Music

Christmas Time Is Here

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A tradition that will continue is the playing of this tune to welcome Christmas into my home.
May yours be filled with peace, love and joy.
Merry Christmas…

Vince Guaraldi Trio – Christmas Time Is Here – 1965

…and in case you want to know a little more about this tune as well as the show from which it came:

Night four, a bonus post…

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As featured here on FearsomeBeard on night one, Kurstin x Grohl are posting nightly to YouTube for Hanukkah. Tonight’s post features Violet Grohl and it took my breath away.
Then I read the comments.
Janis Ian who wrote and performed tonight’s piece was the top comment. She thanks them both for so beautifully performing her song and let’s them know how they are helping her in her own journey. I’m still grabbing tissues as I write this.

Kurstin x Grohl featuring Violet Grohl – At Seventeen – Janis Ian Cover – 2022

Janis’ original version is a big part of my childhood soundtrack. I feel the need to post it as well. The little boy in me adores it.

Janus Ian – At Seventeen – 1975

Thank you Greg, Dave & Violet for this beautiful night four performance. Thank you Janis for this song, this beautiful song.

Happy Hanukkah

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It all starts at sundown this evening. Depending on where you are reading this, it may have already begun.
Whether you celebrate Hanukkah or not, may yours be joyful and bring you peace. To me, as a Goy myself, the holiday represents perseverance, miracles, light and freedom. I therefore I celebrate it in my own Goyish way.

Six13 – Bohemian Chanukah – 2018

In Support of Ukraine

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Yesterday that Claymation Carol of the Bells video popped into my YouTube feed and since it gave me a giggle I shared it. This morning I took it a step further and did a little Carol of the Bells research and learned that it was originally written by Ukrainian composer Mykola Leontovych.

I then discovered that this year marks the debut performance of Carol of the Bells in the United States some 100 years ago. To commemorate the 100 year anniversary of its debut here and to raise money to benefit Ukraine a live performance just recently took place at New York’s Carnegie Hall.

Here is the MSNBC report I stumbled upon:

I ended up needing a tissue to get through that report. Then I found this report from NBC Nightly News:

I needed another tissue.

From it I was inspired to find the actual Carnegie Hall performance. It was strange that in todays world of technology I could only find poor quality posts of it on YouTube, but persist I did and finally found this, it is superb.

Shchedryk (aka Carol of the Bells) at notes from Ukraine in Carnegie Hall –       December 4,2022

What I have also found is that the song has roots in pre-Christian folk chants and a traditional folk tale that a swallow flies into a home to bring news of the arrival of a bountiful and prosperous New Year. As I type this into my iPad, I shed tears in the hope that 2023 will bring a new year to all of the people of Ukraine that brings not only peace but health and prosperity.

The Ukrainians – Shchedryk (Carol of the Bells) – 2017

Long Live Ukraine!

 

 

In Memory

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This morning I pause to say Thank You to Bob McGrath for being an inspiration to this very man when he was but a young lonely boy. Bob’s warmth and care gave this little insecure boy comfort through the screen of a television back in 1969. I’ll never forget this tune as it was placed into the soundtrack of my life by this wonderful man. I still sing it to myself whenever I need comfort.

Bob McGrath – Good Morning Starshine (Sesame Street) – 1969

Thank You Bob! Godspeed.