Bryn Terfel, bass-baritone

World renowned Bass-Baritone, Bryn Terfel, a Great Gift from Wales to the entire world, evokes an aura of utmost tenderness and affection as he sings to you of Love, Hope, Peace,  a quiet kind of Joy and wholesome Contentment.

I could think of no finer way to begin a New Year than to listen to Bryn sing this famous lullaby in 
his native Welsh. 

https://youtu.be/55ZJpu_F6a0

ALL THROUGH the NIGHT

Sleep, my love, and peace attend thee,

All through the night, 

Guardian angels God will send thee, 

All through the night. 

Soft the drowsy hours are creeping, 

Hill and vale in slumber sleeping, 

I my loving vigil keeping, 

All through the night.

While the moon her watch is keeping,

All through the night, 

While the weary world is sleeping, 

All through the night. 

O'er thy spirit gently stealing, 

Visions of delight revealing, 

Breathes a pure and holy feeling, 

All through the night.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

God is Love

GLORIA

by 

Antonio Vivaldi 

(1678-1741)

https://youtu.be/OvZYhxT5Mf8

0:18 Gloria in excelsis Deo (Chorus)

2:48 Et in terra pax (Chorus)

7:46 Laudamus te (Sopranos I and II)

10:04 Gratias agimus tibi (Chorus)

10:27 Propter magnam gloriam (Chorus)

11:17 Domine Deus (Soprano)

14:32 Domine, Fili unigenite (Chorus)

16:41 Domine Deus, Agnus Dei (Contralto and Chorus)

20:34 Qui tollis peccata mundi (Chorus)

21:40 Qui sedes ad dexteram Patris (Contralto)

24:14 Quoniam tu solus sanctus (Chorus)

25:00 Cum Sancto Spiritu (Chorus)

University of North Texas: 
Collegium Singers & Baroque Orchestra

Richard Sparks, conductor

Recorded live December 2, 2011

Winspear Hall, 

University of North Texas, 

Denton TX

Student soloists:

Julianna Emanski, Kathryn Supina, 

Tess Mattingly, Alyssa Narum, 

Fabiana Gonzalez.

A Christmas Kitten

 I was a cuddly kitten,

But now I am a stray,

When I grew no longer fluffy,

They sent me on my way.

They've kept their great big watchdog,

Since he can bark and growl,

But I could fly at strangers,

If I caught them on the prowl.

I slink around their garbage can;

I mew outside their door;

But it's clear from their behaviour,

They don't want me anymore.

Now I'm cold and hungry,

And getting very thin,

What have I done to hurt them,?

Why won't they let me in?

I crouch in sheds and boxes,

Shivering in my thinning fur,

So sad I’ve been rejected,

I can no longer purr.

They have another kitten now,

For Christmas Day’s delight;

But probably next Christmas,

He will have to share my plight.

~ Anonymous

A Magic Word 

Nowell

Don't let dark, dreary forces drag you down.

Don't let ill-natured Others make you frown.

Remember every single Lovely Thing

That impels your heart most urgently to sing.

Each depressing enervating thought

Uttered by vexatious spirits fraught

With ugly, agitating, bitter things

Must be countered by a heart aloft on wings.

Resist the fiends who'd drag you down to Hell

Resist by singing joyously "Nowell!"

Nowell! Nowell! Nowell!

Nowell! Nowell!

Born is the Infant King 

of Israel!

~ FreeThinke

Merry Christmas!

And Now, Enjoy

The Bishop’s Wife

On the Way to Bethehem

The Shepherd’s Pipe Carol

by

John Rutter
https://youtu.be/4EhVWGHDM9c

Batavia Madrigal Singers with Macao Orchestra, Macao 2007
https://youtu.be/4EhVWGHDM9c
~§~

Going through the hills 
on a night all starry

On the way to Bethlehem

Far away I heard a shepherd boy piping

On the way to Bethlehem

Angels in the sky 
brought this message nigh:

"Dance and sing for joy 

that Christ the newborn King

Is come to bring us peace on earth

And He's lying cradled there at Bethlehem."

"Tell me, shepherd boy 
piping tunes so merrily

On the way to Bethlehem

Who will hear your tunes 

on these hills so lonely

On the way to Bethlehem?

