Sunday morning music

Enough with the Christmas muzak already!  Let’s have something that’s both tuneful and prayerful.  Words aren’t necessary.

First, here’s Mannheim Steamroller with “Fum, Fum, Fum“.  It’s a very old tune from Catalonia in Spain.  (Lyrics at the link above.)

Next, an ancient English air, “Greensleeves”, the tune of which was adapted in the 19th century to the Christmas carol “What Child Is This?“.  Lindsey Stirling does the honors.

Here’s a hymn from the Orthodox Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom, which was set to music by Tchaikovsky in 1878.  It’s not Christmas music, strictly speaking, but it seems to me to fit in very well with the season.  It’s the “Hymn of the Cherubim“.  I know this performance is not instrumental, but if you don’t speak the language, it might as well be!

And finally, my favorite Christmas hymn/carol, “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel“.  This instrumental rendition is from The Piano Guys.

Let’s never forget the Reason for the season.

Peter

3 comments

  2. Hi! I appreciate that you picked an Orthodox hymn, but we do have seasonal chants, too. 🙂 I've been recommending the Canon of the Nativity to a couple of my choir members for spiritual study and it's gotten to be a favorite part of Matins for me around this time.

    I haven't found a YT recording of it yet that fully satisfies me, which is strange; but here's one that's pretty close – the everything-bagel version:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7DvdIMxKqkg&t=151s

    Here's one that's closer to everyday parish practice, taking just the principal verse of each ode – this is probably a parish not much larger than the one at which I serve, and in spite of the background hubbub, that's part of why I like this one:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A5bAzfZzLgw&t=121s

    Finally, an interesting English version of it – these must be the ladies from Eikona:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZvcyeMzBAQ

    Reply

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