1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:04,500 In just a moment, it's Shickly Mix with Peter Shickly, coming up at 1 o'clock this afternoon. 2 00:00:04,500 --> 00:00:10,100 It is a 1 o'clock earlier start for The Met, for the first program for the broadcast year, 3 00:00:10,100 --> 00:00:12,100 which is Les Juives. 4 00:00:12,100 --> 00:00:15,600 Peter Shickly's got a special program, though, a special holiday program that's going to 5 00:00:15,600 --> 00:00:16,600 start in just a moment. 6 00:00:16,600 --> 00:00:17,600 He is ready, I hope. 7 00:00:17,600 --> 00:00:19,800 He had this real weird red and white suit. 8 00:00:19,800 --> 00:00:21,000 Peter, are you ready? 9 00:00:21,000 --> 00:00:31,000 It's funny, I could get into this Santa suit last year. 10 00:00:31,000 --> 00:00:51,100 Well, anyway, here's the theme. 11 00:00:51,100 --> 00:00:56,600 Hello there, I'm Peter Shickly, and this is Shickly Mix, a program dedicated to the proposition 12 00:00:56,600 --> 00:01:03,000 that all musics are created equal, or as Duke Ellington put it, if it sounds good, it is 13 00:01:03,000 --> 00:01:04,640 good. 14 00:01:04,640 --> 00:01:09,880 This is a season for presents, and one of the best presents you and I have ever received 15 00:01:09,880 --> 00:01:15,360 is the fact that the bills for this show are paid by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, 16 00:01:15,360 --> 00:01:21,480 by the National Endowment for the Arts, and by this munificent radio station, where every 17 00:01:21,480 --> 00:01:27,400 day is a holiday, and where, this is a little paradox here, they put up with my presents 18 00:01:27,400 --> 00:01:30,320 without my giving them any presents. 19 00:01:30,320 --> 00:01:37,480 Our program is distributed all over the place by PRI, Public Radio International. 20 00:01:37,480 --> 00:01:43,020 Although I wasn't born there, I consider Fargo, North Dakota to be my hometown. 21 00:01:43,020 --> 00:01:47,720 That's where I spent my teenage years, got interested in music, and have friends that 22 00:01:47,720 --> 00:01:49,760 I still keep up with. 23 00:01:49,760 --> 00:01:52,960 But I went east to college and ended up in New York City. 24 00:01:52,960 --> 00:01:58,080 Now of course, New York City is full of people like me from the Midwest, especially in the 25 00:01:58,080 --> 00:01:59,080 arts. 26 00:01:59,080 --> 00:02:03,360 But some native New Yorkers, and there are a few of those around, tend to think that 27 00:02:03,360 --> 00:02:11,120 life in the Midwest is like a series of Norman Rockwell Saturday evening post covers. 28 00:02:11,120 --> 00:02:16,960 Now the trouble with the Norman Rockwell image is that it doesn't make room for the lively, 29 00:02:16,960 --> 00:02:21,560 non-mainstream musical activities that went on in my time there. 30 00:02:21,560 --> 00:02:27,760 The Fargo-Moorhead Community Orchestra, playing a piece by Messiaen in 1950 or so. 31 00:02:27,760 --> 00:02:32,440 William Masellos, playing the Charles Ives Concord Sonata in a recital and then coming 32 00:02:32,440 --> 00:02:38,160 out to our house for a party and spending most of the time talking to us teenagers. 33 00:02:38,160 --> 00:02:42,520 Percy Granger, playing a recital at Moorhead State Teacher's College. 34 00:02:42,520 --> 00:02:48,360 My piano teacher giving me pieces by Bartok, Prokofiev, Roy Harris, and William Schumann. 35 00:02:48,360 --> 00:02:52,960 And frequent string quartet evenings at various people's homes. 36 00:02:52,960 --> 00:02:58,480 The Norman Rockwell image also ignores the darker side of life everywhere, yes, even 37 00:02:58,480 --> 00:03:00,740 life in the Midwest. 38 00:03:00,740 --> 00:03:06,420 My high school friend, a talented, interesting girl who later committed suicide. 