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December 24, 2020

 


[link] [3 refs]

 

December 23, 2019

 

 

CHRISTMAS 2019

 

Through Time, and Time Again

Christmas Recycles

One Year’s Tree

Is another’s Yule Log;

Yesteryear Fuels the Future

 


[link] [1 ref]

December 24, 2018

 

CHRISTMAS 2018

Sing We Noel Once More
 
I arose one morning in the early light
When the earth with frost was all shining white
 
Sing we Noel, Noel, Noel
Sing we Noel once more
 
Then I went to find Guillaume my neighbor near
Tell me what’s that song you so gladly hear?
 
Sing we Noel, Noel, Noel
Sing we Noel once more
 
I am glad to hear the nightingale’s sweet song
I have heard its notes ringing all night long
 
Sing we Noel, Noel, Noel
Sing we Noel once more
 
Tis no song of nightingale or any bird
‘Twas an angel’s voice from high heaven you heard
 
Sing we Noel, Noel, Noel
Sing we Noel once more
 
In a stable stall he told us born this night
Is the Son of God, come from heaven’s light
 
Sing we Noel, Noel, Noel
Sing we Noel once more
 
Then I took my oboe and my flageolet
Guillaume took his lute and away we set
 
Sing we Noel, Noel, Noel
Sing we Noel once more
 
Shepherds come with us, this little lamb to see
We will give him music, sweet melody
 
Sing we Noel, Noel, Noel
Sing we Noel once more
 

 The David Randolf Singers perform Sing We Noel Once More

Song of the Nightingale; may be confused with an angel’s


[link] [4 refs]

 

 

December 23, 2017

 

CHRISTMAS 2017


The Wren Song

The Wren, the Wren, the King of all Birds
Saint Stephen’s Day was caught in the furze
Although he was little his honor was great
Jump up me lads and give him a treat

Rolley, Rolley, where’s your nest?
It’s in the bush that I love best
In the tree, the holly tree
Where all the boys do follow me

We followed the Wren three miles or more
Three miles or more, three miles or more
Through hedges and ditches and piles of snow
At six o’ clock in the morning


Hunting the Wren on the day after Christmas is a Celtic custom believed to descend from ancient Solstice rituals

Custer LaRue sings The Wren Song with the Baltimore Consort

Winter Wren singing its own song

[link] [4 refs]

December 24, 2016

 


CHRISTMAS 2016

The Boar’s Head Carol

The boar’s head in hand bear I
Bedeck’d with bays and rosemary
And I pray you my masters be merry
Quot estis in convivio

Caput apri defero
Reddens laudes Domino


The boar’s head as I understand
Is the rarest dish in all this land
Which thus bedeck’d with a gay garland
Let us servire cantico

Caput apri defero
Reddens laudes Domino


Our steward hath provided this
In honor of the King of Bliss
Which on this day to be serv’ed is
In Reginensi atrio

Caput apri defero
Reddens laudes Domino

[link] [3 refs]

December 24, 2015

 


CHRISTMAS 2015

XMAS 15

The Holly and the Ivy


The holly and the ivy
When they are both full grown
Of all the trees that are in the wood
The holly bears the crown

O the rising of the sun
And the running of the deer
The playing of the merry organ
Sweet singing in the choir


The holly bears a blossom
As white as lily flower
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
To be our sweet Savior

O the rising of the sun
And the running of the deer
The playing of the merry organ
Sweet singing in the choir


The holly bears a berry
As red as any blood
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
To do poor sinners good

O the rising of the sun
And the running of the deer
The playing of the merry organ
Sweet singing in the choir


The holly bears a prickle
As sharp as any thorn
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
On Christmas Day in the morn

O the rising of the sun
And the running of the deer
The playing of the merry organ
Sweet singing in the choir


The holly bears a bark
As bitter as any gall
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
For to redeem us all

O the rising of the sun
And the running of the deer
The playing of the merry organ
Sweet singing in the choir


The holly and the ivy
Now both are full well grown
Of all the trees that are in the wood
The holly bears the crown

[link] [1 ref]

December 24, 2014


 

CHRISTMAS 2014

XMA 14

Light the Hearth
Within Your Heart

 


[link] [3 refs]

 

 

December 24, 2013

 


CHRISTMAS 2013

XMAS SNAKE

The Old Year Now


The Old Year now away is fled
The New Year it is entered
Then let us now our sins down-tread
And joyfully all appear!
Let’s merry be this day
And let us now both sport and play
Hang grief, cast care away!
God send you a happy New Year!

