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My Favorite Christmas Carols
Ok, it probably seems strange that on my 'Favorite Christmas Carol' s Page, I have no music playing. Well, the reason is I searched the web over and couldn't find a single midi that did justice to the songs. Still, the best I could find are on the page in case you'd like to listen to them.
"The Little Drummer Boy" is probably my second favorite Christmas song, not so much for the melody, but for the story told in it. The greatest gift we can give anyone is being exactly who we are. It's what we have in our hearts that matters, not gold or frankencense or pretty wrapped presents with huge price tags - something to remember as this season becomes more and more commercialized. And this song is such a precious representation of that fact.
The absolute best rendition of the song has to be from Bing Crosby's Christmas special in 1977 when he sang a duet with the most unlikely singing partner, David Bowie. Bing sang 'The Little Drummer Boy' as Bowie chimed in with 'Peace On Earth'. The combination was absolutely magical. Sadly, Mr. Crosby died before the production aired on t.v., but the moment lives on as one of my favorite Christmas memories.
You can hear a short soundclip at this site(just go down the page and click on 'Little Drummer Boy/Peace On Earth') It's not as good as 'being there' back then, but if you were, this will bring back memories. If you weren't, well, this is a little taste.
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"Little Drummer Boy"
Come they told me
Pa rum pum pum pum
A new born King to see
Pa rum pum pum pum
Our finest gifts we bring
Pa rum pum pum pum
To lay before the king
Pa rum pum pum pum,
rum pum pum pum,
rum pum pum pum
So to honor Him
Pa rum pum pum pum
When we come
Little baby
Pa rum pum pum pum
I am a poor boy too
Pa rum pum pum pum
I have no gift to bring
Pa rum pum pum pum
That's fit to give our King
Pa rum pum pum pum,
rum pum pum pum,
rum pum pum pum
Shall I play for you
Pa rum pum pum pum
On my drum
Mary nodded
Pa rum pum pum pum
The ox and lamb kept time
Pa rum pum pum pum
I played my drum for Him
Pa rum pum pum pum
I played my best for Him
Pa rum pum pum pum,
rum pum pum pum,
rum pum pum pum
Then He smiled at me
Pa rum pum pum pum
Me and my drum
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"Peace On Earth"
Peace on Earth, can it be
Years from now, perhaps we'll see
See the day of glory
See the day, when men of good will
Live in peace, live in peace again
Peace on Earth, can it be
Every child must be made aware
Every child must be made to care
Care enough for his fellow man
To give all the love that he can
I pray my wish will come true
For my child and your child too
He'll see the day of glory
See the day when men of good will
Live in peace, live in peace again
Peace on Earth, can it be
Can it be
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But my absolute favorite Christmas song of all time is Ave Maria, and again, curiously, a television program is one of my absolute favorite Christmas memories.
This time it was the annual Perry Como Christmas show, and each year he ended the program singing this song. For years I never even realized that the words to it were Latin for the prayer, "Hail Mary", but from the time I first heard it as a little girl, it always brought tears to my eyes, and still does.
(You can hear a brief soundclip at this link)
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Ave Maria
Ave Maria,
gratia plena,
Maria gratia plena,
Maria gratia plena,
Ave, Ave, Dominus, Dominus tecum.
Benedicta tu in mulieribus,
et benedictus,
et benedictus fructus ventris
ventris tui, Iesus.
Ave Maria.
Sancta Maria, Mater Dei,
ora pro nobis peccatoribus,
ora, ora pro nobis,
ora, ora pro nobis,
peccatoribus.
nunc et in hora mortis,
in hora mortis nostrae
in hora mortis, mortis nostre
in hora mortis nostrae.
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Translation:
Ave Maria = Hail Mary
gratia plena = full of grace
Dominus tecum = the Lord is with you
Benedicta tu in mulieribus = Blessed are you among women
et benedictus fructus ventris tui = and blessed is the fruit of your womb
Iesus = Jesus.
Sancta Maria = Holy Mary
Mater Dei = Mother of God
ora pro nobis peccatoribus = Pray for us sinners
nunc et in hora mortis nostrae = Now and at the hour of our death
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"Ave Maria" midi courtesy of Music Box
"Little Drummer Boy" midi courtesy of Classical Midi Connection
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