39 00:03:06,420 --> 00:03:08,720 Another friend who had a nervous breakdown. 40 00:03:08,720 --> 00:03:11,760 A third who was killed in a car accident. 41 00:03:11,760 --> 00:03:18,240 But you know, looking back on it now, 45 years later and half a continent away, I'm sometimes 42 00:03:18,240 --> 00:03:22,460 impressed by how Norman Rockwellian it was. 43 00:03:22,460 --> 00:03:25,240 We really did go around Christmas caroling. 44 00:03:25,240 --> 00:03:32,280 We really did put pieces of plywood on sawhorses to have big holiday dinners with 20, 25 people. 45 00:03:32,280 --> 00:03:37,720 Somebody really did dress up as Santa Claus and hand out some presents. 46 00:03:37,720 --> 00:03:41,720 If there are any young children listening, I'm just kidding. 47 00:03:41,720 --> 00:03:44,920 Today's program is called A Fargo Christmas. 48 00:03:44,920 --> 00:03:50,800 And I might as well warn you right now that, well, I may wax a touch sentimental. 49 00:03:50,800 --> 00:03:55,320 But hey, that's one of the things this season of the year is for. 50 00:03:55,320 --> 00:04:00,500 And speaking of seasons, Christmas time in this country is traditionally a time for celebrating 51 00:04:00,500 --> 00:04:03,560 winter in general, at least musically. 52 00:04:03,560 --> 00:04:08,720 Many of the songs you're hearing these days in the shopping malls are not actually Christmas 53 00:04:08,720 --> 00:04:12,120 songs, they're isn't winter great songs. 54 00:04:12,120 --> 00:04:15,400 Now personally, I will never think of winter as great. 55 00:04:15,400 --> 00:04:17,600 I am a cold-blooded animal. 56 00:04:17,600 --> 00:04:21,840 And I regard the theory that our blood circulates throughout our bodies as one of the great 57 00:04:21,840 --> 00:04:24,280 hoaxes in the history of science. 58 00:04:24,280 --> 00:04:29,240 You can't tell me that if you use one of those fluffy Swiss quilts that only come up to your 59 00:04:29,240 --> 00:04:32,960 waist, the rest of your body will be warm too. 60 00:04:32,960 --> 00:04:39,320 Now we moved to Fargo in 1947, and the first few winters happened to be real doozies. 61 00:04:39,320 --> 00:04:44,200 I remember that towards the end of winter, it was almost impossible to shovel the sidewalk 62 00:04:44,200 --> 00:04:48,740 because the snow was piled so high on either side that you couldn't throw the new snow 63 00:04:48,740 --> 00:04:51,480 high enough to clear the banks. 64 00:04:51,480 --> 00:04:55,320 I remember getting up at 6 o'clock in the morning to shovel the driveway. 65 00:04:55,320 --> 00:05:00,840 The sky is pitch black and it's 20 below, and just as you're finishing, you hear the 66 00:05:00,840 --> 00:05:06,880 dreaded sound of the city snowplow, and you stand there glumly as the snowplow pushes 67 00:05:06,880 --> 00:05:10,480 the snow from the street up into your driveway. 68 00:05:10,480 --> 00:05:16,360 And I remember one winter in particular when I kept falling down on the icy sidewalks. 69 00:05:16,360 --> 00:05:21,240 I was a pretty physical guy, and gravity and I have always gotten along pretty well together. 70 00:05:21,240 --> 00:05:22,840 We have an understanding. 71 00:05:22,840 --> 00:05:27,680 But that one winter, I slipped on the ice again and again. 72 00:05:27,680 --> 00:05:31,900 And you know, the strange thing was that it always and only happened when there were girls 73 00:05:31,900 --> 00:05:33,440 my own age around. 74 00:05:33,440 --> 00:05:38,840 Now, as far as I'm concerned, winter isn't half as much fun as sex and drugs, but it 75 00:05:38,840 --> 00:05:41,280 gets you into just as much trouble. 