Peace to you this Christmas- my annual Christmas song.

 sdsds

Many of you have read my yearly posts where I share the Christmas song I have written for the children at school. I've written one a year for pretty much every year I've been a teacher and my children sing it for one of our Carol services.  It's one of my favourite Christmas traditions.

This year, I knew I wanted to write a carol either about angels or about Peace.   The world feels a very dark place in recent times with wars and conflicts  and atrocities around the world- Palestine, Gaza, Sudan, Yemen, Afghanistan and the awful behaviour of the US and our own governments. So I knew that I wanted to write a song about peace. 

One idea I wanted was to embrace my diverse school community and include them in the process so I posted a message on our online messaging system asking for them to share any words they knew in languages they spoke for the word for peace.  I was delighted to receive some 56 comments in the first 3 days, albeit receiving duplicate words. I don't think I've EVER had that many comments before!

I composed the chorus melody and words fairly soon after the October half term but It took me a little while to work out what to do with the rest.  I included many of the words shared and tried to end the verses with a sense of unity and oneness.  

Finally, the verses were worked out and the melody but I hadn't come up with an accompaniment. When I started teaching the kids the song, all I'd done is written out the melody and put chord symbols for the accompaniment.  It took a couple more weeks until I finally wrote out the whole piano part. In fact, it was the 4th December that I finally finished it on paper (I drove CBC completely mad working it out. He  was so cross with me replaying chords and notes and over and over, citing the sanity of the new neighbours as his chief objection but I think it was about him!).

And then disaster struck.  On Saturday the 6th December, my orchestra had their Christmas concert in Islington. I had my music manuscript book in my bag.  The conductor, Mark Biggins asked if anyone had any manuscript paper. I said yes and got my book out for him.  

It wasn't till the next evening that I realised HE HAD NEVER GIVEN IT BACK!!! And worse than that, he was now back in GENEVA where he lives!!! It was my only copy of the music!

Cue some frantic emailing of the committee of the orchestra!!!

Thankfully, that evening, I received a Whatsapp from the Chair of the Committee and from Mark, who felt incredibly guilty who had taken some grainy photos of the music for me.  So, thank goodness for that!

I tried to get my colleague to record the final rehearsal in school but it didn't pick up the piano part, then at the church, my Headteacher was recording for me and she was sat next to a very loud singer who drowned everyone else out so I asked the children to rerecord it on the final morning which they did.  I asked S, the student who I have managed to get a 4 year music scholarship for, to play flute for it. I only gave him the music on Friday lunchtime and he was perfect 3 days later for the performances.  Sadly, he had to borrow my flute for this recording so it wasn't quite in the right position for him and he couldn't get some of the notes to sound, but he still did a good job.

I hope you enjoy the song and the message of it.

Much love to you this Christmas day!

Jesus came to bring us Peace. The peace which passes understanding. The peace of the Christ child.

Peace to you this Christmas.

Peace to all the Earth

Hope to end all conflict,

With this wondrous baby’s birth.

 

Baris, Sakinah, Sukoon.

Shaanti, Pace, Mir.

Many voices united in the longing

For a world reconciled in peace.

 

Peace to you this Christmas.

Peace to all the Earth

Hope to end all conflict,

With this wondrous baby’s birth.

 

Shaanthi, Asomdwoe, Paz

Spokoj, Amani, Frieden

We share one hope, one message, one prayer,

For a world reconciled in peace

 

Peace to you this Christmas.

Peace to all the Earth

Hope to end all conflict,

With this wondrous baby’s birth.

 

Taika, Alafi, Salaam,

Amaidhi, Paqen, Paix

For we all long to share in the freedom,

From the shadow of war and fear.

 

Peace to you this Christmas.

Peace to all the Earth

Hope to end all conflict,

With this wondrous baby’s birth.

 

Aman, Miers, Shalom,

Ashtee, eirini, udo

No matter the word, the hearts do concur,

That there’s longing for peace on Earth.

 

Peace to you this Christmas.

Peace to all the Earth

Hope to end all conflict,

With this wondrous baby’s birth.

Peace to all from  this baby’s birth. (A)

Peace to everyone here on Earth

Here are some previous songs:

Marching into Christmas

Star in the Sky

Sing a song of Celebration

Joy

Hope this Christmas

Love is all you need

Mary 

Feel the Christmas beat

Join in our story

Ring out the bells

Shepherds Swing

The innkeepers rant

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Marching into Christmas song

It's time for my Annual song sharing!

