2009 Christmas season will probably be most remembered for the east coast snow storm. And this post wouldn’t be complete without sending a heartfelt tribute to my sister, her husband, Charly, Captain Nissy, and Little Bird: they got stranded in the Atlanta airport because of snow in Asheville, rented a car the next day to drive to NC, and apparently (I haven’t yet heard the full story) ended up having to HIKE UP THE RILEY HILL in the snow because whatever four-wheel-drive Dad had procured couldn’t make it up. What an adventure! I hope they are sleeping soundly right now & making the most of the utter coziness of Mom & Dad’s house. 🙂
I’ve sort of been neglecting my blog lately for a couple reasons: 1) general holiday busy-ness & preoccupation with my dissertation have kept me from recreational writing and 2) I think only about 3 people I know actually read it…and that’s cool, man, that’s cool. 😉
But I couldn’t pass this holiday season without writing something about my favorite time of year, so I figured I would gear it around three of my favorite things: food, wine, music. (Hence ‘foodwinecello’).
So Christmas music: this is probably the only time during the entire year that I listen so consistently to choral music…and I love it! My faves: York Minster Choir Christmas album (York RULES), anything Christmasy by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, and general Christmas choir recordings that I’ve discovered on itunes — Cambridge Singers, Westminster Choir, the Princeton University Chapel Choir, etc., etc.
AND because I’m a cellist, I’m lucky enough to do at least one choral-y concert every Christmas season, and this year I’ve also been fortunate to attend one as an audience member. My good friend Angie is in the Riverside Choral Society (and she had a stellar solo!), so I attended their holiday concert with the American Brass Quintet on the upper west side. Total holiday treat AND we went to one of my very favorite wine bars, Barcibo, afterwards with Angie’s very sweet mother-in-law, Cathy. I love Christmastime. 🙂
Normally I get to play at Union Theological Seminary for their holiday concert – the Barnard/Columbia singers conducted by Gail Archer…sadly, I had to turn down the gig for another one, but I’m hoping to do it next year!
This is also the only time during the year that I listen to what can be described as ‘religious’ music, and despite my lack of label as a “Christian,” I do find myself having profound respect for the themes presented in some of these beautiful Christmas carols – ‘Jesus Christ, the Apple Tree,’ from James Galway’s Christmas album is one of my favorites. ‘Zither Carol’ off the same record is another fave and I love the lyrics, “Hallelujah the angels sing, Hallelujah from everything.” Beautiful idea and I think it goes beyond anything strictly ‘Christian.’ Here is a verse from ‘Jesus Christ, the Apple Tree,’ which is an 18th Century poem:
best post ever! I loved reading this!! I’m about to just cawl ya… love you so much xoxox
Wonderful blog/article. Loved it! I’m looking forward to your Holiday Nuggets. A lot! Thursday’s weather doesn’t looks all that bad. Rainy sleet but temps above freezing. Sunny tomorrow and next day. Love! Dad