76 00:05:41,280 --> 00:05:55,040 Nevertheless, some people like it. 77 00:05:55,040 --> 00:06:03,720 This is the time so well we love, the time of all the year, when winter calls with chilling 78 00:06:03,720 --> 00:06:14,280 breath for fireside and good cheer, a time for man and beast to stand and feel the season 79 00:06:14,280 --> 00:06:24,200 turn, to watch the stars for secret signs and God's true lessons learned, for the time 80 00:06:24,200 --> 00:06:34,720 when the corn is all into the barn, the old cow's breaths of frosty wine, when the morn 81 00:06:34,720 --> 00:06:47,560 along the fellow field doth silver shine, and when cold morning's radiant star shines 82 00:06:47,560 --> 00:06:59,280 over hill and plain, we know anew that little babe is born to us again, and man and beast 83 00:06:59,280 --> 00:07:05,000 and bird and tree, each one in his own place. 84 00:07:05,000 --> 00:07:14,200 We bow our hearts and thank our God for winter rest and grace, for the time when the corn 85 00:07:14,200 --> 00:07:25,560 is all into the barn, the old cow's breaths of frosty wine, and the morn along the fellow 86 00:07:25,560 --> 00:07:44,600 field doth silver shine. 87 00:07:44,600 --> 00:08:13,240 We bow our hearts and thank our God for winter rest and grace, for the time when the corn 88 00:08:13,240 --> 00:08:39,560 is all into the barn, the old cow's breaths of frosty wine, and the morn along the fellow 89 00:08:39,560 --> 00:09:08,400 field doth silver shine. 90 00:09:09,560 --> 00:09:26,840 I love the winter weather, so the two of us can get together, there's nothing sweeter, 91 00:09:26,840 --> 00:09:35,400 finer, when it's nice and cold, I can hold my baby closer to me, and collect the pieces 92 00:09:35,400 --> 00:09:42,760 that I do need, I love the winter weather, cause I got my love to keep me warm. 93 00:10:05,400 --> 00:10:32,840 I love the winter weather, cause I got my love to keep me warm. 94 00:10:32,840 --> 00:10:41,160 I love the winter weather, so the two of us can get together, there's nothing sweeter, 95 00:10:41,160 --> 00:10:50,360 finer, when it's nice and cold, I can hold my baby closer to me, and collect the pieces 96 00:10:50,360 --> 00:11:04,680 that I do need, I love the winter weather, cause I got my love to keep me warm. 97 00:11:04,680 --> 00:11:12,840 I love the winter weather, so the two of us can get together, there's nothing sweeter, 98 00:11:12,840 --> 00:11:21,640 finer, when it's nice and cold, I can hold my baby closer to me, and collect the pieces 99 00:11:21,640 --> 00:11:50,280 that I do need, I love the winter weather, cause I got my love to keep me warm. 100 00:11:50,280 --> 00:12:19,800 I love the winter weather, so the two of us can get together, there's nothing sweeter, 101 00:12:19,800 --> 00:12:41,240 finer, when it's nice and cold, I can hold my baby closer to me, and collect the pieces 102 00:12:41,240 --> 00:12:49,240 that I do need, I love the winter weather, cause I got my love to keep me warm. 103 00:12:49,240 --> 00:12:57,880 I love the winter weather, so the two of us can get together, there's nothing sweeter, 104 00:12:57,880 --> 00:13:07,080 finer, when it's nice and cold, I can hold my baby closer to me, and collect the pieces 105 00:13:07,080 --> 00:13:17,080 that I do need, I love the winter weather, cause I got my love to keep me warm. 106 00:13:17,080 --> 00:13:30,920 I love the winter weather, so the two of us can get together, there's nothing sweeter, 107 00:13:30,920 --> 00:13:42,920 finer, when it's nice and cold, I can hold my baby closer to me, and collect the pieces 108 00:13:42,920 --> 00:13:52,920 that I do need, I love the winter weather, cause I got my love to keep me warm. 109 00:13:52,920 --> 00:14:06,920 I'm dreaming of a white Christmas, with every Christmas card I find, with every Christmas 110 00:14:06,920 --> 00:14:34,920 card I find, may your days be merry, and all your gifts be white, and may all your Christmases 111 00:14:34,920 --> 00:14:40,920 be white. 