I don't know if there is any one new out there reading this blog but in case you are new, I have a Christmas tradition that every year, I compose a new Christmas song for my school Christmas carol service.  I made a list of all the songs I have written this year and there are 19! So next year will be my big 20th special! I need some new inspiration for lyrics and subject matter as I have got many aspects of the Christmas story covered but I'm not worried. Something always comes to mind!

This year, I decided I wanted to write a song for the younger children. Out of the carols/songs I have written, only 3 of them have been written for the younger children (FYI, these songs are: 5 little snowflakes for Foundation Stage, Christmas, Christmas for Year 1-2 and Caesar wants a census for Year 3-4.  This year, I decided to pen a piece for Years 3-4 choir.  Last year, we sang a very simple song called See the Star of Bethlehem which is a very simple round.  I got the children to march from the back of the church to the front and they loved it.  So, I decided I wanted a Marching song.  Immediately, I decided that it would be called Marching into Christmas and would introduce all those who travelled to Bethlehem for the nativity- Mary and Joseph, Shepherds, Wise Men and also include the prophets who foretold Bethlehem.  In the end, rather than doing anything particularly clever, noteworthy or interesting with the structure, it is a simple Verse-chorus structure  with a very simple coda added.  It needed to have a strong beat, be in simple 2/4 time and the children would march to the chorus.

I came up with the first 2 lines on holiday in Belgium

I then got stuck for a while and worked out the first verse the 2nd week back

The third week, I worked out the other lyrics and the piano part for the chorus and at the last minute, wrote the verses.

When we first taught it to the kids, they seemed to like the chorus but the words seemed a bit tricky for them.

However, they returned a week later full of enthusiasm and seemed to get it. The children who struggled with reading (I had 2 SEND 1:1 children in choir and a few who struggle with reading) and they really engaged with the chorus and marching so I was glad to have made the chorus the way it was.

Here they are singing it. It's a little bit rough and ready but I hope you can hear the enthusiasm!

Refrain: Marching into Christmas seeking Bethlehem,

Searching for the new King promised long ago,

Let us join them boldly, joyful in our hearts,

Anyone is welcome, evermore!

1. Prophecies were made first, they foresaw Bethlehem,

Teaching the Messiah was born in Bethlehem,

The birthplace of King David, the place where he'd be found,

Come along and seek him, come and seek that king!

Refrain: Marching into Christmas seeking Bethlehem,

2. Mary then and Joseph, seeking Bethlehem, 

Made their way so humbly on from Nazareth,

Travelling for the census at the time of birth,

Everyone was searching, searching for that place!

Refrain: Marching into Christmas seeking Bethlehem,

3.  Shepherds from the fields were sent by heavenly hosts

They obeyed the summons, to greet the new born King,

Bringing gifts of lambs, they hurried on their way.

Everyone was welcome, welcome in that place!

Refrain: Marching into Christmas seeking Bethlehem,

4. Wise men next they journeyed, following a star,

travelling from the East, they travelled from afar

First they sought King Herod, his scribes they told the way,

Everyone was welcome, welcome, come and see!

Marching into Christmas seeking Bethlehem,

Searching for the new King promised long ago,

Let us join them boldly, joyful in our hearts,

Anyone is welcome, 

EVERYONE is welcome, 

You are all most welcome,

Evermore!

Bonus for anyone who plays the piano or fancies a sing along, here's a little play along video of it

Here are songs from previous years:

Star in the Sky

Sing a song of Celebration

Joy

Hope this Christmas

Love is all you need

Mary 

Feel the Christmas beat

Join in our story

Ring out the bells

Shepherds Swing

The innkeepers rant

This year, we also resang 2 songs which have never appeared on blog before, From the East  and Caesar wants a census so let me know if you fancy me sharing those?

xx

Star in the Sky!

 Hello my lovely blog friends!

Sending you much love and best wishes for a blessed and peaceful Christmas.  Not too busy, not lonely, not too much, not too little but a Christmas of contentment, a Christmas of enough a Christmas of hope and light, a Christmas of knowing your worth and importance to others.  I am thankful for what I have this year, particularly in light of such a sadness and difficulties others face.

As is my annual tradition, I wrote a song for my school which I always share here as part of my Advent.

Every year, I say that it is one of my favourite traditions. I share it here not for praise, I don't share it here for comments (though any feedback or criticism is always welcome!) but for the mere act of sharing something I have created. I know that sometimes, some lyrics or music speak to individuals in the moment they are in and that is enough for me.