Angels in the sky 
brought this message nigh:

"Dance and sing for the joy 

that Christ the newborn King

Is come to bring peace on earth

And He's lying cradled there at Bethlehem."

"None may hear my pipes 

on these hills so lonely

On the way to Bethlehem;

But a King will hear me 
play sweet lullabies

When I get to Bethlehem."

Angels in the sky 
came down from on high

Hovered over the manger 

where the babe was lying

Cradled in the arms of his mother Mary

Sleeping now at Bethlehem

"Where is the new King, 

shepherd boy piping merrily

Is He there at Bethlehem?"

"I will find Him soon 

by the star shining brightly

In the sky o'vr Bethlehem."

Angels in the sky 
brought this message nigh:

"Dance and sing for joy 

that Christ the king of Kings

Is come to bring us peace on earth

And He's lying cradled there at Bethlehem."

"May I come with you, 

shepherd boy piping merrily

Come with you to Bethlehem?

Pay my homage too 
at the new King's cradle

Is it far to Bethlehem?"

Angels in the sky 
brought this message nigh:

"Dance and sing for joy 

that Christ the newborn King

Is born in the stable yonder,

 born for you and me."

~§~

MIRACLE 

... on ... 

34th STREET

An Early Remake (1955). 
Not As Good as the Orginal, Perhaps, but Worthwhile 
All the Same.

Enjoy the Beauty, the Charm, the Sweetness, the Affection, and the Joy of this Beloved Christmas Classic.

NOTICE:

WE DO NOT ACCEPT BOILERPLATE, PARTISAN DIATRIBES, PERSONAL CRITICISMS, SCOLDINGS, BLOG GOSSIP or REMARKS THAT MAKE NO ATTEMPT TO RELATE TO THE SUBSTANCE OF THE MATERIAL POSTED. 

NO EXCEPTIONS. PERIOD!

~.~.~.~ Yes, Santa Is Real ~.~.~.~

Yes, Virginia, Santa Claus is real

Even though so many don’t agree.

Santa lives wherever people feel

Sweet and kind in all sincerity,

And show their love with understanding gifts 
Not gaudy, foolish, merely costly things.

The Gift of Recognition often lifts

A sagging spirit high, and lends it wings.

Elves aplenty fashion tokens brght, as

Xanadu Excursions, jewels and such.

If connected well they bring delight,

As substitutes for Love they’re not worth much. 

The more we spend, sometimes the less we give.   

Santa comes to hearts that love to live.                  

~ FreeThinke

Edmund Gween as St. Nick, Miracle on 34th St.(1947)

And A Snotty Brainwashed BRAT 

Shall Lead Us –– NOT! 

SOCIALISM 

S_U_C_K_S_!

NOTICE:
WE DO NOT ACCEPT BOILERPLATE, PARTISAN DIATRIBES, PERSONAL CRITICISMS, SCOLDINGS, BLOG GOSSIP or REMARKS THAT MAKE NO ATTEMPT TO RELATE TO THE SUBSTANCE OF THE MATERIAL POSTED. 

NO EXCEPTIONS. NO FOOLIN.' PERIOD!

~.~.~.~ The Holy Infant ~.~.~.~

Born in a manger

__ a low start in life

Given to see

___ that no one is alone

Ill-fated Child

___ destined only for Grief

The Star disappeared

___ Herod killed not the One

But hundreds of others

___ God saved Him for us.

He was to show us

_______ that we could  be saved

Be happy and free

___ from all animus.

But we work to kill Him

___ we are so depraved.

God loves us. ’Tis we

_______ are the ones who destroy.

Each trust betrayed

______ each gift that is spurned

Is a stab in the heart

___ of an Innocent Boy,

But, we’ll All feel the Agony

___ till we have learned:

He suffered the Cross

___ to bring height to our goals

____ light to our minds

____________ and flight to our souls. 

~ FreeThinke

If I can stop one heart from breaking,

I shall not live in vain;

If I can ease one life the aching,

Or cool one pain,

Or help one fainting robin

Unto his nest again,

I shall not live in vain.

Emily Dickinson (1830-1886)