112 00:14:40,920 --> 00:14:50,920 Our first song cycle was called Weather, and it began with Jean Ritchie, a song called 113 00:14:50,920 --> 00:14:52,920 Winter Grace. 114 00:14:52,920 --> 00:14:58,920 And let me read what she says in her liner notes to this album, Kentucky Christmas. 115 00:14:58,920 --> 00:15:03,920 Ice and snow mean hardship to city people, as I learned when I came to New York and had 116 00:15:03,920 --> 00:15:07,920 my first taste of rush hour during a January storm. 117 00:15:07,920 --> 00:15:10,920 How different on our Kentucky mountainside farm. 118 00:15:10,920 --> 00:15:14,920 Here the cold months mean a needed breathing space. 119 00:15:14,920 --> 00:15:20,920 The land, the animals, people, all rest and gather strength of body and spirit to begin 120 00:15:20,920 --> 00:15:22,920 the growing cycle again in the spring. 121 00:15:22,920 --> 00:15:26,920 I wanted to sing about this feeling of winter grace and peace. 122 00:15:26,920 --> 00:15:30,920 There was no old song for it, so I made this one. 123 00:15:30,920 --> 00:15:36,920 Then we had Benny Goodman and his orchestra doing Winter Weather. 124 00:15:36,920 --> 00:15:38,920 There were two vocalists. 125 00:15:38,920 --> 00:15:42,920 The first was Peggy Lee, another North Dakotan, by the way. 126 00:15:42,920 --> 00:15:45,920 She was born Norma Dolores Eggstrom. 127 00:15:45,920 --> 00:15:48,920 And the second was Art Lund. 128 00:15:48,920 --> 00:15:54,920 And finally, that splendid version of White Christmas by the Statues. 129 00:15:54,920 --> 00:16:00,920 One thing you usually don't have to worry about in Fargo is the possibility that Christmas 130 00:16:00,920 --> 00:16:02,920 might not be white. 131 00:16:02,920 --> 00:16:09,920 And I must admit that unlike in New York City, the snow in Fargo stays pretty white and pretty 132 00:16:09,920 --> 00:16:10,920 pretty. 133 00:16:10,920 --> 00:16:12,920 In fact, it's beautiful. 134 00:16:12,920 --> 00:16:18,920 And I love the way on very cold and bright days, the white smoke coming out of industrial 135 00:16:18,920 --> 00:16:24,920 smokestacks seems to be as motionless and solid as if it were in a painting. 136 00:16:24,920 --> 00:16:30,920 But, well, it's this thing about winter going on for month after month after month after 137 00:16:30,920 --> 00:16:32,920 month after month. 138 00:16:32,920 --> 00:16:35,920 That's what I don't miss. 139 00:16:35,920 --> 00:16:41,920 Even now, my name is Peter Shickley, and the program is Shickley Mix from PRI, 140 00:16:41,920 --> 00:16:45,920 Public Radio International. 141 00:16:45,920 --> 00:16:48,920 A Fargo Christmas. 142 00:16:48,920 --> 00:16:51,920 Lots of Scandinavians in that part of the country. 143 00:16:51,920 --> 00:16:55,920 I was always told that if I ever wanted to start a fight in a bar, all I had to do was 144 00:16:55,920 --> 00:17:00,920 say, out of the weeds came a thousand Swedes chased by one Norwegian. 145 00:17:00,920 --> 00:17:05,920 Fortunately, I've never had a particular yen to start a fight in a bar. 146 00:17:05,920 --> 00:17:10,920 And one thing you could count on during the Christmas season was hearing the perennial 147 00:17:10,920 --> 00:17:18,920 novelty hit, jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way, sung by Yogi Jorgensen. 148 00:17:18,920 --> 00:17:20,920 I think that was his name. 149 00:17:20,920 --> 00:17:23,920 You don't hear that number one heck of a lot in New York City. 150 00:17:23,920 --> 00:17:29,920 But you know, it's amazing how many secular Christmas songs quote jingle bells in their 151 00:17:29,920 --> 00:17:31,920 instrumental introductions. 