It is believed that the custom of dining in began in the monasteries, was adopted by the early universities, and later spread to military units when the officer’s mess was established. British officers of the 19th century were drawn from the aristocracy, and while they considered themselves gentlemen, they were not necessarily men of means; third and fourth sons had little chance of inheriting title and lands under primogeniture. While the pooling of resources may have been out of economic necessity, the regimental officer’s mess maintained the social stratification of English society and ensured that the traditions of gentlemanly conduct were maintained and inculcated to junior officers. The primary elements are a rigidly formal setting, espirit de corps and the camaraderie of peers, a fine dinner, traditional toasts to the head of state and military services, martial music and the attendance of honored guests or speakers. Today, although the purpose of a dinner may be to observe an appointment, promotion, retirement, or some auspicious occasion, a central theme of such events is a ceremonial focus upon the history of the host organization.

While the tradition of having a piper at high table may have it’s origins in the clan system in Scotland & Ireland, the formal dinners and dining in ceremonies as we know them today are directly attributable to the traditions of the officers mess in the British Army and Royal Navy. Originally fife & drums or trumpeters were employed to sound the calls; as Highland regiments were organized, pipers were employed not only for this purpose, but to celebrate great battles and victories in the history of the regiment and to memorialize their dead, quite in keeping with the Celtic bardic tradition. It should be borne in mind that originally Army pipers were outfitted and paid not by the Exchequer but exclusively by the officer’s mess; without their patronage, modern Highland regiments wouldn’t have ever had pipers, and without the Army to maintain and build upon this tradition the great Highland bagpipe would be about as familiar to most people today as the zampogna.

When a piper is requested to pipe the calls and the music at a formal dinner, you might be engaged to perform throughout dinner; to provide a limited performance such as pipe in the head table, pipe the lament and/or pipe in the port; or to simply pipe in the head table and depart. While there are many different traditions associated with formal dining, the following are some of the customs associated with piping a formal dinner. You may be requested to perform some, all, or some variant of any of them on occasion.

Dress

Such affairs are invariably formal, requiring black tie, occasionally white tie, or full parade regalia. Miniature decorations and medals are worn. If flying a pipe banner, ensure that the drone cords and/or ribbons are to the left of the banner; i.e., not over the regimental crest. If there is more than one piper, the banner is traditionally flown by the ranking piper present, who will lead the detachment, formed up in order of rank or seniority.

Seating

The seating arrangement at the head table is always based on rank, seniority and status. The host sits in the middle, the next senior person (or guest of honor) to his/her right, the next senior person to his/her left and so on, until all are seated. The senior-ranking member of the mess is the head (or “President”) of the mess dinner and sits in the center. The President of the Mess may appoint a second (”Mr. Vice”), usually the junior officer of the mess, who will be in charge of planning, and who usually occupies the seat farthest from the host, sometimes on the far right, sometimes at another table. Officers take precedence over civilians. If a guest speaker has no rank or status, he/she is positioned as close to the center (right of the host) as possible without offending rank precedence. Chaplains are usually included at the head table, usually at the far left of the President.

Warning Calls

15 minute and 5 minute warning calls are usually sounded to alert the guests that dinner is about to be served, and may be provided by a piper. When piping warning calls a short up-tempo tune is required but no specific title may be prescribed. In some regiments it would be the Officers Call (e.g., “All the Blue Bonnets Are O’er The Border”). A naval tradition is to ring “six bells” (19:00) on a ship’s bell for the 15-minute warning (if dining at 7:15 PM, of course). Dinner may be signaled by a brief pipe tune (”Brose and Butter” is a traditional one), followed by the host or master of ceremonies announcing, “Dinner is served!”

March-in

The guests (except the head table) will proceed into the dining room and remain standing behind their chairs; the closer to top table, the higher the rank or seniority. You may be requested to pipe in the guests. The head table forms up in order of seating, led by the host and the principal guest. When cued, lead the people of the head table into the dining room playing an appropriate tune; “Roast Beef of Old England”, “A Man’s A Man for all That”, “Prince of Denmark’s March”, or the regimental march. If space permits, parade counter clockwise around the room. This is particularly important when flying a drone banner. The regimental crest on the obverse of the banner is always displayed first. When everyone is in place, continue to march, and finish playing at the halt near the dining-room entrance. At a signal from the host, stop playing and remain at attention until grace has been said. If you are not to provide the music during dinner, march from the room after grace is said.