Last year, I had intended to write a song about the Star but it eluded me and my ode to Psalm 150 came instead.  I didn't know where this song was going when I wrote it but I intended it to start with solos of the wise men/individuals pondering the arrival of the new star and what it meant which would then segue into a slightly faster section.  This year, the fast section came to me when hoovering the house.  I then had to try and remember what I was singing and try to record it before I forgot it so I would have time to notate it at a later date and work out the piano accompaniment.  The children really liked it (in the words of N, "I cannot believe you wrote that!") and particularly all clamoured for the solos (The beginning section and the coda at the end are solos).  I wish I could have shared the recording of the children singing it (the four soloists all had such beautiful, sweet voices) but I had a bit of  a technology fail on the day and I am not sure how to get it off my iPad from the whole recording).  So instead, you have me singing it with accompaniment of Police car siren in verse 3 plus a slight mistake on the lyrics! It's not the finest recording or rendition but I hope it shows enough.

New star in the sky, what does it mean?

New star in the sky, we have all seen.

New star in the sky, what does it mean?

New star in the sky, burning bright on high,

What does it mean?

Star-light lead us,  star-light teach us,

Guide our foot-steps, be our bea- con

We'll keep faithful to this journey!

Seek the message and find the new king!

Bright star in the heav'ns for a new king,

Bright star in the heav'ns to it we sing,

Bright star in the heavn's, gifts we will bring,

Bright star in the heavn's on it we depend

For a true King.

Starlight lead us...

Great light in the realms bringing us hope,

Great light in the realms bringing us hope,

Great light in the realms bringing us hope,

Great light in the realms, you are at our helm

Bringing us hope,

Starlight lead us...

Gleaming star of joy, guiding our hearts

Gleaming star of joy, playing its part

Gleaming star of joy, we must depart

Gleaming star of joy, for a baby boy,

Guiding our hearts.

Gleaming star of joy, for a baby boy,

Guiding our hearts

(C) Music and Lyrics Copyright K.Allin 2023

If you wish to hear any previous songs, here are the links to some of them.

I worked out I've written 17 songs (as long as I've not forgotten any!) over the years though not all of them are recorded or on here.  Do you have a suggestion for an aspect of the Christmas story I should write about next year?

Much love,

Kezzie x

Sing a song of Celebration

Joy

Hope this Christmas

Love is all you need

Mary 

Feel the Christmas beat

Join in our story

Ring out the bells

Shepherds Swing

The innkeepers rant

Riu Riu Chiu from the Monkees

 In CBC's Carol service, we sang a Spanish carol called Riu Ritu Chiu.   

I only had a quick chance to look at it before the service so it was a bit nerve-wracking singing it as I was sightreading in bass clef and reading Spanish words I had no idea how to pronounce.

I happened to google it to see if I could listen to it and I found that it was sung by one my mum's favourite bands, The Monkees as part of their Christmas show in 1967.  They sang it unaccompanied by instruments in harmony.

The origin of the song sometimes has been attributed to one Mateo Flecha who died in 1553 (Renaissance era)  although some have described it as anonymous.  

It was really effective in the carol service

It's quite exciting to discover a new Christmas carol/song I did not know!

xx

Bethlehem Down

 I have sung many carols and Christmas hymns over the years.

When I was in my 20's, I asked our dear family friend, Auntie Norma what her favourite carol was.

She replied, "Bethlehem Down."  I went to look for it and learnt it.  One of our Midnight services, I sang this as a solo.  Oh, how I miss being at midnight communion on Christmas eve at that church. I was at my childhood church for my 2 school carol services yesterday for our first carol service actually to parents since 2019. It was a joy!  All the children were allowed to go, the children behaved very well and sang really excellently.  I was so surprised how good they sounded, especially Year 5-6 who really sang wonderfully!  Many parents came to watch and seemed very pleased and delighted with the performance. In the evening, I went to London to perform Holst's Planets suite with Orchestra of the City.  It was wonderful. I played the 4th flute part which has a wonderful alto flute part in Neptune. I finish off the whole piece with a solo played ever so quietly. What a privilege!

Anyway,back to the point, I went to go and listen to Bethlehem Down again

When He is King we will give him the King's gifts,
Myrrh for its sweetness, and gold for a crown,
"Beautiful robes", said the young girl to Joseph
Fair with her first-born on Bethlehem Down.

