Christmas 2018: The Tenth Day

The church calendar is rather quiet on this tenth day of Christmas. And here is some profoundly simple and beautiful music written in 1894 by the American composer, Charles Ives, to match the quiet. How sad that his music was not taken seriously until many years after his death. 

Little star of Bethlehem!
Do we see Thee now?
Do we see Thee shining
O'er the tall trees?

Little child of Bethlehem!
Do we hear Thee in our hearts?
Hear the angels singing:
Peace on earth, good will to men!
Noel!

O'er the cradle of a King
Hear the Angels sing:
In Excelsis Gloria, Gloria!
From his Father's home on high,
Lo! for us He came to die;
Hear the Angels sing:
Venite adoremus Dominum

And in case you didn't meet a chimney sweep or kiss a pig on New Year's Day to ensure yourself a year of good luck, perhaps these postcards from the Vienna Succession's Wiener Werkstatte will work.

And if two chimney sweeps, a pig and pretty girl don't leave you with high hopes for the fortunes of the new year, this music from the genius of Igor Stravinsky should do it. The music is a fresh and inspiring today as it was when he composed it a century ago.

Sources

Photos and Illustrations:
postcards, theviennasecession.com