Spirit & Song

 

The music of Christmas moves my heart. 

From the opening keystrokes of 'Christmastime Is Here' heralding 'A Charlie Brown Christmas' and the clear-as-a-bell voice that begins 'Said the night wind to the little lamb...' to David Bowie and Bing Crosby crooning 'Little Drummer Boy' in harmony, I am drawn to a reflection on the season by its soundtrack. It's always been this way...

As a child, I sang with my friends Kim & Nancy up in front of our church each month, our little 'Strawberry Girls Trio' presenting Pastor Royal Blue with a fresh strawberry pie each time - his favorite. At Christmas, we'd perform as part of the Christmas chorale. I also sang in the childrens' choir, and aspired to one day reach the dizzying heights of one of the levels of the all-adult 'Singing Christmas Tree' that engulfed nearly the entire stage in our church sanctuary each Holiday season. (We moved before I had the chance). 

In junior high, I was in the girls' ensemble and theater choir (no, not like GLEE!) at school. Each spring, we performed an annual musical (Oliver one year, West Side Story another) under the adept direction of a former operatic star and instructor, Mrs. Thoreson. I remember those huge shows - but my fondest memories are of the small, intimate Holiday chorales.

In the historic auditorium at Wilshire Junior High, built of concrete arches and columns that looked eons old, with creaky wood floors and dusty crystal chandeliers, we made music come to life. Each Christmas, we choir members entered that dimmed theater clad in white robes and holding a single battery-operated candle - the light from them piercing the room's darkness like stars penetrate the night sky. We sang as we walked single file slowly down the four aisles toward the stage, our soft volume growing as more of us entered. By the end of the song, we had surrounded the audience, holding our candles, the music reaching far above to the arched rafters of the venerable old building...
 

Silent night, holy night
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon Virgin Mother and Child
Holy Infant so tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly peace
Sleep in heavenly peace



Silent night, holy night!
Shepherds quake at the sight
Glories stream from heaven afar
Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia!
Christ, the Saviour is born
Christ, the Saviour is born



Silent night, holy night
Son of God, love's pure light
Radiant beams from Thy holy face
With the dawn of redeeming grace
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth

Listen here

and here

I sang second soprano - the harmony in high key. I can still do it. 

Whenever I hear the song, I am transported to those two evenings back in 1974 and 1975. I am surrounded by the presence of the Spirit of Christmas, and of the reverence that my teacher gave this solemn night. I remember seeing my family sitting in the seats, watching me with smiles on their faces. Oh, to see some of those faces again: my grandfather, grandmother, and uncle...

On so many Christmas Eves since, after the family hubbub is over, I have walked outside into the clear or rainy or snowy night, and softly sung this song up to the sky... my prayer, my invocation, my blessing. {I have always wanted to go to a midnight mass and see another choir perform this song in this manner... not sure if that is possible, but I can hope. Maybe this is the year for that?}

There was another song that we sang, that I loved... it's rare to hear it anymore, as it was an old Elizabethan hymn. A difficult melodic line, harmonic structure, and rhythm made it hard work to learn - but once our girls' ensemble did, and we sang it out soft and clear in that incredible theatre, it lived and breathed and left audiences speechless. It still sings to this day in my heart...

Lo, how a rose e'er blooming from tender stem hath sprung

of Jesse's lineage coming, as men of old have sung

It came, a flow'ret bright, amid the cold of winter

when half-spent was the night.

Listen here.

I wish I had the chance to see Mrs. Thoreson again, and thank her for what she gave us.

We are blessed that there was no 'P.C.' concern then, no uproar about the song content. 

There was only a teacher who shared her gift of song & spirit with the children who crossed her path... and gave us an everlasting gift. 

I wish you all a Christmas filled with joy, love, and an unmistakable awareness of the Spirit surrounding you... and if you catch me singing as I drive in the car or while I am wrapping gifts, now you know why.