Posting the Colors

An honor guard may post and retire the colors; as a piper you may be requested to pipe them in and out. As the American and Canadian national anthems cannot be properly played on the pipes, other appropriate patriotic tunes must be selected. If you march in with the color guard, make sure that you’re well rehearsed in their drill first; they march in close order with wheeling movements to change direction. Of course, if not playing stand at attention with pipes down for the National Anthem(s). If you’re flying a drone banner, watch the color guard and drop your bass drone from horizontal when they dip the colors.

The Lament

In some military and veterans organizations it is customary to remember comrades killed in action, sometimes with an empty place setting, sometimes with a small table before the head table. You may be requested to play a lament in their memory. “Flowers of the Forest” is traditional, but other laments may work equally as well if the host has expressed no preference.

Piping in the Beef

In some traditions, the main course (traditionally beef) is ceremoniously piped in to the head table (or “Mr. Vice”), which will sample it and formally announce it fit for consumption. “Roast Beef of Old England” or “A Man’s a Man For All That” may be used if not played previously to pipe in the head table. You may pipe the beef out as well.

Piping in the Haggis

If haggis is served (such as a Burn’s Dinner), pipe the haggis to the head table to “A Man’s a Man For All That”. Stand at attention for the recital of Burn’s “Address to a Haggis”, and participate in the toast to his “immortal memory”. Pipe the haggis out to “Neil Gow’s Farewell to Whisky”.

Main Course Music

Wait until all at the head table has been served before beginning to play suitable selections intermittently throughout the main course. A piobaireachd is often considered customary. If parading around the room, it is customary to start “widdershins”; counterclockwise. If flying a pipe banner, it may be appropriate to countermarch as well, in order to display the unit crest on the obverse side. Prior to the port wine being served, the host/delegate will signal you to stop playing.

Piping in the Port

An old custom is the piping in of the port wine for the Loyal Toast. After dessert and coffee are served, tables are cleared except for the table decorations and wine glasses. No special music is required, but it should be short and appropriate. On cue, lead the wine stewards into the dining room, positioning yourself at a predetermined spot, and continue to play until the wine is about to be sampled and declared potable by the host. Sometimes the piper will play as the port is passed down the tables as the guests charge their glasses. Remain at attention until the Loyal Toast is drunk and then march from the room, unless required to stay for the Toast to the Corps.

Loyal Toast

If a Commonwealth dinner (or if UK guests are present), you may be requested to play “God Save the Queen” before the Loyal Toast. The person proposing the toast will ask everyone to stand and join him in a toast to the Queen. The member will then raise his/her wineglass shoulder high and say: “The Queen”. The assembly will respond: “The Queen”.

If an American dinner, the host may propose a toast to the Commander-in-Chief. Mr. Vice seconds this by rising and addressing the company, saying, “Gentlemen, the Commander-in-Chief of the United States”. Each member and guest then stands, repeats in unison the toast (e.g., “The Commander-in-Chief of the United States”), sips the drink, and remains standing. The band then plays the National Anthem. If piping, play “America the Beautiful” or “God Bless America”. At the conclusion of the music, members and guests are again seated.

Toast to the Corps

You may be requested to play the regimental march prior to a Toast to the Corps. Unfortunately, the only American regimental marches that “fit” well on the pipes are the “Marine Corps Hymn” and “Semper Paratus”.

Paying the Piper

At the conclusion of your performance, the host may offer you (or the lead piper) a quaich containing a dram (about 3.5 ml) of whisky. Stand to the left of the host. Taking the quaich in both hands, hold it shoulder high and face the head table. It is traditional for the piper to toast the head table (Slinte! “to your health” in Gaelic; phonetically Slanjer or Slanja), turn to the company and offer a formal toast. Following the toast, you’re expected to drink the whisky in one draught, toast the company (Slinte!), and flip the cup over and kiss the bottom. Following the ceremony, take your leave of the head table and march from the room. Unless you’re Gaelic is very good, you’re probably best off offering your formal toast in English.

