Advice Please: I'm leading the caroling

Subject: Advice Please: I'm leading the caroling
From: GUEST,Tyghress
Date: 22 Dec 02 - 05:53 PM

I, an atheist from a Jewish background, sank pretty deep into the season's blues (call it SADD or depression or whathaveyou) and in a fit of "I've got to get myself out of this" offered to lead the caroling at work on Tuesday afternoon.

I'm looking for moral (or immoral, I'm not fussy) support, and basics on how to do this. I figure I'll make up song sheets with 20 carols I recognize plus 5 of the secular sorts. Are the pitches 'written in stone?' That is, I can bring a whistle and set a tone, if I can find what note to start on.

I have maybe 5 people who said they would come and form a core group. Quite frankly, I'm terrified. Words of wisdom, please....or should I just get sick on Tuesday?

Subject: RE: Advice Please: I'm leading the caroling
From: *daylia*
Date: 22 Dec 02 - 06:23 PM

In my opinion, Tyghress, take a few deep breaths and RELAX - you've got nothing to worry about! Caroling is for FUN and KINSHIP - I'm sure no one expects (or wants) musical perfection! It's the spirit of the thing that counts...

If you haven't got a pitch-pipe or a piano available to set the first note, just find one that's comfortable for YOU to start each carol on and sing THAT out to get everyone started together. If it's too high or too low for some, don't fret - YOU'RE the one who bravely volunteered to lead, they WANT you to lead, so LEAD! Christmas music is so familiar that most people know the melodies in their sleep - they just need the words, someone to get them started and keep them mostly in time. (I've noticed that large groups of people singing unaccompanied tend to slow down a lot unless someone helps them keep the pace up).

Does anyone at the office love to sing? Betcha you could find someone who'd love to stand up with you for moral - and VOCAL support!

Good for you for taking action against SADD and the Christmas blahs!
And there's no better way to beat them, imo, than by raising a joyful sound 'en masse'!

Have a most merry and musical time!

daylia

Subject: RE: Advice Please: I'm leading the caroling
From: *daylia*
Date: 22 Dec 02 - 06:30 PM

Sorry, I missed that you DO have lots of people to stand with you. So, again, RELAX! The pitches are NOT carved in stone - and it's the feeling of community that counts - not perfect pitches!

daylia

Subject: RE: Advice Please: I'm leading the caroling
From: GUEST,Vintage Martin
Date: 22 Dec 02 - 06:40 PM

I think your plan sounds fine. Just use the whistle or hum to start, or have one of your core singers start the song.

Hint: "Silent Night" was, I think, composed in D, and I think that's a singable key for most folks. Depends a lot on your singers, though, of course.

No rule against starting a song and then saying, "Oops! That's a bit high (low)," and then starting over in another key.

Have fun with it.


VM

Subject: RE: Advice Please: I'm leading the caroling
From: Mary in Kentucky
Date: 22 Dec 02 - 06:43 PM

Ha! I was just thinking about all the caroling memories! Having a core group is a great idea.

1) Joy to the World STARTS on the high note of the scale and then comes down the scale. Invariably someone starts it in the midrange, and then by the time you get the first line finished you are struggling to sing too low!

2) We Wish You a Merry Christmas is fun to end with, but many people don't know the words past the first line.

3) Same with Here Comes Santa Claus. Nobody knows the words past the first line.

4) Silent Night is a great "quiet song." But I would suggest you don't end with that one.

5) Several religious ones that most people know: Hark the Herald Angels Sing, The First Noel, Away in a Manger (starts on the high note) and Joy to the World.

6) Three secular ones that most people know: Frosty the Snowman, Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer and Jingle Bells.

I'm assuming you're in the US. If you plan to ask someone to accompany on the piano or guitar, give then warning. And if they need music, make sure there is a light.

Subject: RE: Advice Please: I'm leading the caroling
From: Mary in Kentucky
Date: 22 Dec 02 - 06:48 PM

Oh yes, your core group can shout Ho Ho Ho on Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer...

...Then one foggy Christmas Eve, Santa came to say Ho Ho Ho
Rudolf with you nose so bright...

Subject: RE: Advice Please: I'm leading the caroling
From: Mary in Kentucky
Date: 22 Dec 02 - 06:56 PM

Another thought ;-) if you have time...

Your core group could sing the verse to say Jingle Bells or Rudolf before the group sings the chorus.

Some of the songs could even have names of people in the office inserted. ie, You know Dasher and Prancer and Shirley and Charlie...

Subject: RE: Advice Please: I'm leading the caroling
From: Mary in Kentucky
Date: 22 Dec 02 - 07:02 PM

Another thought...

I'm not sure what kind of office you have. But it could be fun to make instruments out of things lying around. I've seen hilarious decorations made from things in a hospital setting. Many labs and kitchens have great items for drums, tamborines and cymbals.

You can buy jingle bells at craft stores pretty cheap and have lots of accompaniment. I once accompanied some singing at a homeless shelter playing a tamborine.

Subject: RE: Advice Please: I'm leading the caroling
From: Mary in Kentucky
Date: 22 Dec 02 - 07:04 PM

Another thought (before I quit!):

Your core group can wear Santa hats.

Subject: RE: Advice Please: I'm leading the caroling
From: TNDARLN
Date: 22 Dec 02 - 09:23 PM

I would suggest doing a quick eval on who's singing with you. Most folks will not want to sing a song in it's "published" key, and will prefer lower keys. You can get lyrics to 'most everything at google.com -just search carol lyrics- and print away! Have fun!

Subject: RE: Advice Please: I'm leading the caroling
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 22 Dec 02 - 10:58 PM

A friend of mine was in a group that wanted to go caroling around their apartment complex. So she asked me to come along and play the melodies on my recorder. (Somebody else held the music up for me to see.) People agreed that it was easy to get started and to keep in tune when they could hear the recorder. It was a pretty ragged bunch, and they needed a guide.

You play the whistle, but it sounds like you don't read music. Hmmm. Why don't you get with somebody that reads music over lunch Monday and have them help you identify the first notes?

Subject: RE: Advice Please: I'm leading the caroling
From: Genie
Date: 23 Dec 02 - 01:28 AM

Mary, I don't think most people know most of the words to "Frosty."  It's relatively long, with nothing repeated except the title phrase and the "thumpity thump thump.

I think most folks in the US will know:
"White Christmas,"
"Santa Claus Is Coming To Town" (first verse, anyway)
"Silver Bells" (chorus, at least)
"Rudolph"
"Jingle Bells" (first verse and chorus)
"Deck The Hall" (first verse and chorus)
"Up On The Housetop" (first verse)
"I'll Be Home For Christmas"
"The Christmas Song"

"O Come, All Ye Faithful"  (chorus and one or  two verses)
"Joy To The World" (first and last verse)
"The First Noel"  (first verse and chorus)
"Away In A Manger" (first verse)
"Silent Night" (first two verses)
"It Came Upon The Midnight Clear" (first verse)
"Angels We Have Heard On High" (first verse and chorus)

"Go Tell It On the Mountain" is a good sing-along because the chorus is easy and repeated often.  All you need is one or two people who know the verses, since they are short.

I like "The Little Drummer Boy" as a sing-along, because there is enough time between lines to call out the next line and because everyone can easily join in on the "Pa rum pa pum pum" part.  You don't need printed song sheets.

I often use "Silent Night" as my semi-final song, followed by a medley of "¡Feliz Navidad!" and "We Wish You A Merry Christmas."

Genie