An Advent Carols Countdown by Michael D. Young
by Michael D. Young
My Sketch …
From Dec. 1st to Dec. 24th, a Christmas carol lyric and a story per day of how the carol came to be. Each carol has a QR code linking to an audio or video performance of the carol performed by the Morman Tabernacle Choir. However, no music score is provided.
My Review …
While the title states “…Stories Behind the Most Beloved Music of Christmas”, personally I was disappointed that no musical notation was part of each Christmas Carol presentation since the briefing does include the tune history as well as the lyrics. The book summary (e.g. the description), which I encourage you to read, suggests An Advent Carols Countdown could be a gift. The only format is hardcover.
I thought many years ago such a book should be written and now it has been.
A few tidbits: “Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming” always felt English to me yet it is a German hymn dating back to at least 1599. I haven’t sung “Masters in This Hall” since I was in high school mixed chorus. It is a simple carol; Mr. Young says the music is an old French dance. The book has a bibliography for each carol.
The Christmas Carols countdown from December 1st are:
- 1st – The Holly and the Ivy
- 2nd – O Little Town of Bethlehem
- 3rd – Angels We Have Heard on High
- 4th – Carol of the Bells
- 5th – Good King Wenceslas
- 6th – Far, Far Away on Judea’s Plains
- 7th – O Holy Night
- 8th – Ding Dong! Merrily on High
- 9th – God Bless the Master
- 10th – In Dulci Jubilo (In Sweet Rejoicing)
- 11th – Joy to the World
- 12th – O Come, All Ye Faithful
- 13th – Mitt Hjerte Alltid Vanker (My Heart Always Wanders)
- 14th – Of the Father’s Love Begotten
- 15th – Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming
- 16th – Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
- 17th – Away in a Manger
- 18th – Angels from the Realms of Glory
- 19th – Masters in This Hall
- 20th – O du Fröhliche (O You Joyful)
- 21st – In the Bleak Midwinter
- 22nd – The First Noel
- 23rd – Infant Holy, Infant Lowly
- 24th – Stille Nacht (Silent Night)
Missing is a beautiful carol — “O Come, O Come Emmanuel”.
A personal note from the reviewer …
I played my first Christmas carol when I was six years old. Granted it was only the melody but it’s a lovely memory. By nine I was playing Christmas Carols for our Baptist church & hoping “O Come All Ye Faithful” wasn’t planned as it had all those sharps (# ). Recently I was an organist/pianist for a Catholic parish and was surprised to learn that many of the carols listed above could *not* be sung or played during Advent. Any mention of the birth of Jesus — the Carol could not be used during Advent.
Rating: 3.5 stars rounded to 4 for websites using only round numbers. As a musician, a one-star reduction is due to the lack of music scores. I did not know three of the carols and would love to have seen the scores. In addition, why should people have to acquire the music score? Since there are some months before the pub date of 6 September, maybe music notation will be added.
I received a complimentary e-ARC copy of An Advent Carols Countdown via NetGalley from the publisher, Shadow Mountain Publishing. A positive review was not required; the opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
#AnAdventCarolsCountdown #NetGalley #MichaelDYoung