The traditional Pipe Major’s toast of the Liverpool Scottish might be adapted to a range of events;

Gaelic

Slainte mhor, Slainte Banrighinn

Slainte agus buaidh gu brath

le Gillean Forbasach.

Phonetic

Slanjervaw, slanjer banreen

Slanjer aggus booey goo bra

la gillian forbusach

English

Good health, health to the Queen

Health and success for ever

to the Forbes lads

Conclusion

At the conclusion of the dinner, you may be requested to play the National Anthem. As neither “The Star Spangled Banner” nor “Oh Canada” can be played successfully on the limited tonal range of the pipes, play “America the Beautiful” or “Maple Leaf Forever” instead. Of course, if not playing stand at attention with pipes down for the National Anthem(s). If you’re flying a drone banner, watch the color guard and drop your bass drone from horizontal when they dip the colors.

Duty Tunes of the 48th Highlanders of Canada

Officers Mess Call (15 minutes)

“Bannock & Barley Meal”

Meal Call (5 minutes)

“Caller Herrin’”

Pipe in Guests

“Lt. Col. Robertson”

Pipe in Head Table

“Highland Laddie”

Lament

“Flowers of the Forest”

First Set (Main Course)

Ends with “Highland Laddie”

Second Set (Dessert)

Ends with “Lt. Col. Robertson”

Pipe Major’s Toast:

Host:

A Mhidseir na poba, lamaid deoch-slinte!

(Pipe Major, let us drink a toast)

Pipe Major’s reply:

A h-uile latha a ch ’s nach fhaic, an d fhicheadamh ’s a h-ochd gu brth! Slinte don Bhnrigh! Slinte Mhr! Slinte!

(Every day that I see you, or that I don’t see you, the 48th forever! Health to the Queen! Great good health! Health!)

Piper for Hire; Tampa Bay, FL

Bagpiper available for weddings, receptions, formal dinners, ceremonies, corporate functions, funerals, memorials, and special events of all kinds throughout the greater Tampa Bay area.

1. Why do you want to grow as a pianist?

My youngest daughter don’t like when I say that she is five years old. She replies that she is five years and a half. Children want to grow up even if we sometimes like them to remain the little cute beings that we are used to lift up and kiss and mess around with.

I guess this also is true with pianists like you and me. The act of learning new things on the piano, new chords, new melodies, new scales and other things is similar to the feeling of being alive.

2. How can you grow as a pianist?

It is important to have something to improve upon in your piano playing. An old person to me is someone who doesn’t want to learn things anymore. To have this feeling inside that you are growing as a pianist and improving you must find ways to concentrate on a few things at a time and find inspiration to practice everyday or at least nearly everyday.

But how can you accomplish that? Let me show you a way.

3. What can help you grow as a pianist?

As a young boy I learned classical piano playing with the help of a private piano teacher. She was an old lady, at least I thought so at the time, always opening the door with a smile and treating me like a king.

One thing I remember most was when she played the piano music I was supposed to have as homework for the week. When she played the piece of music her fingers seemed to sing and she gave me the feeling through her playing that the most joyous thing I could do during the coming week was to learn that piece of music.

Nevertheless I remember that I sometimes didn’t practice enough during the week and walked the stairs of stone up to her apartment with heavy steps and a bad conscience knowing that I could have done better. Nevertheless my piano teacher smiled at me and was kind to me as always. Sometimes she gave me the homework for one more week but she never yelled at me for not having done my homework. My bad conscience did that job instead.

The lesson learned from this experience is that a good piano teacher can help you grow as a pianist by giving you inspiration, giving you homework according to your level of accomplishment and giving you a deadline thereby creating momentum to start working. If you can’t afford a piano teacher you can give yourself a decent homework and set a goal to master this homework a week later or set another deadline.

4. What my piano teacher teaches you about practicing on the piano

Practice everyday. Or practice the art of playing piano everyday. Even if you don’t play much try to play anyway so you don’t get away from the habit of growing as a pianist.

Try to make it a joyful occasion when you practice your homework on your piano. It will help you anticipate your practice sessions and make it easier for you to maintain your decision to play everyday.

If you feel positive when you practice a piece of piano music you will experience that this feeling will be evoked when you play this piece of music at other occasions.

