Music! It is wonderful at any time of the year but isn't it very special to hear all the songs of Christmas? I think I have told you before that the song "Away In A Manger" is sung to a different tune in the UK than the one that is used in the USA. As I was working on a crochet piece this year, I kept singing that song and I even sang it using the two different tunes! The one phrase that kept coming to mind was "his sweet head"... If you see the following photo, you will know why!
.JPG)
Now, for the rest of this story...
Richard recorded some things for me on TV that he knew we would enjoy watching together. I was very pleased to hear "Away In A Manger" done beautifully from "Royal Carols: Together At Christmas" from Westminster Abbey! It was a lovely service. If you can, you should watch it too!
The other service was from the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. There was a song on there that I had never heard of before. THAT song is the one that I want to make sure you listen to the words, keeping in mind of me trying to work on Baby Jesus and then, his manger. The song is "Jesus, Jesus Rest Your Head". (I know, I know.... can you believe it?) "Jesus, Jesus- rest your head, you have got a manger bed".
From what I understand, the song was a folk song from Kentucky. Had it not been for John Jacob Niles who was not only a composer and musician but also a collector of folk music, we might not have ever known this song. (I had never heard of it until I heard it this week on TV!) I truly hope that you love this song as much as I do! It is so peaceful and lovely.
.JPG)
Wish me luck in making this Nativity Scene. Please note that the photos that I have shown you are from the crochet magazine.
We had a bit of snow the day after Christmas. You know I had to ask Richard to take this Christmas ornament (Max, The Grinch's Dog!) and pose the figure as if Max were going down Mt. Crumpet! Yes, my husband is a saint, if you are wondering. LOL! I am sure I have told you before but I will tell you again that I read the book "How The Grinch Stole Christmas" so much to my younger sister and brother that I know the book by heart. It was a joy to read!
.JPG)
Of course, it is warm today with high in the 60's with pretty blue skies. The photo below is from the lift at Stone Mountain, which was taken in October but I promise today was just this sunny. I just thought this shot was interesting, don't you?
God bless you all and a safe and happy new year to you! Peace to you always.
"O Little Town of Bethlehem" has two different tunes as well. I watched King Charles' first "Christmas Message" on TV and there was a clip of some British boys choir singing the "other" version. The tune I'm familiar with must be the US version, I suspect.
ReplyDeleteYes indeed, I know both tunes to "Oh Little Town of Bethlehem". I love them both but to be honest, I prefer the one that is most known to the Brits.
DeleteIt's a blessing to find new songs like this. Thank you for posting it!
ReplyDeleteSo glad you like it too! I was happy to discover it and share it. Happy New Year!
DeleteI have to tell you the crochet nativity scene is beautiful and can't wait to see it finished. HAPPY NEW YEAR!
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year to you! By the time I finish it and show you, you will have forgotten all about this post! LOL!
DeleteThe crochet nativity scene is beautiful, and I am sure that by next Chistmas, you will show us pictures of the complete set in your home - maybe with a few extra sheep, too, as I am certain there was not just one sheep there that night :-)
ReplyDeleteThe song is indeed peaceful, it sounds like something sung to soothe a baby to sleep.
It's spring-like mild here now, too, but not much blue in the sky, more windy and rainy.
God bless you and your loved ones, Kay. Have a peaceful and happy New Year.
X
It is very much like a lullaby to me too. I will try to make extra sheep and when you see them, you will feel part of the creation! God bless you and your loved ones, my friend. Peace and joy in the New Year. xx
DeleteI watched the Christmas Together service, too. I had noticed in the past from movies and TV shows that the Brits have a different tune for some songs. I've started to sing Away In A Manger to their tune because it's stuck in my head. Best wishes with your crochet project. Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteLove,
Janie
Happy New Year to you too, Janie! Hope the fireworks aren't as crazy for you tonight as they will be here! I do find it fascinating that we have different tunes to the same song. Hey! And let's not forget that we have "My Country Tis of Thee" and "God Save the King" to the same tune! (So strange to type that, it was "God Save the Queen" for so many years.)
DeleteSongs fascinate me, music and lyrics. Guess it shows! LOL.
It's a new song for me too. I really like the crocheted creche.
ReplyDeleteYou know I don't think that the song is that well known. If you look on YouTube, there are not that many videos that you can find. Isn't the pattern so sweet? Wish me luck in making it look that good. I like the sound of your words together- crocheted creche. Happy New Year!
DeleteI thought I knew most of the songs from the Tabernacle Choir but this was new to me. I don't know if you knew the name of the Choir is no long "Mormon Tabernacle Choir" but now it's The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square". You always have so much info to share so I thought I would share this! I love the nativity all in crochet. I don't crochet or knit but this would be a fun project. Do you enjoy getting a little snow? Our temps were so freezing for Christmas but today was in the 60's also...weird for up here! Have a very Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteYou know, I DID know that the choir is now The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square but alas, I am an old lady and can't remember to change things in my head, but thanks for pointing that out to me in such a sweet way! I plan on doing better in 2023! Our weather was the same here, one weekend we woke up to 8 degrees, the next weekend the high was in the 60's! Happy New Year!
