Monthly Archives: December 2016

Beethoven’s Christmas Contribution

Posted on December 12, 2016 by Brad

  “Ode To Joy” is the final movement of Beethoven’s Ninth and last Symphony. The German composer was increasingly aware of his declining health and spent seven years working on this symphony, starting the work in 1818 and finishing early … Continue reading →

Posted in Christmas, General | 4 Comments

Baroque Christmas Music

Posted on December 11, 2016 by Brad

While Handel’s “Messiah” rightly holds its place as this country’s classical musical soundtrack for the holiday season (quibble if you will about its Easter message;  there’s nothing wrong with talking about Easter at Christmas – just ask Bach!), it’s J.S. … Continue reading →

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Wassup With Wassailing?

Posted on December 10, 2016 by Brad

As traditional and familiar as most any English Christmas carol, the song is among the season’s more anachronistic, an evocation of a holiday custom that pretty much puzzles modern celebrants: wassailing. Wassailing? What’s wassailing? The text of the carol employs … Continue reading →

Posted in Christmas | 3 Comments