I guess my piano teacher liked to play the piano and my positive feelings when she played for me was probably a result of her own enjoyment as she played the piano.

Many students ask me a question that goes something like this:
“What all do I have to know to be a really good piano player?”

The trouble with a question like that is that it ignores individual differences such as talent, motivation, freedom to practice, and a hundred other variables.

How much did Mozart have to know? How much did Erroll Garner know? Mozart could play far better than I can when he was 3. And Garner was barred from joining the musicians union because he couldn’t read music.

Does that mean I don’t have to practice, since Mozart could do it without practice? Does that mean I shouldn’t learn how to read music since Garner couldn’t, and it sure didn’t stop him.

Obviously, no.

I wish I had the talent of a Garner or a Mozart, but I don’t. Nowhere close. But God gave me some talent, and it’s that talent that I need to develop to it’s maximum.

Same with you, unless you’re in a class with those guys, in which case you certainly don’t need me.

Back when I operated Piano University & Keyboard Workshop, we had a list of skills that we attempted to inculcate into our students, at least to some degree. Here is that list:

Technique

Fingering

Chords

Scales

Ear Training

Music Theory

Sight Reading

Rhythm

Styles

Runs & Fills

Transposition

Modulation

Accompanying

Repertoire

Improvisation

Arranging

Pedaling

Dynamics

Feeling & emotion

This is not an exhaustive list by any means, but it’s a start. So as you play and practice, think about each of these areas individually, and focus on improving them one at a time.

Duane Shinn is the author of over 500 music books and music educational materials such as DVD’s, CD’s, musical games for kids, chord charts, musical software, and piano lesson instructional courses for adults. His book-CD-DVD course titled “How To Dress Up Naked Music On The Piano!” has sold countless copies around the world. He holds advanced degrees from Southern Oregon University and was the founder of Piano University in Southern Oregon. He is the author of the popular free 101-week online e-mail newsletter titled Amazing Secrets Of Exciting Piano Chords & Sizzling Chord Progressions with over 57,400 current subscribers.

How To Construct Basic Chords on the Piano

The easiest way to start learning how to build chords is to practice their constructions in the key of C Major. You’re just playing all white keys.

All you have to do is play every other white key to create a 3-note chord. A 3-note chord is called a triad. A 4-note chord is called a 7th chord. And a 5-note chord is called a 9th chord.

Now you have the option of playing your chords in one hand or you may use both hands! It depends upon the sound you want to produce.

How to Improvise Melodies

There’s something irresistible about a real melody. If you can convince the listener that they’re hearing a melody when you improvise, they will stay riveted to every note.

Well, you can - and it’s not really that difficult. The one element that is common to almost all good melodies is: repetition.

To your success,

Mr. Ron
http://www.mrronsmusic.com

Repetition. Repetition and more repetition. I’m referring specifically to the repetition of ideas (motifs, as they are often called). Sometimes the idea is repeated exactly as it occurred the first time, as in the Holiday tune “Jingle Bells.”

More often, the motif occurs higher or lower than it did originally. The notes are different but the rhythm and the shape of the line remain intact, as in “Happy Birthday.” This type of repetition can be defined as “pitch-shifting.”

What I’m describing here is a process often called motific development: the spinning out of ideas through the use of repetition, pitch-shifting, and extension.

So that’s it… if you want your improvisations or solos to sound like a melody, you need to use a lot of repetition.

Ironically many musicians avoid using repetition for fear of sounding repetitious, i.e., boring. You bore a listener if you try to elicit the same emotional reaction from him/her two or three times in a row, but that’s not what you’re doing when you repeat an idea.

When you first introduce an idea, it’s new. The listener waits with open anticipation to hear how the idea spins itself out. But when you repeat the idea, their reaction is very different. Now they can gain a certain sense of control, by connecting what they’re hearing to what went before.

Just listen to some of your favorite songs, and you will definitely hear repetition!

Ron Worthy is the owner of http://www.mrronsmusic.com. He is a Music Eductor and Performer. His site offers online piano instruction for all ages. He specializes in Rock, Pop, Blues and Smooth Jazz Piano disciplines.

We call it music, ever noticed how vividly music triggers memory?