DeleteA beautiful carol, new to me too. In Australia we hear and sing both versions of Away in a Manger; I have the piano music to both. Always lovely to sing. Your baby Jesus crotchet is awesome! What a cute pattern, but tiny things are difficult to make. I hope you manage the whole set eventually, as it is gorgeous. Our tiny grandchildren learnt to say Happy Birthday Baby Jesus - it was so sweet. Happy New Year to you and the family.
ReplyDeleteTiny things ARE difficult, for me at least. Funny thing, I can get flustered if things don't go right but this time, somehow, it was relaxing to pull out the yarn and start again on the baby head of Jesus. Something just told me to keep going and be at peace about it, maybe that is a lesson for life? Thanks be to God. It truly pleases me to know that you learned this carol on here, you are so good with knowing music from your time with the choir! Happy New Year to you and your dear family, I will think of you celebrating 2023 before I do!
DeleteI like the crochet nativity scene :)
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year Wishes.
All the best Jan
https://thelowcarbdiabetic.blogspot.com/
Thanks, Jan! I don't know if I can make it as well as the photo but I will try. Happy New Year!!
DeleteBeautiful music...Love your crochet!
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year..
hughugs
Donna
Hey Donna! Isn't the crochet nice? I will aim for that! Happy New Year to you with hugs!! ❤
DeleteSuch a sweet post! Happy New Year, Kay. Wishing you health, happiness and everything you wish for in 2023!
ReplyDeleteHey Martha! Happy New Year to you in lovely Canada! Wishing you all the best in 2023. xx
DeleteI'm not aware of the two different "Away in A Manger" tunes - or "Little town of Bethlehem." I did a search on Youtube but the only ones that came up were the ones which are already familiar to me, and so I guess are the "British" version! The Mormon choir sang a beautiful piece indeed. A very happy healthy and prosperous New Year to you and your loved ones!
ReplyDeleteThe very same is wished for you too, Jenny Woolf! I drive myself crazy looking up things on YouTube! Richard also told me that he has a 3rd tune for "Away In A Manger" in one of his songbooks! Songs and lyrics are fascinating to me, I guess it shows. LOL! Take care!
DeleteDear Kim, thank you so much for sharing this lovely folk song. Like you, I've never before heard it. And really I couldn't catch the words because of my hearing now. So I went to Google and use the song title as the tag and found the words as recorded by Niles. A deep truth in those words about Love.
ReplyDeleteThank you, too, for sharing the crocheted creche with us. I can just picture you crocheting, listening to music, and musing about the beauty of the moment. Peace from Dee and the cats here in Missouri
I am so happy that you like this song too and that you took the time to look up the words! I also must tell you that I couldn't find the crocheted snowflakes for my Christmas tree from the year before, so I was a bit miffed about it at first but then I thought, "Well, I will just make more!" So that's just what I did, made snowflakes for my tree and then, made more to go into presents. Peace to you!
DeleteAnd now I am hearing the children singing "Away in a Manger" at Mr. Bean's door. And remembering what fun he had with the creche at Harrod's. (That dinosaur! And the Dalek!)
ReplyDeleteIt is always fun to find new songs and to hear familiar ones sung to different tunes. I recently read a good post about the two tunes used for "In the Bleak Midwinter" (team Darke for me!), then went down a kind of rabbit hole of Christmas carol reading. Here's the link:
https://www.classicfm.com/discover-music/occasions/christmas/in-the-bleak-midwinter-lyrics-song-carol-peaky/
Happy New Year to you.
Yes! I well remember Mr. Bean with the creche at Harrod's with the dinosaur and the Dalek! One thing though...and I truly loved this...was that he showed great respect for Baby Jesus in the manger.
DeleteThe two tunes for "In the Bleak Midwinter"? As for me, I am Team HOLTZ all the way! I wrote about Gustav Holtz in a post once...I need to go back and find it! He also wrote "I Vow To Thee My Country", which I also love!
So good to see your comment here, Sue! You are such a talent at crochet, I bet you could do this nativity set in no time!
For some reason "Away in the Manger" has been stuck in my head for the past few days, Kay. The crocheted manger scene is darling. I know both versions of t"Away in the Manger" and both versions of "Oh Little Town of Bethlehem." I was able to sing in a choir in 8th grade, and I had a marvelous choir instructor. The Mormon Tabernacle Choir always creates memorable music! I hope 2023 has started well for you, Richard, and Christopher. I was thrilled to have 2022 behind me. So far, so good on the new year! Take care!
ReplyDeleteWishing you better health in 2023! And we are just fine, my friend, thanks very much for your sweet comment. x
Delete