Bethlehem Down is full of the starlight
Winds for the spices, and stars for the gold,
Mary for sleep, and for lullaby music
Songs of a shepherd by Bethlehem fold.

When He is King they will clothe Him in grave-sheets,
Myrrh for embalming, and wood for a crown,
He that lies now in the white arms of Mary
Sleeping so lightly on Bethlehem Down.

Here He has peace and a short while for dreaming,
Close-huddled oxen to keep Him from cold,
Mary for love, and for lullaby music
Songs of a shepherd by Bethlehem fold.

Such beautiful lyrics by Bruce Blunt and music by Peter Warlock.  The carol was composed in 1927.  I really like it because it has medieval modality (this means it is based on a particular set of notes used within the Medieval era as well as using more modern Chromatic notes and the melody is varied.  

I hope you enjoy it too.

xx

sdsds

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel!

 One thing I miss about church in my old home town is the Advent hymns we always sang.

My favourite was O Come, O come, Emmanuel.     It's been a couple of years since I've had the opportunity to sing this.

The song is a hymn sung for over a thousand years, originally sung in the Medieval era by nuns and monks or so I believe.

In this version here, the verses are sung in a variety of ways.

The first verse is Homophonic- meaning the melody is accompanied by block chords that mainly fit with the main melody.

The second verse is technically sung in polyphony with a few moments of monophony- the melody is sung in a sort of canon  between men and women with moments where the voices unite at the same time.

The third verse features female voices accompanied by a solo oboe in a counter melody.

The fourth verse is again a polyphonic texture with men and women in a quasi-canon and unison moments.

The final verse unites the voices, organ and oboe - voices in unison with chords and the oboe countermelody.

I love the way the final chord is a Tierce da Picadie meaning that the song was in a minor key (sounds sad) but the final chord raises the middle note of the chord a semitone (half step) higher so it becomes major, sounding happy!

Belated Advent 4- Sing a Song of Celebration (& bonus song)

 Greetings,

I missed writing my Sunday blog post for Advent, mainly because I was very unwell (more on that in another post) but also because I didn't have the correct software.

It's been a tradition on my blog since 2013, to share the song I have written for my children at school as one of my Advent posts. I've been writing my children at school a song each year since 2008 or 2009 as part of my Christmas preparations. It's one of my favourite traditions. Each year, I try to write a song about a different aspect of the Christmas story- there's been introduction songs, songs about Shepherds, songs about bells, songs about innkeepers, songs about wisemen (never shared on the blog), songs about Joy, songs about Hope, lullabies for the baby (not shared on the blog), songs about donkeys (not shared on the blog!)  and all sorts.

This year, I set out to write a song about the Star.  But it was just not happening. I couldn't get started on it and didn't feel inspired.

Instead, what I felt compelled to write was a song called Sing a Song of Celebration. To be honest with you, it's not my best song ever and I never quite finished it or finalised it mainly due to the fact that I don't have Sibelius music software working anymore. I used to have it on my laptop and then when my friend fixed and updated my laptop, he upgraded the software and I didn't have the disk anymore for Sibelius and CBC's laptop which I used to also use doesn't seem to work, so I never quite finished it and it's always remained a bit fluid, rough and ready. Plus, I couldn't find my music notation book when we performed it so I was kind of winging it on the piano part. Excuses, excuses but that's the way it was.

However, the kids seemed to sing it very lustily every time we sang it so I presumed I must be doing something right!

It's a Song of Joy, the lyrics written to sound a bit like a Psalm 150 but it also has in mind,the terrible events of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in its writing. I thought of the Christmas truce of 1914 and hoped and prayed.

Anyway,  I hope you enjoyed it.

Sing a song of celebration

Sing a song to welcome the son

Raise your voices in this carol

Christmas love has come again.

 

Ring the bells in lofty towers!

Play sweet flutes and sound strong horns!

Beat the drums and clash the cymbals!

Bow the violin, pluck the harps!

 

Sing a song of celebration...

Blaze you stars and glow you moon

Give your light oh glorious sun!

Light the candles, fire the lanterns

Raise your lights and show the way.

 

Sing a song of celebration...

Welcome friends and welcome family,

Share with people near and far,

Help the stranger, help the needy,

Share your warmth and love today.

Sing a song of celebration...

Calm the cannons, still the armies!

Halt your battles, stop your noise!

Now reflect on all our conflicts

Praise the peace that thinks again!

 Sing a song of celebration...

