"What sweeter music can we bring than a carol for to sing the birth of this, our heavenly King?"Carol: "What Sweeter Music" - Robert Herrick
Various
Tunes
I
just love this hymnline... or caroline! Is there any sweeter music in all the
year than the carols of this season? Is there a more appropriate way to herald
the birth of the King of heaven and earth? I doubt it. Many, many traditions
have changed over the past several hundred years, but music -- singing in
particular -- has always been central to the festivities... and this is one
tradition I am happy to promote!
Yes,
I know you're saying, "Yes, but he's a musician. He's done music all his
life." You're right, but I think I would still love Christmas music even
if I understood nothing of what I was hearing.
I've
told everyone that when I retired from the full-time music ministry, I had done
41 Christmases -- and that was enough. It was sort of a joke, but there is some
truth to the fact that people who conduct music put a whole lot of energy and
creativity into the months between September and January. But all 41 years (and a few since) I have fallen into my chair exhausted... but supremely fulfilled
because I've tried my very best to bring the sweetest possible music to the
ears of the Baby Jesus... and hopefully to the ears and lives of people in my
congregations.
Seriously,
folks: "What sweeter music CAN we bring than a carol for to sing the birth
of this, our heavenly King?" That's not a hypothetical question, by the
way!
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