Christmas Carols Song Christmas

Ave Maria 0 comments

Ave Maria
Ave Maria
The Ave Maria was composed in about 1825 by Franz Schubert (1797-1828) when he was twenty-eight years old and filled with devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. It was written for voice and piano and first Published in 1826 as Op 52 no 6. The words most commonly used with Schubert's music are not the words that the composer originally set to music. Franz Schubert actually wrote the music for an excerpt from the poem "The Lady of the Lake" by Sir Walter Scott (1771-1832), which was translated into German by Adam Storck. Schubert called his piece Ellens dritter Gesang (Ellen's third song). In this particular excerpt from the poem the heroine, Ellen Douglas, is in hiding and prays to the Virgin Mary. A letter from Schubert to his father and step-mother refers to his music to Ave Maria: 

"My new songs from Scott's Lady of the Lake especially had much success. They also wondered greatly at my piety, which I expressed in a hymn to the Holy Virgin and which, it appears, grips every soul and turns it to devotion."

The original words by Sir Walter Scott are detailed below and include many references to the Latin "Ave Maria" prayer. This, no doubt, inspired an unknown person to fit the Latin "Ave Maria" prayer text to Schubert's notes, and it almost succeeds with a couple of exceptions. The adapted Latin words of Ave Maria prayer ( Hail Mary ) is now the version most commonly performed with the music of Schubert.

Franz Schubert - Concise Biography
Date of Birth:  31 January 1797
Place of Birth : Lichtental, Austria
Date of Death: 19 November 1828 - Age 31
Place & cause of Death: Vienna, Austria - Typhus

Angels from the realms of glory! 0 comments

The author of Angels From the Realms of Glory was an Irishman called James Montgomery. He came from a religious family background and sadly his parents, who were missionaries died following their vocation. Angels From the Realms of Glory was written in 1816. The music for Angels From the Realms of Glory was composed by Henry Smart. The lyrics of Angels From the Realms of Glory tell the story of the shepherds, sages and Saints.

Carol of the Bells Lyrics 0 comments

The Carol of the Bells lyrics were added to the original folk music from the Ukraine by Peter Wilhousky. The lyrics and words to this popular Christmas song celebrate the festive season and its traditions such as the pealing of church bells at Christmas and of the singing of Christmas Carols - caroling. The original Ukrainian lyrics to the song was entitled Shchedryk meaning bountiful and were traditionally sang to celebrate the New Year.

Trans Siberian Orchestra Carol of the Bells
Trans Siberian Orchestra Carol of the Bells version of the song combines traditional, classical music with a modern heavy metal style. The Trans Siberian Orchestra Carol of the Bells rock opera version can be found on Christmas Trilogy CD by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra which combines "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" and "Carol of the Bells". This Trans-Siberian Orchestra version of Carol of the Bells was dedicated to the spirit of humanity even when war ravaged places such as those on Christmas Eve - Sarajevo 12/24. Sarejevo is located in the region of the Ukraine where the Carols of the Bells originated.

Home Alone Carol of the Bells Christmas Song
The music from Carol of the Bells was featured in the movies Home Alone and Home Alone 2: Lost in New York directed by Chris Columbus. These famous Christmas comedy movies use the song as the young hero Kevin McCallister, played by Macaulay Culkin, is unintentionally left 'Home Alone' at Christmas by his family. The Home Alone Carol of the Bells music is used when young Kevin sets amazing and hilarious traps to capture the inept and stupid thieves Harry Lime (played by Joe Pesci ) and Marv Merchants (played by Daniel Stern). Next time you watch the movie listen to this popular Christmas music.