Now’s the time to make amends,

Now’s the time to show your grace,

Now’s the time to wish your foes,

Joy and peace at Christmas time.

 Sing a song of celebration...

 As a bonus, here's the song I wrote in 2011, never shared before here. I wanted a song about Caesar and his Census which led Mary and Joseph to travel to Bethlehem. This song, entitled Census Riffs was supposed to be a narrative of the details of the Census. The verses were deliberately written with difficult, fast word play to have fun but challenging way to say the lyrics. The Chorus- composed of 4 short repeated riffs which layer on top of each other which are supposed to give the impression of the chaos of a busy Bethlehem.  Each group shifts position each time the chorus is repeated so that you get to hear each group as a solo first each time.  The kids had to learn this from memory and then from handwritten pieces of paper which I had to frantically write when the Computer and projector packed down at school last minute - they did really well. As you might notice, there are two groups that are more confident than the others! I dare you to tell me which lines are the most confident!  They also rushed a bit in the performance!

It has an incredibly easy piano part- just one repeated chord! It is intended that a primary piano pupil could play it instead.

 Census, census, census, census x10

 You must go  back to your birth town x8

 People must be counted.  x6

Caesar has decided. Take your wife and children. x4

 

  Caesar Augustus, Roman Emp’ror he decreed:

“I want to know who’s in this mighty empire that I lead,”

All in the Roman Empire obeyed.

They had to return to the town from where they hailed

 

 You must go… x10

 People must be counted.  x8

Caesar has decided X6

 Census, census x4

 

 All had to go back, to be counted in the census

(Oh by the way, Syria’s governor was called was Quirinius)

Everyone was counted 1,2,3,4, well a lot!

You can bet those dusty travel routes were chockablock!

 

People must be.counted.  X10

Caesar has decided X8

Census, census x6

You must go… x4

 

Joseph’s place of birth was the town of Bethlehem

It sounds quite unimportant but it had a mighty claim.

The town from where came David, Jewish King of highest fame.

Who’d have thought great King’s birth would happen there again.

 

Caesar has decided X10

Census, census x8

You must go… x6

People must be.counted.  X4

ALL: You must go back to your home town! (1 CLAP)

As always, I am not looking for compliments (and I am very aware that these are very simple, not polished songs. But if there is anything you like in them, then that is great! 

If you want to hear some of my songs from a few previous years (and don't feel obliged!), you can click these links to the posts:

Joy

Hope this Christmas

Love is all you need

Mary 

Feel the Christmas beat

Join in our story

Ring out the bells

Shepherds Swing

The innkeepers rant

 

A Pause for Advent: JOY!

For my Pause for Advent this year, it is a tradition now that I share a recording of my annually written Christmas song.  For me, this is a really important part of my preparation for Christmas as well as something I look forward to.  It's also important to show my pupils that teachers DO the things they ask their pupils to do. In this case, compose. It's also an offering to God for me too.

This year, I wasn't sure whether I would write one because I wasn't sure if the Christmas services at the church would be happening. I also only had limited rehearsal time and finally, the children hadn't had the chance to sing last year's Covid special- Hope this Christmas so I was planning for them to sing that.

However, the day we had the gas leak at school, I was sitting listening to John Rutter's Christmas vocal music as I was doing my work and suddenly I had the inspiration to write a song called Joy.  I'd been listening to Star Carol and an arrangement of Joy to the World, both of which are the most ebullient, uplifting Christmas carols. A couple of hours later, I had written this simple song and written it into Sibelius music software. It's very simple but the kids loved it (and learnt to sing it in 20mins).

Alas,on the recording,the piano is too loud- I had forgotten to switch off my radio microphone so it picked up the piano extra loud but hopefully you will still get the point of it:

A song expressing that excitement that it is Christmas time again and all the joy it brings.

Wishing you much love, peace and joy this Christmas.

 

Joy! I've got Joy! 

I've got Joy in my heart this Christmas time.

 Joy! I've got Joy! 

I've got Joy in my heart this Christmas time.

Let the Earth rejoice!

Angels raise your voice!

Welcome Wonderful Counsellor!

Christmas time is here once again!

Peace! I've got Peace! 

I've got Peace in my heart this Christmas time.

Peace! I've got Peace! 

I've got Peace in my heart this Christmas time.

Let the Earth bring peace.

Let all conflict cease,

Welcome Prince of Peace.

Christmas time is here once again!

Love! I've got Love! 

I've got Love in my heart this Christmas time.

Love! I've got Love! 