152 00:17:31,920 --> 00:17:33,920 White Christmas just did that. 153 00:17:33,920 --> 00:17:38,920 One of the strongest associations we Americans have with this season is sleighs and sleigh 154 00:17:38,920 --> 00:17:44,920 bells, even though most of us have never ridden in a sleigh, one horse open or any other kind. 155 00:17:44,920 --> 00:17:51,920 My observation about sleighs is that they seem to inspire particularly corny songs. 156 00:17:51,920 --> 00:17:56,920 Our next suite is called sleigh-based, all in cuteness departments. 157 00:17:56,920 --> 00:17:59,920 They're pretty trite, too. 158 00:17:59,920 --> 00:18:04,920 But you know, back in the late 60s when I was doing a lot of arranging for singers, 159 00:18:04,920 --> 00:18:09,920 I sometimes took pride in trying to make a song that I didn't really care for sound better 160 00:18:09,920 --> 00:18:13,920 than it was, gilding the crabgrass, you might say. 161 00:18:13,920 --> 00:18:17,920 And I've found versions of these three songs that I think help a lot. 162 00:18:17,920 --> 00:18:20,920 I'll see you in about eight and a half minutes. 163 00:18:20,920 --> 00:18:36,920 ♪ 164 00:18:36,920 --> 00:18:56,920 ♪ 165 00:18:56,920 --> 00:19:06,920 ♪ 166 00:19:06,920 --> 00:19:26,920 ♪ 167 00:19:26,920 --> 00:19:36,920 ♪ 168 00:19:36,920 --> 00:19:56,920 ♪ 169 00:19:56,920 --> 00:20:06,920 ♪ 170 00:20:06,920 --> 00:20:26,920 ♪ 171 00:20:26,920 --> 00:20:36,920 ♪ 172 00:20:36,920 --> 00:20:46,920 ♪ 173 00:20:46,920 --> 00:20:56,920 ♪ 174 00:20:56,920 --> 00:21:06,920 ♪ 175 00:21:06,920 --> 00:21:16,920 ♪ 176 00:21:16,920 --> 00:21:26,920 ♪ 177 00:21:26,920 --> 00:21:36,920 ♪ 178 00:21:36,920 --> 00:21:56,920 ♪ 179 00:21:56,920 --> 00:22:06,920 ♪ 180 00:22:06,920 --> 00:22:16,920 ♪ 181 00:22:16,920 --> 00:22:26,920 ♪ 182 00:22:26,920 --> 00:22:36,920 ♪ 183 00:22:36,920 --> 00:22:46,920 ♪ 184 00:22:46,920 --> 00:22:56,920 ♪ 185 00:22:56,920 --> 00:23:06,920 ♪ 186 00:23:06,920 --> 00:23:16,920 ♪ 187 00:23:16,920 --> 00:23:26,920 ♪ 188 00:23:26,920 --> 00:23:36,920 ♪ 189 00:23:36,920 --> 00:23:46,920 ♪ 190 00:23:46,920 --> 00:23:56,920 ♪ 191 00:23:56,920 --> 00:24:06,920 ♪ 192 00:24:06,920 --> 00:24:16,920 ♪ 193 00:24:16,920 --> 00:24:26,920 ♪ 194 00:24:26,920 --> 00:24:36,920 ♪ 195 00:24:36,920 --> 00:24:46,920 ♪ 196 00:24:46,920 --> 00:25:06,920 ♪ 197 00:25:06,920 --> 00:25:16,920 ♪ 198 00:25:16,920 --> 00:25:36,920 ♪ 199 00:25:36,920 --> 00:25:56,920 ♪ 200 00:25:56,920 --> 00:26:16,920 ♪ 201 00:26:16,920 --> 00:26:26,920 ♪ 202 00:26:26,920 --> 00:26:36,920 ♪ 203 00:26:36,920 --> 00:26:46,920 ♪ 204 00:26:46,920 --> 00:26:56,920 ♪ 205 00:26:56,920 --> 00:27:06,920 ♪ 206 00:27:06,920 --> 00:27:16,920 ♪ 207 00:27:16,920 --> 00:27:26,920 ♪ 208 00:27:26,920 --> 00:27:36,920 ♪ 209 00:27:36,920 --> 00:27:46,920 ♪ 210 00:27:46,920 --> 00:27:56,920 ♪ 211 00:27:56,920 --> 00:28:06,920 ♪ 212 00:28:06,920 --> 00:28:16,920 ♪ 213 00:28:16,920 --> 00:28:28,920 ♪ 214 00:28:28,920 --> 00:28:31,920 Don't ask, I don't know. 215 00:28:31,920 --> 00:28:37,920 Why Shostakovich associated King Lear's Fool with Jingle Bells is beyond my ken. 216 00:28:37,920 --> 00:28:40,920 I played the cut to someone who speaks Russian, 217 00:28:40,920 --> 00:28:44,920 and he said that the words are appropriately incoherent, 218 00:28:44,920 --> 00:28:46,920 I mean, it is a fool after all, 219 00:28:46,920 --> 00:28:50,920 but there's something about the fool wanting someone to meet him under the bush. 220 00:28:50,920 --> 00:28:55,920 He said the Jingle Bells is and was well-known in Russia and associated with the West, 221 00:28:55,920 --> 00:28:59,920 so maybe there was some political comment intended. 