Christmas and singing some of the choruses from the Messiah.I'm struggling to get the running 16ths in Unto Us a Child is Bo-o-o-o-o-o-o-rn up to speed and accurate. I might have to settle for hitting every fourth one instead.

Subject: RE: New Holiday songs you are learning!
From: vectis
Date: 27 Nov 01 - 06:31 PM

I will relearn Hush Little Babies, an anti Xmas shopping song, All Hail to the Days, Boars Head Carol, To drive the cold winter away, While Shepherds watched - the bent version as usual; and this year I might even get round to learning the Manx carol I always mean to learn but never do.

Subject: RE: New Holiday songs you are learning!
From: Mary in Kentucky
Date: 27 Nov 01 - 06:44 PM

To me Christmas carols are like the quote from Tolkien, "In every wood, in every spring, there is a different green." I feel like I've heard just about every Chrismas song written, but every year a new one pops up. Lately, I've been looking through songs from other countries.

Subject: RE: New Holiday songs you are learning!
From: Nathan in Texas
Date: 27 Nov 01 - 09:59 PM

"Beautiful Star of Bethlehem" is my "new" (copyright 1940) one for this year. First heard it on Emmylou Harris's Christmas album a few years ago, but still don't hear it played much. Works well on the autoharp.

Subject: RE: New Holiday songs you are learning!
From: Grab
Date: 28 Nov 01 - 07:43 AM

"A cockroach Christmas" by the Berrymans, and "Arrest these merry gentlemen" by the Kipper family. I've a feeling I did the latter last year, but no-one'll remember. ;-) Problem is, you never play these but once a year, so you never really learn them.

Graham.

Subject: RE: New Holiday songs you are learning!
From: John P
Date: 28 Nov 01 - 08:40 AM

I'm not doing anything new this year, but as Grab says you play them so rarely you never really learn them, so I am trying to re-learn a bunch to do at a Christmas concert:
Come, Mad Boys
Personent Hodie
Star of the East
The Salutation of the Angel
Babe of Bethlehem
Blessed Be That Maid Marie
There Was a Pig Went Out to Dig
Masters in This Hall
Gloria Ad Modem Tubae

JP

Subject: RE: New Holiday songs you are learning!
From: Kim C
Date: 28 Nov 01 - 09:46 AM

Wow! Y'all are working hard! Looking at all your lists reminds me of things I need to add to mine! ;-)

Subject: RE: New Holiday songs you are learning!
From: MMario
Date: 28 Nov 01 - 09:57 AM

same here.

Subject: RE: New Holiday songs you are learning!
From: Kim C
Date: 28 Nov 01 - 11:33 AM

what's that one John P mentioned about Gloria and the tuba modem?

Subject: RE: New Holiday songs you are learning!
From: WyoWoman
Date: 28 Nov 01 - 08:42 PM

Is the Gorka version of "Bells on Christmas Day" different from the usual one?

ww

Subject: RE: New Holiday songs you are learning!
From: Alice
Date: 28 Nov 01 - 10:08 PM

Last year I learned "I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day" because each Christmas time I play an old Bing Crosby recording of it, and decided it was time to learn it. But, as said before, it is easy to forget after 12 months, so it's time to re-memorize.

Alice

Subject: RE: New Holiday songs you are learning!
From: GUEST,Overcoat Charlie
Date: 29 Nov 01 - 09:21 AM

I'm working on "Christmas in the Trailerpark" as written and performed by Y'All.

Subject: RE: New Holiday songs you are learning!
From: Steve in Idaho
Date: 29 Nov 01 - 12:34 PM

Rye Whiskey Joe and Mr. Bojangles -

Steve

Subject: RE: New Holiday songs you are learning!
From: SharonA
Date: 29 Nov 01 - 01:58 PM

I have the same problem Alice does: re-memorizing the songs annually!

Last Christmas's big project for me was learning the lyrics and guitar chords to "Sleigh Ride", "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch", "I'm Gettin' Nuttin' for Christmas" and "Zat You, Santa Claus?" This year I think I'll concentrate on trying to remember what I learned! Who knows, I may FINALLY nail the chords to the bridge of "The Christmas Song" (chestnuts roasting on an open fire...)!!!

vestis: Can you post the lyrics to your anti Xmas shopping song?

Grab: "A Cockroach Christmas" by the Berrymans! Yes, of course! Thanks for reminding me of that one; I should learn that, too! (from their most recent CD, "House Concert") Do you know another Christmas song of theirs, "Big Dead Bird"? That's one of my favorites of theirs! (also on "House Concert" but I prefer the arrangement on their "So Comfortable" tape from 1984, which unfortunately is no longer in print)

Subject: RE: New Holiday songs you are learning!
From: GUEST,Grab
Date: 30 Nov 01 - 08:14 AM

I've got House Concert as well, but couldn't at the time afford to buy any more. Might ask for another for Xmas... :-) I know Big Dead Bird to recognise it, but not to sing, unfortunately. Trouble is, the Berrymans are so damn wierd that you have to use their stuff sparingly (and be careful which ones you choose) otherwise ppl just end up with that "WTF?!?!" look on them.

Graham.