I've got Love in my heart this Christmas time.

Let the Earth give love,

Love sent from above.

Welcome Everlasting Father.

Christmas time is here once again.

Joy to the world and peace to all.

Joy to the world and peace to all.

Joy to the world and peace to all.

 Joy! I've got Joy! 

I've got Joy in my heart this Christmas time.

 Joy! I've got Joy! 

I've got Joy in my heart this Christmas time.

Let the Earth rejoice!

Angels raise your voice!

Welcome Wonderful Counsellor!

Christmas time is here once again!

Joy!

P.S. 

We also sang it at Church this morning (this time with guitar, bongos, drum kit... feel free to have a listen to version too- perhaps you can hear the words a bit better here?  There's a slight mistake on the timing at the start...given that we only tried it once before the service!)

Click here to hear the audiofile

The Christmas Birds

It was the last day of school today.  Yay, survived to the end of term!

It's been a good but loooooooooooooong week!

On Sunday, we headed over to CBC's work colleague's new cottage in a village 4 miles from us. She runs the Duke of Edinburgh at his school, which I have helped with, so I know and like her, as well as knowing her through the concerts at his school (she plays the trombone).

We had a nice walk around her village, we went to the lovely pub (never been in there before...will definitely return) and were invited into the beautiful church by the vicar. I had a nice chat to his wife.  After that, we headed home.

Monday was our Christmas services at the church at school.  Usually, I would be walking 90 children down early whilst the remaining 90 would come down with their teachers.  I'd then do the same in the afternoon with another set of 90 etc.  However, this year, because it wasn't the usual drill, I didn't take the choir or drummers etc early and got to cycle there ahead by myself.

The church were as welcoming and usual and both performances, morning and afternoon   went really well.  It was weird not having parents there but it was still really lovely and the children behaved impeccably and said how much they had enjoyed themselves.

Monday evening, I headed up to the Mansion House area of London with my viola on my back, as well as my bike and pannier, to  attend a rehearsal with a choir called The Elysian singers who we were accompanying in the orchestra.  As well as traditional carols, we were playing an oratorio called The Song of Simeon by Malcolm Arnold which is a brilliant, less-often performed oratorio.  It is so witty and touching in equal measure and I recommend having a listen to it. It reminds me of Gilbert and Sullivan in places.

Tuesday was a busy day in school with teaching Jingle Bells on the glockenspiels in Year 2 (they did very well) and then the afternoon was Year 6 performing their versions of the Baroque Composer, Tarquino Merula's Chiaccona. I was proud of them.  I don't think the rest of the building appreciated all the children spread around the corridors practising as they were working in trios and really needed silence to hear each other. Ah well, hopefully it will remind people, should they ever wish to permanently get rid of my music room, that it will really annoy them!

Wednesday was another day of successful Jingle Bells (glocks in Year 2 and recorders in Year 3) and more Chiacconas.   Choir was fun at the end of the day.  I gave them crisps and a chocolate bar which they were really grateful for and we had a jolly sing through of carols on request.

Thursday, the Year 1 &2's performed their Christmas nativity songs and more Jingle Bells in the afternoon. 

We headed up to London to the Actor's church in Covent Garden to perform our concert.  Luckily, the tube and train was not packed and the church wasn't packed. We wore our masks whilst playing.  I wore my newest concert outfit which is a black velvet jumpsuit with big sleeves that I bought 2nd hand on eBay in Lockdown along with Charity-shopped Clarks T-bar shoes.

Today at school, I mostly spent the day editing and putting together the Christmas performance audio for the parents to watch and tidied up the little peripatetic room that I use as a dumping ground do admin work in. I was the last non-cleaner/caretaker member of staff to leave at 3.30pm and I resembled a Balinese motorcycle driver as I cycled precariously along the High Road to the station with a full pannier,laptop bag, rucksack, large bag full of food and large giftbag all hanging off my bike.

CBC, luckily came and picked me up from the station at the other end as it was raining and dark and I didn't really want to be cycling along the mainroad like that.

And now, onto the reason for the title.

My headteacher's partner made the most incredible decorations for his room.  The fire place was made from scratch from foam!  I asked if I could come and have a photo in front of it which he agreed to (and turned all the lights on for me! The office is so magical for the children and he often had visitors in there this December.

