Page 16

The Herald, Christmes Supplement

Songs of Season parrying
Merry, Modern Message

As families and friends

gather to sing carols, as car-
olers roam from’ home to

No oY at

out in chure
other gatherings, the familiar
and favorite songs of the sea-
son celebrate the pure joy of
Christmas.

Busy about his holiday
tasks, one singer alone might
“earal joyfully,” just for the

Christmas P
gladness of it. The ‘end of the 15th century, -

- church music became not on-
ly a religious inspiration but

treasures of heart and spirit

are his in fullest measure,

for carols belong to people
everywhere, and most espe-
clally to every individual.

' Carols are simple and sin-

cere, merry and joyful, us-

ually religiousand sometimes °
secular, Some carols are an- ©

cient indeed and some are of
today. But whatever a carol’s

always true.

All carols are modern.

Their spirit is that of the
first of all Christmas songs,
"Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace, good will
toward men,” sung by an
angelic chorus.

Their message, Hikethe page
old Christmas story, {s
fresh and new as tomorrow.

Hymns Were Latin

By its very character, a
carol brings “Glad tidings of
great joy” or, to put it more
simply, “Good news.” The
French carols known as ‘*No-
eis’’ express this with the
use of the word ‘‘Noel” or
“Nowell” as a refrain—
and "Nowell means “news.”

Scholar’s Latin was the lan-
guage of the first Christmas

hymns, the forerunners of
present-day carols.

Typical of those ancient
hymns is a leaf from an il-
luminated manuscript, now
in the Library of The Metro-
politan. Museum of Art, New

The Te features a dramat-

" ic initial letter, illustrating the.

Nativity scene and “‘iilumi-
nated’ by touches of gold.
It’s the work of an unknown
15th-century Italian artist.

- The hymn celebrates the
. birth -of Christ; Son of God
and Saviour of Man. Its source

is an Antiphonary, or collec-

‘tion ‘of antiphons—songs to
be sung in response or in
alternate paris. ;

Though the Latin words

may look complicated to an

nonscholarly- eye, the music

_ig simplicity itself—notes for

a-basic melody.

Simple as it is, ‘this hymn
~comes from an era which saw .

the beginning of greater com-
lexity in musi. Toward the

a moving force in musical

. development.

“Rhythms became more
complex; and counterpoint
began to evolve. .

- Changes took place in the
language of Christmas song,
too, for Latin was no longer

age or origin, one thing is a language understood by all.

The solution? ‘‘Macaronic”
carols, which may suggest
something to eat—but “‘mac-
aroni”. adds a ‘*‘c’’. to. be-
come ‘macaronic” and gain
a new meaning—‘in two

_ languages.”

Macaronic carols combined
Latin with alanguage that the

- common people understood.

Dancing with Joy

A Christmas earol might
also be a Christmas dance.

Origin of the word “carol”
itself seems to trace back to
the Prench word, ‘“‘caroler”
meaning to dance, and carols
of yesteryear may have been
sung by carolers dancing in
a circle.

Full of rejoicing, the carols
we sing today literally dance
with holiday merriment.

Singing “Wassail”
Traditionally, carois go with

the feasting and toasting that
are part of holiday cheer, for

.a “wassail bowl’* is any fes-

tive beverage, and a ‘‘was-
sail” is also a carol.

The “wassail” was one of
the earlier forms. of English
¢carol—named, probably, -for
the Anglo-Saxon “weshal,”
translated ‘as “to be hale or
hearty.”

It’s Entertainment

That carols have "always
been.-popular music, . in the —

modern sense, ‘is illustrated

“by the mystery: plays.-of

edieval England, say ‘the
editors of the New Book’ of
Knowledge. . :

At first, carols were sung ©
between the acts, just. as

mousic might be provided dur-
ing” intertnission, at a. play.
ormovie.: -

Soon, people. ‘demanded,
more, .In.response to their
enthusiasm, carols weresung

.on Stage, .as part-of the -

entertainment. tote
The Jeader' had a portable

organ and led the singersin -
-a procession across. thestage.
- Swept away by the spirit of

the carols, theaudience some-

- times joined in, and the pro-
cession. moved into the

streets, singitig.

And _ today, that same ‘en-
thusiasm juni Pine a every-
where to join in thes
of beloved carols. carols. “ee

‘Compose’ 050" Medley .
of Yule Packages 9

For those of you who like’

to adda melodie touch to

the Ule holidays try gift —

wrapping to the. tune of
Christmas. In fact,. there’s
a whole medley of Christ-
mas gift packages you cah
“compose” right from the

pages of a holiday songbook.’ -
‘Your whole family — ;-

even Dad, will want to join

“in the fun of holiday wrap-" —

ping when you create gift
packages around a special

theme chosen for the whole _

family. :
_For the theme of Christ: :

mas melodies, try making “| .

a ‘frosty. Christmas tree
package with. the musical
background of ‘‘O Christ-
mas Tree”

that’s been slit and criss-,

crossed, then placed in des- .. .
cending layers on the pack- .

“The Christmasapiris.
is-in the air! Enjoy ~~
ie to-.the fullest. a

ate Wishes from ”

| Bent

aniels ag 3 staff at foe
a

Wishes c from :

On key this eeason... good ~ *:
tidings. for alt, and 4 warm °°-
_ “‘thenks,” te: eur many polrons:
“the.”

“4008. ow Lakelse’ boul Rd.

- Management and

Thursday, December 28, 1978

I ntangible Gifts Are Bringing _

Best Blessings, in A bundance .

“Ainong the: treastires and
pleasures of Christmas, gifts ..

fom ‘large—as all who greet 7 en
of: children and the wonder an .
eof
aiding. the less fortunate, the | v
‘ opportunity’ to cherish arid ~~:
strengthen friendships - rand < - *.
family~ ties, ‘the: renewed * ~~

the Yuletide. as a-season
laughter and .a ‘time. to: be
glad of heart well know. arg

= Tarigible pitts, large” ‘and-
small, have their place:in |;
the holiday scheme ofthings. ~
They're the outgoing expres-. -
sion of the generous Christ.

mas spirit.

“It’s. the . intangible ein,

though, that. seem to shine
most Fadlantly, . Christmas

after Christmas. -
‘The delighted amilles tof:
their eyes, ithe privileg

Rae the solid founda- * ©

ons ofhealih, happiness and~“ ©
‘love, faith “and hope—these: ctl fies
are the intangible - ‘Bits, pe

Blessed’ indeed isp the: 972 cy 2
‘Christmas that: . brings: a ,
: abundance of such b eit ‘

“and:

pa
are pr

; “GREEN IS SAD" ee

In Scandinavia, evergreens stand for sadness, Gala ibbois ree

rs, fruits and flowers, colorful: balls ‘and: candles. bag eek
oe decorations. Ts . Pence |

”

(“O.. Tannen- . =
baum”). The icy fir need- a
les are made of. gilt. ribbon | a a

A

Mey your 1: holiday be full of glimmer
and brimming with precious memories.

Sincere “thanks” to everyone.
“FROM THE MANAGEMENT AND STAFF

Dorksen's Credit. Jewellers

"4615. A: Lakelse Ave.