The music start and instantly we remember who we were with, where we were,
what we were doing. And a whole range of emotions to back them up.

Now that is time traveling!

I recieve email frequently thanking me for playing a certain song,
others requests song and the reasons are as varied as the music itself.

“Reminds me of my carefree days”

“That’s the song that played at our wedding”

“It was a favorite of a buddy of mine who died last year”

Birthday, anniversary, retirement etc

A beautiful thing this time machine, that can instantly changed our mood!
Pleasure, comfort, joy, sadness, so many moods! So much music!

We have come to take it for granted, haven’t we? It has become a noise
in the background to drown out the noises of life!

But music is always there, you open the radio!

If your local station don’t play the tunes you want,
the internet provides access to thousands of stations
playing everything from classicals to heavy metal!!!

Being an amateur music historian, I love music!

Recently I did a show on the history of drums
a 6,000 year history in a little over 4 hours.
For many of the listeners it was a revelation.

That was followed by a history of the electric guitar
4 hour and 23 minutes of the best guitar players since its invention.

I am forever creating music special that are informative
fun and entertaining.

Time travel is available just open your ears wide to the possibilities!

Claude Gagne, owner of: K.L.O.D Radio the oldies station

Amateur Music historian and multidsciplinary artist
brings a new vision of what radio should be in the 21st century!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Christmas Is For Grownups Too

Phoenix, Arizona– October 17, 2005–Trumpeter, pianist, vocalist, and writer Juan Oskar was born and raised in Arizona. While honing his chops in several Latino bands growing up, his love for his roots and rock ‘n’ roll grew. Today Oskar has come around full circle full circle with the new release Christmas Is For Grownups Too.

Oskar’s Influences include Pizzazz & Latino Los Lobos, Selena, John Williams, Tito Puente, Santana, Herb Alpert, Cubanismo, Maynard Ferguson, Julius Wechter, and Leroy Anderson. The challenge for any listener will be to hear all of those influences coming through at any time during the run of each track. In the end, that is what makes this album so much fun. He also offers some vocals in Spanish, rocks out, throws in some Ventures licks here and there, and comes up with something so unique and entertaining that you will be reaching for this CD at any time of the year. He does this consistently in all 24 tracks. Attention grabbing compositions like “Fur Elise” and “Decking The Halls in 1966″ are bound to give lovers of pure and original music a grin from ear to ear.

The challenge for Oskar on this extensive Holiday release was to take all of his influences and put them together to make it an enjoyable experience for those who enjoy good music and love having their hearts filled with the spirit if the Holidays. Ultimately, he succeeds in covering all the bases on this pleasing release.

This year around the holidays look no further than Juan Oskar to put a jingle in your jangle and some ho-ho in your step with Christmas Is For Grownups Too.

Contact:

Juan Oskar Recordings

7317 North 46th Glendale, AZ 85301

Tel: 623-937-7060

E-Mail: juanoskar@msn.com

Website: www.juanoskar.biz CD Baby Link

Amazon Product Link

PR Created and Distributed By MuzikReviews.com

Online sweepstakes are broadly speaking much softer and faster to enter than online game contests. Many more contest websites are choose up to enter online internet sweepstakes.

Translated it says: Leef je in Waalre of Eindhoven en wil jij graag veel prijzen winnen’ Met Win de prijsvraag.nl winnen is nergens zo eenvoudig. Veel prijzen winnen met de windeprijsvraag.nl formule‘ Vaak meer dan 371 prijzen om de week. Van Geldrop-Mierlo tot Oegstgeest, winnen met Windeprijsvraag is altijd mogelijk. Een man van 24 heeft een dag geleden nog een reis in de wacht gesleept.

Entering easy sweepstakes by mail is turning away in online popularity at this present. That’s why there are realy terrific kitchens to win at fun website and cyber sweepstakes this year. Online promotions advertised as fun websites, nonetheless, can call for an entry fee or proof of purchase. Sweepstakes and promotions are prohibited from asking a buy to enter. 2 days ago also a Dutch dutch company took of a contest website and is also legally different. Easy sweepstakes are also legally completely different from the online contests in Bend Oregon. Everybody can win fantastic speedboats now every 2 hours even if you live in Hawthorne California or in Elkhart Indiana, isn’t that absolutely fantastic. Funny online contests are hardened much more different than the winners who are not chosen by hazard but by an piece of easy skill. It will be marvelous to win plasmas worth 5981 euro and that easy.

