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December 24, 2020
December 23, 2019
Through Time, and Time Again
One Year’s Tree
Is another’s Yule Log;
Yesteryear Fuels the Future
December 24, 2018
The David Randolf Singers perform Sing We Noel Once More
Song of the Nightingale; may be confused with an angel’s
December 23, 2017
The Wren Song
The Wren, the Wren, the King of all Birds
Rolley, Rolley, where’s your nest?
We followed the Wren three miles or more
Hunting the Wren on the day after Christmas is a Celtic custom believed to descend from ancient Solstice rituals
Custer LaRue sings The Wren Song with the Baltimore Consort
Winter Wren singing its own song
December 24, 2016
CHRISTMAS 2016
The Boar’s Head Carol
The boar’s head in hand bear IBedeck’d with bays and rosemary
And I pray you my masters be merry
Quot estis in convivio
Caput apri defero
Reddens laudes Domino
The boar’s head as I understand
Is the rarest dish in all this land
Which thus bedeck’d with a gay garland
Let us servire cantico
Caput apri defero
Reddens laudes Domino
Our steward hath provided this
In honor of the King of Bliss
Which on this day to be serv’ed is
In Reginensi atrio
Caput apri defero
Reddens laudes Domino
December 24, 2015
CHRISTMAS 2015
The Holly and the Ivy
The holly and the ivy
When they are both full grown
Of all the trees that are in the wood
The holly bears the crown
O the rising of the sun
And the running of the deer
The playing of the merry organ
Sweet singing in the choir
The holly bears a blossom
As white as lily flower
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
To be our sweet Savior
O the rising of the sun
And the running of the deer
The playing of the merry organ
Sweet singing in the choir
The holly bears a berry
As red as any blood
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
To do poor sinners good
O the rising of the sun
And the running of the deer
The playing of the merry organ
Sweet singing in the choir
The holly bears a prickle
As sharp as any thorn
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
On Christmas Day in the morn
O the rising of the sun
And the running of the deer
The playing of the merry organ
Sweet singing in the choir
The holly bears a bark
As bitter as any gall
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
For to redeem us all
O the rising of the sun
And the running of the deer
The playing of the merry organ
Sweet singing in the choir
The holly and the ivy
Now both are full well grown
Of all the trees that are in the wood
The holly bears the crown
December 24, 2014
Light the Hearth
Within Your Heart
December 24, 2013
CHRISTMAS 2013
The Old Year Now
The Old Year now away is fled
The New Year it is entered
Then let us now our sins down-tread
And joyfully all appear!
Let’s merry be this day
And let us now both sport and play
Hang grief, cast care away!
God send you a happy New Year!
The name-day now of Christ we keep
Who for our sins did often weep
His hands and feet were wounded deep
And his blessed side with a spear
His head they crowned with thorns
And at him they did laugh and scorn
Who for our good was born;
God send us a happy New Year!
And now with New Year’s gifts each friend
Unto each other they do send
God grant we may all our lives amend
And that the truth may appear!
Now like the Snake your skin
Cast off of evil thought and sin
And so the year begin
God send us a happy New Year!
December 24, 2012
CHRISTMAS 2012
The Snow in the Street
From far away we come to you
The snow in the street and the wind on the door
To tell of great tidings strange and true
Minstrels and maids stand forth on the floor
For as we wandered far and wide
The snow in the street and the wind on the door
What hap do you deem there should us betide?
Minstrels and maids stand forth on the floor
Under a bent when the night was deep
The snow in the street and the wind on the door
There lay three shepherds tending their sheep
Minstrels and maids stand forth on the floor
O ye shepherds what have ye seen
The snow in the street and the wind on the door
To slay your sorrow and heal your teen?
Minstrels and maids stand forth on the floor
In an ox-stall this night we saw
The snow in the street and the wind on the door
A Babe and a Maid without a flaw
Minstrels and maids stand forth on the floor
There was an old man there beside
The snow in the street and the wind on the door
His hair was white and his hood was wide
Minstrels and maids stand forth on the floor
And as we gazed this thing upon
The snow in the street and the wind on the door
Those twain knelt down to the little one
Minstrels and maids stand forth on the floor
And a marvelous song we straight did hear
The snow in the street and the wind on the door
That slew our sorrow and healed our care
Minstrels and maids stand forth on the floor
News of a fair and a marvelous thing
The snow in the street and the wind on the door
Nowell, nowell, nowell, we sing!
Minstrels and maids stand forth on the floor
From far away we come to you
To tell of great tidings strange and true
December 24th, 2011
CHRISTMAS 2011
Down in Yon Forest
Down in yon forest there stands a hall
The bells of Paradise I heard them ring
It’s covered all over with purple and pall
And I love my Lord Jesus above anything
In that hall there stands a bed
The bells of Paradise I heard them ring
It’s covered all over with scarlet so red
And I love my Lord Jesus above anything
At the bedside there lies a stone
The bells of Paradise I heard them ring
Which the sweet Virgin Mary knelt upon
And I love my Lord Jesus above anything
Under that bed there runs a flood
The bells of Paradise I heard them ring
The one half runs water the other runs blood
And I love my Lord Jesus above anything
At the bed’s foot there grows a thorn
The bells of Paradise I heard them ring
Which ever blows blossoms since he was born
And I love my Lord Jesus above anything
Over that bed the moon shines bright
The bells of Paradise I heard them ring
Denoting our Savior was born this night
And I love my Lord Jesus above anything
December 25th, 2010
CHRISTMAS 2010
The Coventry Carol
Lully, lullay, Thou little tiny Child
Bye-bye, lully, lullay
Lullay, Thou little tiny Child
Bye-bye, lully, lullay
O sisters too, how may we do
For to preserve this day
This poor Youngling for whom we do sing
Bye-bye, lully, lullay
Herod the king, in his raging
Charged he hath this day
His men of might, in his own sight
All children young to slay
Then woe is me, poor Child for Thee
And ever mourn and sigh
For thy parting neither say nor sing
Bye-bye, lully, lullay
MASSACRE OF THE INNOCENTS
January 14th, 2010
The wheels of science turn slowly, but the NY State Ornithological Association has finally gotten back issues of The Kingbird online, including 2007 #4 which includes my article on Brooklyn’s Western Reef-Heron. See page 6 and 29 of the pdf.
More on Calvert Vaux Park here; the species list is now over 200.