222 00:28:59,920 --> 00:29:02,920 Fool equals West? I don't know. 223 00:29:02,920 --> 00:29:07,920 Who can plumb the depths of the Soviet or anti-Soviet mind? 224 00:29:07,920 --> 00:29:11,920 Later, my informant called back and said that it had occurred to him 225 00:29:11,920 --> 00:29:16,920 that the word used for fool means not just fool in general, but court jester, 226 00:29:16,920 --> 00:29:21,920 and court jesters often wore little Jingle Bells as part of their costumes. 227 00:29:21,920 --> 00:29:25,920 Hey, should this guy be writing a Ph.D. thesis or what? 228 00:29:25,920 --> 00:29:29,920 Anyway, here's the second part of today's Duple Tidbit. 229 00:29:29,920 --> 00:29:44,920 ♪ 230 00:29:59,920 --> 00:30:09,920 ♪ 231 00:30:29,920 --> 00:30:39,920 ♪ 232 00:30:39,920 --> 00:31:01,920 ♪ 233 00:31:01,920 --> 00:31:08,920 Jingle Bells, as interpreted by the Kominsky International Kazoo Quartet 234 00:31:08,920 --> 00:31:10,920 from the album Kazoophony. 235 00:31:10,920 --> 00:31:16,920 Where but on Shickly Mix can you hear not one but two Slavic versions of Jingle Bells? 236 00:31:16,920 --> 00:31:18,920 Nowhere, that's where. 237 00:31:18,920 --> 00:31:21,920 And speaking of nowhere, I'm Peter Shickly, 238 00:31:21,920 --> 00:31:30,920 the eponymous host of Shickly Mix from PRI, Public Radio International. 239 00:31:30,920 --> 00:31:33,920 I've been reminiscing about Christmas in Fargo, 240 00:31:33,920 --> 00:31:37,920 and so far we've been dealing with the secular side of the season, 241 00:31:37,920 --> 00:31:40,920 although in general my parents didn't go to church much. 242 00:31:40,920 --> 00:31:45,920 They, and I think especially my mother, were very aware of their Protestant heritage, 243 00:31:45,920 --> 00:31:48,920 and they wanted my brother and me to at least be introduced 244 00:31:48,920 --> 00:31:51,920 to the experience of communal worship. 245 00:31:51,920 --> 00:31:55,920 So we joined the Plymouth Congregational Church on the north side of Fargo, 246 00:31:55,920 --> 00:31:59,920 whose minister at that time had a touch of the rebel in him. 247 00:31:59,920 --> 00:32:04,920 I guess it's hard in this post-60s world to imagine that in the late 40s 248 00:32:04,920 --> 00:32:08,920 it was a bit shocking to see on the signboard in front of the church 249 00:32:08,920 --> 00:32:10,920 that this Sunday's sermon was called 250 00:32:10,920 --> 00:32:13,920 Bongo, Bongo, Bongo, I Don't Want to Leave the Congo, 251 00:32:13,920 --> 00:32:18,920 which was the name of one of the more profound pop songs of the day. 252 00:32:18,920 --> 00:32:22,920 We were quite involved in the church for a while, but it didn't stick, 253 00:32:22,920 --> 00:32:24,920 at least in terms of churchgoing, 254 00:32:24,920 --> 00:32:28,920 although in the long run I certainly think that there were some permanent things 255 00:32:28,920 --> 00:32:32,920 of value and interest imparted to me. 256 00:32:32,920 --> 00:32:36,920 I remember Christmas Eves with particular fondness in my family. 257 00:32:36,920 --> 00:32:38,920 My father originally came from Germany, 258 00:32:38,920 --> 00:32:43,920 and we followed his family's tradition of exchanging presents on the night before Christmas. 259 00:32:43,920 --> 00:32:48,920 But before we did, we gathered around the tree, lit with real candles, 260 00:32:48,920 --> 00:32:51,920 and my mother got out the huge Wilcox family Bible, 261 00:32:51,920 --> 00:32:55,920 with the page for recording births and marriages in the front, 262 00:32:55,920 --> 00:32:58,920 and read the Nativity story from St. Luke. 263 00:32:58,920 --> 00:33:02,920 And Nativity is the name of our next song cycle. 264 00:33:02,920 --> 00:33:04,920 The first number is in Spanish. 265 00:33:04,920 --> 00:33:08,920 The text begins, News, news by your faith, speak, brother, 266 00:33:08,920 --> 00:33:13,920 for to us is born, he is born indeed as man, I know well, God incarnate, 267 00:33:13,920 --> 00:33:15,920 Jesus Christ of Nazareth. 