musical Christmas gifts

Subject: musical Christmas gifts
From: Alice
Date: 09 Nov 98 - 07:34 PM

I was thinking of this thread topic and then read Snookums message in the favorite instruments regarding the same theme, namely, what do you want for Christmas? (instrumentally speaking). My thought, though, is more on the topic of what you give and receive musically during the upcoming holiday season. I would like to be able to give a used spinet piano to my son, which would fit in his bedroom... my piano is next to my computer and desk, which makes it hard for both of us to be in the same space at the same time, on piano and computer.
I also plan to go caroling with the same group we went with last year. The accordian player from our session has a ranch, and she brings along not only her accordian, but a donkey, two goats, and a herd dog. I hope we find more people at home this year.
The best gift I received last year was an old songbook of Folksongs for Children.

A gift to the Mudcat would be to buy songbooks and recordings from the Mudcat book and music stores.

alice in montana

Subject: RE: musical Christmas gifts
From: Snookums
Date: 09 Nov 98 - 08:04 PM

I just bought my mom a 3/4 size guitar- kind of an early xmas gift, but probably more of a thank you for not yelling at me to knock off that racket when I would bang on the old pump organ we had when I was 4 years old.

For my oldest sister, I would probably like to get a fiddle. She doesn't play, but I'm sure she could teach herself.

For my other sister, I can't think of anything. She has the talent, but not the desire to do anything with it. I did get her a flute one year for Christmas- when she was young, she always wanted to play the flute, but got stuck with the clarinet instead.

For my nieces and nephew, I always try to get them some sort of little musical thing- maybe this year it will be a tin whistle for each of them or a plastic recorder. My folks were always indulgent in getting (and letting me play) such things when I was younger.

For my dad, I would have likely got him another mando. He passed away 7 years ago.

For my brother, I would have given him the McKinney lap steel that I have. He was a guitar player, but liked slides so I think he would have loved it. He passed away 4 years ago.

PS- Alice, I really like your twist on my suggested thread. One of the greatest gifts in life is music.

Snookums

Subject: RE: musical Christmas gifts
From: Alix
Date: 09 Nov 98 - 08:07 PM

I forgot a couple of gifts I plan on giving this year.

My Mother and I will do a Christmas Eve sing at a local Nursing Home. We'll likely go to my grandmother's a little later that evening (weather permitting) and do the same thing.

Snookums

Subject: RE: musical Christmas gifts
From: Bert
Date: 10 Nov 98 - 09:03 AM

For Susan and Dick, let's all post a new song. Check to make sure it isn't already in DT.

I'll start a new thread for them.

Bert.

Subject: RE: musical Christmas gifts
From: Animaterra
Date: 10 Nov 98 - 12:39 PM

My gift isn't one you can wrap- every year I try to involve myself in some sort of activity that gets people singing who might not otherwise sing! My chorus concert always has audience participation sounds, esp. rounds and partner songs or quodlibets. We also go to a retirement home and the community soup kitchen. There are a lot of people out there who secretly long to sing. This gives them a chance to sound pretty good, too!

Subject: RE: musical Christmas gifts
From: Barbara Shaw
Date: 10 Nov 98 - 01:04 PM

Last year I led a group of fellow employees in a carol sing in the lobby of our office building. There were two other guitars besides mine, and about 20 singers. It was a gift to the building occupants that we've done for about 8 years now.

We always go caroling with a church group, breaking up into several groups and going to all the nursing and retirement homes in town, as well as visiting shut-ins. And Frank and I have been doing carols at the Veterans Center for a couple of years, warming up the patients for the McCann Clan, who have a musical family reunion there every year as the "Phantom Nativity Choir." If you're interested in joining us, send me a note.

Last year for Christmas dinner, my elderly parents weren't able to come over because of health problems, and the son who lives in LA wasn't able to come home. After about a minute of self-pity for our pitiful Christmas dinner plans, Frank and I grabbed various instruments and went down to the local Soup Kitchen, where we sang carols and had a great Christmas dinner.

Also last year, Frank and I made up a tape (4-track home recording) of 13 original songs, with us performing all the instruments and doing all the harmonies. I printed a cassette cover with our picture on it and the titles/times/instruments on my color printer, and gave several family members a copy for Christmas. It was great fun to produce, and gave a little personal music to the family.

This year I'm hoping that my new fiddle, crafted by Bear Acker of Amherst, Massachusetts, will be ready for Christmas. It can only improve my fiddling.

The gift of music is something I wish for everyone.

Subject: RE: musical Christmas gifts
From: Alice
Date: 10 Nov 98 - 01:32 PM

Barbara, your message reminded me that a few years back, one of my older sisters who used to be a nightclub singer, did a tape of Christmas songs and popular music and sent copies to her siblings. That tape is the only record I have of her voice. Making a tape of your perfoming abilities, your caroling, or of a session you attend is a great way to share music with those who cannot be with you in person. It's also a great family heirloom. I wish I had a tape of my long gone relatives playing and singing music.

alice