The Rest of HisStory - Carol

Carol of the Bells

Mykola Dmytrovych Leontovych composed this haunting melody in 1916. Originally a Ukrainian folk song about a sparrow and the fruitful year that lies ahead of a family, it was first played on New Year's Eve (then, January 13 according to the Julian calendar). An appropriate choice for the last song of my series, right before New Year's Eve!

The song was first heard in the US at Carnegie Hall at a

The Rest of HisStory - Gifts

Twelve Days of Christmas

You have to understand. I have four separate Christmases every year. Not an issue with me, though! I LOVE Christmas. Have I already said that? So my carols continue after Christmas simply because I've still got some Christmasing to do.

This song speaks of the European - primarily Catholic - traditions of celebrating certain feasts involving memorials to some of the earliest saints. The celebration actually starts on December 25 and extends until January 6 with it's roots in our

The Rest of HisStory - Hallelujah

Handel's Messiah

Beautiful music! Powerful message! There was a time when I could actually sing through Messiah. Did several performances when I was younger. I don't know if I could sing it at this point. Not because the music is challenging - that's just the way I like it. Because just hearing the Spirit's words set to such amazing music keeps me in a regular state of tears. Do you know how hard it is to sing with tears streaming? I've learned over the last decade or so to sing through the tears, but it's terribly hard to do. Not sure I could swing it with this awe-inspiring piece.