268 00:33:15,920 --> 00:33:17,920 The second piece is in Latin, 269 00:33:17,920 --> 00:33:22,920 and tells the story of the shepherds going to Bethlehem to see the newly born baby. 270 00:33:22,920 --> 00:33:26,920 The third is in English, and I'll be back in six minutes. 271 00:33:26,920 --> 00:33:32,920 News, news by your faith, speak, brother, 272 00:33:32,920 --> 00:33:37,920 for to us is born, he is born indeed as man, I know well, God incarnate, 273 00:33:37,920 --> 00:33:40,920 Jesus Christ of Nazareth. 274 00:33:40,920 --> 00:33:43,920 The third piece is in Spanish, 275 00:33:43,920 --> 00:33:50,920 and tells the story of the shepherds going to Bethlehem to see the newly born baby. 276 00:33:50,920 --> 00:33:56,920 News, news by your faith, speak, brother, 277 00:33:56,920 --> 00:34:03,920 for to us is born, he is born indeed as man, I know well, God incarnate, 278 00:34:03,920 --> 00:34:05,920 Jesus Christ of Nazareth. 279 00:34:05,920 --> 00:34:20,920 For to us is born, he is born indeed as man, I know well, God incarnate, 280 00:34:20,920 --> 00:34:25,920 Jesus Christ of Nazareth. 281 00:34:25,920 --> 00:34:37,920 Et videamus hoc verbum glott factum est, 282 00:34:37,920 --> 00:34:47,920 quod dominus ostendit nobis. 283 00:34:47,920 --> 00:34:58,920 Vid venerunt festinatis, vid in venerunt Maria, 284 00:34:58,920 --> 00:35:18,920 et Joseph, et in fontem positum in prescipio. 285 00:35:18,920 --> 00:35:36,920 Identis autam, quod globirut i verbum, quanti tubera velisti paroc. 286 00:35:36,920 --> 00:35:50,920 Quod omnesque aureaerut viratisunt, 287 00:35:50,920 --> 00:36:02,920 idiosque dicta errant apas doribus ad ipsos. 288 00:36:02,920 --> 00:36:08,920 Maria autem conservabat omnia verbalic, 289 00:36:08,920 --> 00:36:30,920 conferens in cordis unum. 290 00:36:30,920 --> 00:36:40,920 Quod diversi sunt pastores, 291 00:36:40,920 --> 00:36:51,920 glorificantis et laudantis deum, 292 00:36:51,920 --> 00:37:02,920 in omnibus quod errant, et vid errant, 293 00:37:02,920 --> 00:37:22,920 sipunt dictam est ad ios. 294 00:37:32,920 --> 00:37:42,920 The Bells of Paradise 295 00:37:42,920 --> 00:37:45,920 Down in yon forest there stands a hall, 296 00:37:45,920 --> 00:37:48,920 the bells of paradise I hear them ring. 297 00:37:48,920 --> 00:37:51,920 It's covered all over with purple and pearl, 298 00:37:51,920 --> 00:37:58,920 and I love my Lord Jesus above anything. 299 00:37:58,920 --> 00:38:01,920 In that hall there stands a bed, 300 00:38:01,920 --> 00:38:04,920 the bells of paradise I hear them ring. 301 00:38:04,920 --> 00:38:07,920 It's covered all over with scarlet so red, 302 00:38:07,920 --> 00:38:14,920 and I love my Lord Jesus above anything. 303 00:38:14,920 --> 00:38:17,920 At the bedside there lies a stone, 304 00:38:17,920 --> 00:38:20,920 the bells of paradise I hear them ring, 305 00:38:20,920 --> 00:38:23,920 the sweet virgin Mary knelt upon, 306 00:38:23,920 --> 00:38:43,920 and I love my Lord Jesus above anything. 307 00:38:43,920 --> 00:38:46,920 At the bed's foot there grows a thorn, 308 00:38:46,920 --> 00:38:49,920 the bells of paradise I hear them ring. 309 00:38:49,920 --> 00:38:52,920 Whichever blooms blossoms since he was born, 310 00:38:52,920 --> 00:38:59,920 and I love my Lord Jesus above anything. 311 00:38:59,920 --> 00:39:02,920 Over that bed the moon shines bright, 312 00:39:02,920 --> 00:39:05,920 the bells of paradise I hear them ring, 313 00:39:05,920 --> 00:39:08,920 denoting our Savior was born this night, 314 00:39:08,920 --> 00:39:19,920 and I love my Lord Jesus above anything. 