FReeper Canteen ~ Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! ~ December 25, 2018

Serving The Best Troops And Veterans In The World!! | The Canteen Crew

[radu]

I had to snag that image when I saw it. It looks just like Jool’s back end and that’s something she’d do if given the chance. LOL

[MEG33]

With Deep Gratitude
Christmas Blessings To Our Armed Forces, Our Veterans
And Their Families

Please Click.."A Soldier's Christmas" by Michael Marks

The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light,
I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight.
My wife was asleep, her head on my chest,
My daughter beside me, angelic in rest.
Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white,
Transforming the yard to a winter delight.
***
The sparkling lights in the tree I believe,
Completed the magic that was Christmas Eve.
My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep,
Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep.
In perfect contentment, or so it would seem,
So I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream.
***
The sound wasn't loud, and it wasn't too near,
But I opened my eyes when it tickled my ear..
Perhaps just a cough, I didn't quite know,
Then the sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow.
My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear,
And I crept to the door just to see who was near.
***
Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night,
A lone figure stood, his face weary and tight.
A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old,
Perhaps a Marine, huddled here in the cold.
Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled,
Standing watch over me, and my wife and my child.
***
"What are you doing?" I asked without fear,
"Come in this moment, it's freezing out here!
Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve,
You should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve!"
For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift,
Away from the cold and the snow blown in drifts..
***
To the window that danced with a warm fire's light
Then he sighed and he said "Its really all right,
I'm out here by choice. I'm here every night."
"It's my duty to stand at the front of the line,
That separates you from the darkest of times.
***
No one had to ask or beg or implore me,
I'm proud to stand here like my fathers before me.
My Gramps died at 'Pearl on a day in December,"
Then he sighed, "That's a Christmas 'Gram always remembers."
My dad stood his watch in the jungles of 'Nam',
And now it is my turn and so, here I am.
***
I've not seen my own son in more than a while,
But my wife sends me pictures, he's sure got her smile.
Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag,
The red, white, and blue... an American flag.
I can live through the cold and the being alone
Away from my family, my house and my home.
***
I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet,
I can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat.
I can carry the weight of killing another,
Or lay down my life with my sister and brother..
Who stand at the front against any and all,
To ensure for all time that this flag will not fall.."
***
" So go back inside," he said, "harbor no fright,
Your family is waiting and I'll be all right."
"But isn't there something I can do, at the least,
"Give you money," I asked, "or prepare you a feast?
It seems all too little for all that you've done,
For being away from your wife and your son."
***
Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret,
"Just tell us you love us, and never forget.
To fight for our rights back at home while we're gone,
To stand your own watch, no matter how long.
For when we come home, either standing or dead,
To know you remember we fought and we bled.
Is payment enough, and with that we will trust,
That we mattered to you as you mattered to us.
**
God Bless And Keep Safe Those Who Stand Watch For Us
Christmas Blessings To The Canteen

[Kathy in Alaska]

MERRY CHRIST MAS!

[mylife]

Merry Christmas to all the ships upon the sea.

[Kathy in Alaska]

MERRY CHRIST MAS!

[mylife]

Dang Old Global Warming... Tar Ball Eyes...

[Publius]

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Yes, we’re allowed to say that now!

Christmas carols are the province of ordinary songwriters, not classical composers. John Wade, Franz Gruber and that great songwriter Anonymous are the composers linked to Christmas carols, not the classical composers of yore. But there are exceptions.

”Joy to the World” is credited to George Frederick Handel. True, he wrote the melody, but for another venue. Long after his death, an anonymous scribbler wrote new words for it. Handel had no hesitation in stealing other composer’s tunes when he was alive – “That tune was too good for him!” – so what happened to Handel’s melody was karmic payback long after his death.

”Hark, the Herald Angels Sing” is credited to Felix Mendelssohn. The original melody was written by Charles Wesley, brother of John, founder of the Methodist faith, but the original tune was too solemn for the lyrics. Temperance, especially around the holiday season, will do that to you. Mendelssohn’s tune was a chorus from an oratorio, but it fit the words perfectly and was adapted after his death. As an honorary British subject and friend of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, Felix would have been tickled by his melody’s eventual fate.

Johannes Brahms tried his hand at a Christmas carol, but unless you’re a contralto with some serious chops, don’t try it. (I’ll be posting it later.)

ADAM: “CANTIQUE DE NOEL”

The winner has to be Adolphe Adam – accent on the final syllable of both names – composer of the insipid ballet “Giselle.” His “Cantique de Noel” of 1847, known in English as “O Holy Night,” wins the award as the best carol written by a classical composer.

At the final strophe, he expects the singer to hit a high dominant note and come down to the high tonic in eighth notes by sounding each note clearly and not using portamento to slur the notes. Professionals can handle this, but on occasion some well meaning choir director will ask the congregation to sing along. When this happens, I get a bad case of the giggles listening to untrained singers fall flat on their – ahem! – faces.

This is Eva Lind singing two of Adam’s three verses. Her French diction is impeccable, and she hits the eighth notes squarely.

Adam: “Cantique de Noel”

[luvie]

Celine Dion~Ave Maria

Folk Angel~Come O Come Emmanuel

Jim Brickman~Do You Hear What I Hear

Placido Domingo~I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day

Josh Groban~O Holy Night

Bing Crosby~Silent Night

Chris Botti~Hark! The Herald Angel Sings

Trans Siberian Orchestra~Noel

Ambrosian Men's Choir~The Birth of Jesus

Mannheim Steamroller~Silent Night

Have a blessed Christmas Season
God bless our troops!

[luvie]

Now?

[luvie]

Now?

[luvie]

Now?

[luvie]

Now?

[radu]

Howdy, MEG. I hope you have a wonderful day in store.

That poem always brings a tear to the eye.
It's something we here do and everyone should do .....

[Kathy in Alaska]

MERRY CHRIST MAS!

Thanks, Doogle, for the beautiful TSO song.

[Publius]

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

BRAHMS: “GEISTLICHES WIEGENLIED,” OP. 91/2

In spite of the late opus number, this is early Brahms, before the beard, before the top-shelf Cuban stogies, back in the days of his clean-shaven face and four pack-a-day habit. The original poem is from the Spanish Renaissance via Lope de Vega, but translated into German by Emmanuel Geibel, a favorite poet of both Schumann and Brahms. Jo set the words for contralto backed by piano, but he wrote a viola part that quotes a completely different German Christmas carol. Only a professional can make this work.

This is Janet Baker backed by Cecil Aronowitz (viola) and Andre Previn (piano). In German with English subtitles.

Brahms: “Geistliches Wiegenlied,” Op. 91/2

[luvie]

Merry Christmas, Megs! (((hugs)))
That poem always brings tears to my eyes.

[radu]

LOL! I thought something was wrong with my eyes for a sec.

[Publius]

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

LEHRER: “A CHRISTMAS CAROL”

Tom Lehrer, America’s favorite wise-ass, turned 80 this year. This is from 1959, and it’s a thoroughly jaundiced view of Christmas from Ha-a-a-avard Ya-a-ard.

Lehrer: “A Christmas Carol”

[radu]

WOOHOO! You were on the ball tonight!
#50 is yours!

[luvie]

Merry Christmas
Mr. P!