Today was my Robin Christmas outfit.  I wore this charity-shopped M&S sequined jumper (which isn't just for Christmas) along with a handmade Robin smock dress from Vintage Style Me and a lovely Robin necklace from Rosebud Casson.  To finish it off, I wore my Leggero boots (Goretex, fleece-lined- the perfect Winter boots)

On the subject of birds, I received the sweetest parcel from Fil. If you don't know Fil, she is a lovely blogger who is a professional Singer in Ireland and she wrote the most wonderful children's picture book with a wonderful message about welcoming migrants called The Birds which she sent to me a couple of years ago.  We sang the song in Singing Assembly and the kids loved it.

Fil sent me the most beautiful Christmas card based on the Birds illustrations as well as a lovely book called The New Policeman which contains the music for lots of Irish folksongs as well as wonderful story based on Irish fairylore as well as some beautiful bookmarks. It was such a sweet and lovely surprise and I was really touched! Thank you so much Fil!

I hope you are well and have a lovely weekend despite the impending feeling of worry about matters of the C19 kind. Love and hope to you.

xx

Pause for Advent: Stillness and Silence

 Last week I talked about Listening in my pause for Advent.

Today somewhat links to that.  I didn't really know what I wanted to write about today but today I didn't wake up till late. Around 10.30am. It meant I missed out on going to church. I could and should have joined the church service in retrospect but somehow I didn't and then my Mum said she was coming round to see me and then by the time she'd gone I wanted to get out into the garden before it turned dark - someone needed to clear up CBC's prunings from last weekend from the tree above the shed and I really had to do something about the front garden wooden planter that was full of old Cosmos plants and to lift out my Dahlia tubers and plant the Daffodil bulbs I bought yesterday.  All of a sudden it was 5pm and I still hadn't joined in the church service.  And then we needed to get some bread and to hang some washing up and then it was dinner time and then it's late.

Ah, things to do!!! Too many things to do.  In my sleep-deprived state, just not having been sleeping particularly well or long after a week of a cold and weeks of just waking early, I'm going to forgive myself for sleeping in as it was the first time I managed to do that.  I can't help but notice that the one day of the week that I actually can seem to sleep longer is Sunday.  Coincidence you might say, but perhaps God is showing me that Sunday is a day of rest and reminding me that it is his day.  Yes, I am sure God would want me to be at church, but he's a God of kindness and compassion and who knows what we need so I am seeing it this way. Perhaps, however, I could have avoided all the other busyness today though though it was good to be outside in the cold and quiet with the plants. I hope to catch up on the service in the week.

But on that related subject, in this life of busyness and being on the go, Stillness and silence are very much in shortage.

Two of my favourite Bible  quotes are 

"Be still and know that I am Lord."

"Be still before the Lord."

There are carols and songs written about Silence and Stillness:

Still, Still, Still, 

Silent Night (I thought I'd go with a modern take on this one in contrast with the more traditional carol above)

Yes, I love all the Christmas carols and Christmas films and socialising and all that but when it comes to it, that beautiful stillness and silence that I experience at the Midnight service on Christmas eve is something really special. And I think we all need a bit of stillness and silence in our lives.  Not everything needs a soundtrack or a conversation about it.

I hope you can experience some stillness and silence this week.

x

A Pause for Advent 2021 #1 Listen

 This year, as Ang has lots going on, Kirsten is hosting- thank you Kirsten as it isn't Advent without this!

A Pause for Advent has always been a chance for us to sit back and prepare for Christmas amongst all the hustle and bustle of life preparing for Christmas which can often get really busy.

This week, I want to think about that...sitting back. I STILL have that wonderful anticipation and excitement for Christmas that I always have done since being a child- I love the build up to Christmas- the Advent service, the music, the concerts, the rehearsals, the special meals, the sending of Christmas cards, the excited chats about plans, the arrangement of meetings. I am so grateful that I have that.  That excitement and familiarity that comes from knowing that it Christmas is coming  and Christ is coming, as he has always come, will never fade and that singularly keeps me going and never getting tired of the traditions. I don't put up loads of decorations, nor buy loads of expensive presents for loads of people (although I do buy presents) and I don't actually go to that many Christmas dos, but I do enjoy listening to others and their excitement so in preparation for Advent this year, I want to listen to other people, take the time to hear their plans, hear their excitement or indeed, sorrows or worries, if that is where they are.  So for me, my first pause for Advent is to remind me to listen.

Listen to the messages of the season.

Listen to God and what he might be saying.

Listen to those who want to rejoice!

Listen to those who want to reminisce and share memories.

Listen to those who are worried.

Listen to the needs of the world and pray for them.