I think a lot of kids they get in trouble or often just bored. Orton concussion about and do things you normally wouldn’t do just to try and escape the pain of boredom.

Both computers these days and web design kits have more than enough to do. Building websites is a great way to stimulate your mind and adapter creativity to a field that allows you to build things other people can interact with.

Tell about a web page is it’s like a picture that other people comply with an interactive way.

There’s so much you can do with a web page, but as complex as they can get it always starts off very simple and grows with you.

Although the Internet seems to be this huge infrastructure that reaches out to every corner of the year the reality of the Internet is is just a bigger form of something that usually happens pretty locally.

For example in a household all the family members together form an Internet, link them to the other family members such as uncles and aunts and you now have a bigger Internet.

Anyway this is how webpages work too. It starts off with one website it then connects to another page within its own site and then the website itself can connect to another website- and the pages within it.

Learning Web design you get a really good feel for how all this works, and it can be fascinating to see it in action.

Yes, it really is possible to go bananas with your music! Take my word for it, because I’ve helped many musicians do so in the past and here’s your chance to do it too. One of the most important ways to sky rocket your sales, increase your fan base and music career is to start your online newsletter that keeps people updated about what’s going on in the life of an artist, which is you. I’m quite pleased to say that the online newsletters are one of the most important mediums through which you can keep in touch with everyone, and of course, it’s the cheapest and cost-effective way of doing so.

There are so many newsletter providers online that can help you for free or for a small fee. The one I recommend is www.ConstantContact.com, because it lets you send unlimited emails free to up to 50 members, and then you pay a fee when it increases in number.

It’s important to define what the newsletter will convey to your fans. Will it be about you as an artist? Will it be based around your band? Will you mention other acts or items in there? Also define its frequency. How often will you send it out? Every week? Every fortnight? Every month? It doesn’t matter what you choose, but ensuring you stick to it is important, as people tend to look out for it if they enjoy it! And they will enjoy it!

Also think about the content when planning. How much will you put in it? Will you use images, and if so, what kind? Will you store past issues in a way that people can access it? Will you feature advertisements?

The main thing for me to convey here is to keep it realistic, simple and write in a tone that’s friendly and understandable. Its important to ask for feedback now and again, and perhaps feature comments from your fans once in a while. Give your articles some kick too!

Instead of having your regular two eyes! Get four! Once you’ve written it, get someone to proofread it so that it’s to a good level. Better to have people know that you’ve put effort into it, and are not just doing it because you have to.

Getting a newsletter done is a real simple job! Really

If you can’t do it, or haven’t got the time, get your manager to do it. Or someone else at least, but do it! It’s really important and it builds relationships and trust with your audience.

The next important thing then is to actually have people to send your online newsletters too. Start small, and grow organically - that’s my secret! Add all your family and friends onto your newsletter list. Then wherever you go, whomever you see, wherever you perform, have a mailing list form/chart that people can fill it out should they wish to so that they can keep up to date with your work. Don’t force it, but let it flow out of you.

If you want some more help in really getting your newsletter to eye-catching and sales quality so that you are making some passive revenue this way, get in touch with us to see how you can better your newsletter.

IT’S BEGINNING TO SOUND A LOT LIKE CHRISTMAS!!

by Karen A. Lech

Last year at Christmas time a former friend told me that one of the radio stations was playing nothing but Christmas music for the entire month of December. I was so glad to hear that, for I love Christmas music! This year, my daughters and I heard that same radio station would start playing the Christmas music or holiday music at 7 p.m. the Friday before Thanksgiving.

On Friday afternoon, I had taken my mother to the doctor. She had just gotten out of the hospital after spending nearly three weeks there. The visit to the doctor was good, but seeing her so vulnerable and worried, the time spent reviewing and adding/subtracting the numerous medications she was on, saddened me. It is hard to see her, such a dynamic woman, with this physical weakness and worry. I dropped her off back home, then proceeded to get my girls, drop off clothes at the cleaners, take them to eat, go to Menard’s to pick up some necessities, grocery shop. The weekend was one I planned on a major cleaning blitz (with their help) to get everything ready for Thanksgiving.