Subject: RE: New Holiday songs you are learning!
From: Genie
Date: 24 Dec 05 - 02:05 AM

Songs I've added to my Holiday repertoire in the last 3 or 4 years are:
The Gift (Stephanie Davis)
Pretty Little Baby Child (sung by Kenny Rogers)
Singing With the Big Choir (my own)
I Want A Hippopotamus For Christmas
The Restroom Door Said "Gentlemen"
Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer
The Rebel Jesus (Jackson Browne)
Merry Christmas With Love
Beautiful Star of Bethlehem (bluegrass)
Little Toy Trains (Roger Miller)
A La Nanita (Spanish)
The Man With The Bag


Genie

Subject: RE: New Holiday songs you are learning!
From: open mike
Date: 24 Dec 05 - 06:04 AM

Ditto on Jackson Brown's Rebel Jesus!
also Dar Williams' Christians and the Pagans
(where only pumpkin pies are burning)
also David Rovics' "Who Would Jesus Bomb?"
and Willie Nelson--Pretty Paper.

Subject: RE: New Holiday songs you are learning!
From: Keith A of Hertford
Date: 24 Dec 05 - 01:49 PM

I learned Xmas In Trenches (John McCutcheon)for this Christmas.
I had to adjust it a bit for an English audience, but it went over very well and I was glad I made the effort. (Last surviving participant died in last few weeks.)

I usually sing Cherry Tree Carol and Moving On (Ewan McCol) besides usual carols.

Merry christmas,
Keith.

Subject: RE: New Holiday songs you are learning!
From: GUEST,Jack Campin
Date: 24 Dec 05 - 02:10 PM

The Crinan Canal's For Me (in anticipation of being on the narrowboat next week).

A bunch of Swedish fiddle tunes.

Subject: RE: New Holiday songs you are learning!
From: Duke
Date: 24 Dec 05 - 02:28 PM

Its not a Christmas song, but today I started to learn, "The Highwayman".

Subject: RE: New Holiday songs you are learning!
From: Ron Davies
Date: 26 Dec 05 - 10:12 PM

Genie--

Now there's a coincidence--I've just learned A La Nanita Nana also--I was told that perhaps Spanish-speaking people we might be singing for-- (since there are more and more in my neighborhood, as in many)--may be tired of Feliz Navidad. I'm not tired of it but some of my fellow (Anglo) carolers said they were. At any rate, A La Nanita Nana has much to recommend it--a haunting melody, and pretty easy words--it helps that the chorus is virtually a wordless lullaby.

So we sang it this year--I taught the chorus in 5 minutes to our group --(SATB door to door carolers--14th year in a row)-- and it went well.

It's always good--and fun-- to broaden repertoire.

Subject: RE: New Holiday songs you are learning!
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 27 Dec 05 - 06:31 AM

My favorite new carol is "Chariots" bu John Kirkpatrick. I've heard it year after year when Nowell Sing We Clear come to my region, and this year I determined to sing it to the little "pick-up" choir we pull together at the local village church. We sang it Christmas Eve and got applauded!

Subject: RE: New Holiday songs you are learning!
From: GUEST
Date: 27 Dec 05 - 01:41 PM

Well folks, I'm learning a song I wrote on December 8th, It's called 'Christmas Hall', I've sung it out on several occasions over the Christmas period and it's gone down very well.
I'll show you a couple of verses.

CHRISTMAS HALL

Down the frosty rutted cartway, where the holly bush appears,
decked around in winter splendour, as it's always been for years.
Round the corner blows the north wind, and the snow begins to fall,
Robin fluffs his feathers and he, points the way to Christmas Hall.

Firy lights gleam from the windows, as the snow begins to pour,
sound of crackling yule-log greets us as we pass the ivied door.
Along with cheery red-green holly, mistletoe bedecks the wall,
and these words adorn the mantel, 'Welcome now to Christmas Hall'.

I'll be recording this shortly and it'll be going on 'wovenwheatwhispers' in time for Christmas 2006, so have a listen to the full version next year folks!

Subject: RE: New Holiday songs you are learning!
From: open mike
Date: 27 Dec 05 - 06:30 PM

a friend of mine always says her favorite "Christmas Carol" is
"Hard Times Come Again No More" by Stephen Foster...

I am curious which Swedish fiddle tunes you are learning, Jack?
I was working on some christmas carols on the nyckelharpa as
well as the trad. swedish tunes...polskas, etc.

the christmas song that I want to work on is "Mary Did You Know.."
a country-ish one.

that Christmas Hall one sounds cozy!

and where does this one come from: The restroom door said Gentlemen?

and what are the words to ARrest those merry Gentlemen? plenty of time to prepare next years' repertoire!!

i organize a carolling caravan, too, and we have to recruit more
singers next year.

hope everyone had a merry merry.......

Subject: RE: New Holiday songs you are learning!
From: GUEST,Effsee away from home
Date: 27 Dec 05 - 06:45 PM

Anybody do Thom Bresh's "White Trash Xmas", as sung by Steve Kaufman on his CD "Stylin'"? Recommended!

Subject: RE: New Holiday songs you are learning!
From: Artful Codger
Date: 28 Dec 05 - 04:19 AM

I finally learned Perotin's "Beata viscera". It has a hauntingly beautiful melody.

Subject: RE: New Holiday songs you are learning!
From: Genie
Date: 05 Jan 06 - 12:00 AM

Ron Davies, you might also like Tish Hinojosa's song "Milagro," which is on her Christmas album.
The chorus is:
Milagro, milagro es la esperanza,
Milagro nuestro es la Navidad!

And, Open Mike, the Mark Lowry/Buddy Greene song "Mary, Did You Know" is one I learned back in the early 1990s. (I believe it was written about 1990.) It's one of my favorites.

As for "The Restroom Door Said 'Gentlemen'," I think you can find those lyrics in one of the threads here. If not, let me know, and I'll post them. LOL

Genie