Listen to my body and don't push it when it is tired.

Listen to my friends.

and finally,

Listen to the myriad examples of beautiful music that so many people in so many people over the years have been inspired to write over their joy and rapture at this wonderful season.

Right now, I am enjoying the John Rutter Christmas album.

Christmas definitely isn't Christmas without Rutter!  

I hope you enjoy any opportunities you take to listen this week.

xx

Hope for the world's despair

This beautiful video was shared as part of our Remembrance Sunday service today at church and I thought it was beautiful.

Back in 2018, ten new hymns were written to mark the centenary of Armistice Day and the end of World War 1. One of these was Hope for the World's despair which was the winner of Jubilate's Hymns of Peace competition. The writer was Ally Barrett.  More information can be found here and the songs can be downloaded.

The lyrics are beautiful and very appropriate for today and for our world as it is and the singer is wonderful!

I hope you enjoy it!

Hope this Christmas (Advent at Home)

 As some of you may or may not know, every year since I have been at my school (all 14 years!), I have composed an original song for the children to sing at the church for our Christmas performance.  It's one of my favourite things I do in the year and to hear our children singing my own song always makes me very proud. As we teach the children, it is important that you learn to write for a specific audience, be that writing instructions for a recipe, a letter to your local MP, a fairy tale story for Reception children, a fanfare for a king and in this case, a Christmas song for a choir or school and I do this as an exercise to show that the learning never stops, nor does the creative process, no matter how old you are and that being a teacher is not all we are- we have skills, interests and hobbies that we do beyond the classroom.  As well as, of course, showing the children I care about them by writing something FOR THEM specifically.  

  Over the years, pretty much every aspect of the Christmas story and our performance has had a song written for it- Donkeys, Mary receiving the message, the baby sleeping, Caesar Augustus and his census, the Kings, the (swinging) shepherds, the innkeepers, the angels, the introduction part, a party song at the end, the message of Love being the best gift etc.

This year, I wanted to write a song of Hope, not aimed at telling an aspect of the Christmas story but to remind people in the year of 2020: you and all of our children and parents to have hope, stay positive, be kind, trust and never give up, no matter how hard things have been or are getting.  It was going to be a surprise that in the last week, I was going to record each class singing a section of it and then I was going to stitch it together and send it to the parents on the last day.

 

BUT, because we were having to stick to bubbles, this wasn't going to be possible so I adapted and was going to just  record it with choir this week (we learnt it last week on Tuesday but I wanted all the quarantining children to be part of the recording) .  Of course, my enforced isolation has put paid to that  and I've been unable to do that. Best laid plans and all that.

However, I still wanted to send the message of hope to all of you so I recorded myself singing and playing it.  No comments, positive or negative on the singing please, it's a little cringy (& a bit strangled cat!)  as it is intended to be sung by a large group of children for maximum impact, not by a slightly embarrassed teacher, trying to play the piano part correctly simultaneously, hoping her neighbours don't hear her!

The message is what is important- there will always be light if you keep it alive in your heart with hope.

Hope this Christmas

It’s been a hard year and we’ve found things changing too much.

It’s hard to see when the hardships and restrictions can all cease.

Times are strange and there’s sadness so

We must stay strong, keep our faith and let’s have

Hope this Christmas,         Hope this Christmas,

Hope this Christmas,         Hope this Christmas,

Stay safe this Christmas      Stay safe this Christmas

Stay safe this Christmas      Stay safe this Christmas

Don’t give up now, Trust  and pray and keep on striving, keep the season’s Joy!

It’s been oh so hard, when we we’re lost and oh so lonely,

But we can find joy, if we try to seek it, try to let it shine,

Yes there’s fear but there’s courage, strength so

We must be kind, show our love and always:

Hope this Christmas,         Hope this Christmas,

Hope this Christmas,         Hope this Christmas,

Stay safe this Christmas      Stay safe this Christmas

Stay safe this Christmas      Stay safe this Christmas

Don’t give up now, Trust  and pray and keep on striving, keep the season’s Joy!

Keep the hope, keep the joy, don’t give up, share your love, you’ve got to keep that

Hope this Christmas,         Hope this Christmas,

Hope this Christmas,         Hope this Christmas,

Stay safe this Christmas      Stay safe this Christmas

Stay safe this Christmas      Stay safe this Christmas

Don’t give up now, Trust  and pray and keep on striving, keep the season’s Joy!

 

 This is part of my 'Advent at Home' post with Ang.