Sure enough, Saturday morning before Thanksgiving, my twin daughters woke up early to their alarm clock radios set to the Holiday Music. They have been playing it non stop! I must admit, it lent a spirit to our cleaning, and you know what? I could feel the love in their hearts as they helped me with the housework, getting ready to gather together for a special meal with those we love.

I was hostessing this Thanksgiving. My son from New York would not be coming, but my 21 year old son, his wife, their friends who own a Chinese restaurant, my 16 year old son who left home to live with his father, my daughters, my mother, my sister and her husband would all be my “guests”. I wanted to make everything as perfect as possible.

I try so hard to make the holidays a good memory for all who come, make them as comfortable as I can make it for others, to serve their needs, appetites, and spread good cheer and love, for who knows? It may be the last holiday they spend with anyone… and all too true that is, for just two Christmases ago, I had guests who spent their last Christmas celebration at my home. I hope their memories were good, for two left this world, one now- my dear little Aunt Jo, with cancer, in a nursing home.

During my holiday celebrations I had my own Christmas CDs playing in the background. It lends such a festive mood, to quietly hear songs we all know and love. So having a radio station playing it non stop is a real treat!

The new versions of old favorites are interesting, for there are some newer artists, like Josh Groban whose rendition of “Oh Holy Night” sends chills down my spine and brings tears to my eyes. The beauty of his voice is a gift in itself, a treasure. I am so grateful he shares his gift of his voice with the world.

What is it about holiday music, the melody? the lyrics? the memories of Christmas past?

I remember as a child in school how we would sing Christmas Carols. I attended a Catholic grade school, in the great city of Chicago. Music and singing hymns, even in Latin, for mass was a major part of our curriculum. It was easy to memorize words and melody. But now I think of the lyrics, and being a writer, the meaning of the words of Christmas songs, with a much deeper appreciation. Some lyricist lifted their heart to God and put to music words of love and appreciation, words of joy and hope. Music is one of the greatest gifts God has given to the human race. It must be very important to Him, for the Bible tells us that angels sing… and who would have given them that power …. Our Heavenly Father.

I wonder, how did man decide to use his voice in song? Did he hear angels do it? I am a firm believer in Adam and Eve, and my scientific mind fills in the gaps with thoughts of cavemen. It is my theory that when Adam and Eve were banished from the Garden of Eden, they lost not only paradise, but a lot of knowledge they had, for mostly, I bet things were just there for the taking, and they and their descendants had to learn how to shift for themselves, work for their food, etc. I believe they reverted to caveman type mentality, being separated from the protective walls of that Garden and God’s abundance, and were sent into a changed world, where animals were no longer friendly, and food was not just there for the plucking. They had to find their own shelter.

What prompted man to sing? To hum? To make an instrument? To play an instrument? I don’t believe animals play guitars or pianos…….though they do have their own voices and song… Somehow music does not fit in the theory of evolution, at least Darwin’s version of it.

And now, we hear choirs, families, children caroling, lifting their voices up in praise (or money making as the music industry can tell you) singing the familiar and beloved Christmas songs.

Take the time to relish the lyrics… they are beautiful. We often mouth them, but do we mean them? Many are a form of prayer, appreciation, historical. A story of Christ’s birth…..and what word pictures they evoke to take us back to Bethlehem!!!!

Away in a manger, no crib for his bed.

Hark! The Herald Angels sing, glory to the new born King.

Oh Holy night, the stars are brightly shining, it is the night of the dear Savior’s birth.

Silent night, Holy night.

It came upon the midnight clear, the glorious song of old… the hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight

Tis the season of words and music to warm our hearts. The season of celebrating the greatest love given to mankind in the form of an infant. Enjoy each strain and phrase, for they are reminders to us all the reason for this season, and the God/Man, the pivot point of every soul to choose and accept into your heart and life, or not. No matter where you are or who you are, may the blessing of Christmas music be with you every day of the year, bringing you the same warmth, the joy, and love each and every day of your life. And give thanks for the gift of music, for it has wrapped its arms around you since you were born.

Karen A. Lech Copyright 2005