The name-day now of Christ we keep
Who for our sins did often weep
His hands and feet were wounded deep
And his blessed side with a spear
His head they crowned with thorns
And at him they did laugh and scorn
Who for our good was born;
God send us a happy New Year!

And now with New Year’s gifts each friend
Unto each other they do send
God grant we may all our lives amend
And that the truth may appear!
Now like the Snake your skin
Cast off of evil thought and sin
And so the year begin
God send us a happy New Year!

[link] [2 refs]

December 24, 2012


CHRISTMAS 2012

SNOW IN THE STREET

The Snow in the Street


From far away we come to you
The snow in the street and the wind on the door
To tell of great tidings strange and true
Minstrels and maids stand forth on the floor

For as we wandered far and wide
The snow in the street and the wind on the door
What hap do you deem there should us betide?
Minstrels and maids stand forth on the floor

Under a bent when the night was deep
The snow in the street and the wind on the door
There lay three shepherds tending their sheep
Minstrels and maids stand forth on the floor

O ye shepherds what have ye seen
The snow in the street and the wind on the door
To slay your sorrow and heal your teen?
Minstrels and maids stand forth on the floor

In an ox-stall this night we saw
The snow in the street and the wind on the door
A Babe and a Maid without a flaw
Minstrels and maids stand forth on the floor

There was an old man there beside
The snow in the street and the wind on the door
His hair was white and his hood was wide
Minstrels and maids stand forth on the floor

And as we gazed this thing upon
The snow in the street and the wind on the door
Those twain knelt down to the little one
Minstrels and maids stand forth on the floor

And a marvelous song we straight did hear
The snow in the street and the wind on the door
That slew our sorrow and healed our care
Minstrels and maids stand forth on the floor

News of a fair and a marvelous thing
The snow in the street and the wind on the door
Nowell, nowell, nowell, we sing!
Minstrels and maids stand forth on the floor

From far away we come to you
To tell of great tidings strange and true

[link] [7 refs]

December 24th, 2011


CHRISTMAS 2011

XMAS11

Down in Yon Forest


Down in yon forest there stands a hall
The bells of Paradise I heard them ring
It’s covered all over with purple and pall
And I love my Lord Jesus above anything

In that hall there stands a bed
The bells of Paradise I heard them ring
It’s covered all over with scarlet so red
And I love my Lord Jesus above anything

At the bedside there lies a stone
The bells of Paradise I heard them ring
Which the sweet Virgin Mary knelt upon
And I love my Lord Jesus above anything

Under that bed there runs a flood
The bells of Paradise I heard them ring
The one half runs water the other runs blood
And I love my Lord Jesus above anything

At the bed’s foot there grows a thorn
The bells of Paradise I heard them ring
Which ever blows blossoms since he was born
And I love my Lord Jesus above anything

Over that bed the moon shines bright
The bells of Paradise I heard them ring
Denoting our Savior was born this night
And I love my Lord Jesus above anything

[link] [2 refs]

December 25th, 2010


CHRISTMAS 2010
XMASS10 MASSACRE

The Coventry Carol


Lully, lullay, Thou little tiny Child
Bye-bye, lully, lullay
Lullay, Thou little tiny Child
Bye-bye, lully, lullay

O sisters too, how may we do
For to preserve this day
This poor Youngling for whom we do sing
Bye-bye, lully, lullay

Herod the king, in his raging
Charged he hath this day
His men of might, in his own sight
All children young to slay

Then woe is me, poor Child for Thee
And ever mourn and sigh
For thy parting neither say nor sing
Bye-bye, lully, lullay

MASSACRE OF THE INNOCENTS

[link] [3 refs]

January 14th, 2010

The wheels of science turn slowly, but the NY State Ornithological Association has finally gotten back issues of The Kingbird online, including 2007 #4 which includes my article on Brooklyn’s Western Reef-Heron. See page 6 and 29 of the pdf.
More on Calvert Vaux Park here; the species list is now over 200.


[link] [1 ref]