315 00:39:19,920 --> 00:39:22,920 Our song cycle, Nativity, 316 00:39:22,920 --> 00:39:25,920 began with an anonymous 15th century piece 317 00:39:25,920 --> 00:39:28,920 called Nuevas, Nuevas Por Tu Fe, 318 00:39:28,920 --> 00:39:31,920 sung by the Hilliard Ensemble 319 00:39:31,920 --> 00:39:34,920 from an album called Sacred and Secular Music 320 00:39:34,920 --> 00:39:36,920 from Six Centuries. 321 00:39:36,920 --> 00:39:39,920 Then we had the second of Paul Hindemith's 322 00:39:39,920 --> 00:39:43,920 Christmas motets, Pastorius Loquibuntur, 323 00:39:43,920 --> 00:39:45,920 sung by Christian Baumann, 324 00:39:45,920 --> 00:39:48,920 accompanied by Michael Baumann. 325 00:39:48,920 --> 00:39:51,920 And then finally, Joan Baez singing 326 00:39:51,920 --> 00:39:55,920 Down in Yon Forest from the album Noel, 327 00:39:55,920 --> 00:39:58,920 the music arranged by yours truly. 328 00:39:58,920 --> 00:40:00,920 Notice how I never mention the arrangement 329 00:40:00,920 --> 00:40:02,920 when it's Benny Goodman's band or anything, 330 00:40:02,920 --> 00:40:06,920 only in one case do I mention the arranger. 331 00:40:06,920 --> 00:40:10,920 Now finally, one of my warmest memories 332 00:40:10,920 --> 00:40:12,920 of those cold Fargo Christmases 333 00:40:12,920 --> 00:40:15,920 is of caroling from house to house. 334 00:40:15,920 --> 00:40:18,920 As regular listeners to this program know, 335 00:40:18,920 --> 00:40:20,920 I believe in singing. 336 00:40:20,920 --> 00:40:22,920 I think singing, especially with other people, 337 00:40:22,920 --> 00:40:24,920 is a therapeutic experience, 338 00:40:24,920 --> 00:40:26,920 it's a religious experience, 339 00:40:26,920 --> 00:40:28,920 it's energizing and entertaining 340 00:40:28,920 --> 00:40:31,920 and entirely capable of lifting you out of your body. 341 00:40:31,920 --> 00:40:33,920 And if you're like me, and it's December, 342 00:40:33,920 --> 00:40:35,920 and it's Fargo, and you're outside, 343 00:40:35,920 --> 00:40:38,920 you don't really want to be in your body. 344 00:40:38,920 --> 00:40:40,920 You want to be music itself, 345 00:40:40,920 --> 00:40:42,920 entering the ears of the folks 346 00:40:42,920 --> 00:40:46,920 who are about to invite your body in for some hot grog. 347 00:40:46,920 --> 00:40:49,920 We're going to end with a set of four carols, 348 00:40:49,920 --> 00:40:51,920 the first two of which are arrangements 349 00:40:51,920 --> 00:40:53,920 of what you might call standards, 350 00:40:53,920 --> 00:40:57,920 ones we might have sung in front of the Jensen's house in Fargo. 351 00:40:57,920 --> 00:40:59,920 The third is not as well known, 352 00:40:59,920 --> 00:41:01,920 and the last, to my mind, 353 00:41:01,920 --> 00:41:04,920 required a lot of nerve to write. 354 00:41:04,920 --> 00:41:06,920 Imagine deciding to set the words 355 00:41:06,920 --> 00:41:08,920 of the world's most famous Christmas carol 356 00:41:08,920 --> 00:41:10,920 to brand-new, original music 357 00:41:10,920 --> 00:41:12,920 and actually pulling it off. 358 00:41:12,920 --> 00:41:14,920 It's a beautiful piece. 359 00:41:14,920 --> 00:41:17,920 I'll be back in a little over nine minutes. 360 00:41:17,920 --> 00:41:20,920 It would be great if you had some cocoa ready. 361 00:41:20,920 --> 00:41:40,920 It's a beautiful piece. 362 00:41:40,920 --> 00:42:00,920 It's a beautiful piece. 363 00:42:00,920 --> 00:42:13,920 It's a beautiful piece. 364 00:42:13,920 --> 00:42:38,920 It's a beautiful piece. 365 00:42:38,920 --> 00:42:51,920 It's a beautiful piece. 366 00:42:51,920 --> 00:42:54,920 Come butler, come fill us a bowl of the best, 367 00:42:54,920 --> 00:42:58,920 Then we hope that your soul in heaven may rest. 368 00:42:58,920 --> 00:43:02,920 But if you do draw us a bowl of the small, 369 00:43:02,920 --> 00:43:06,920 Then down shall go butler, bowl and all, 370 00:43:06,920 --> 00:43:09,920 Then here's to the maid in the lily-white smock 371 00:43:09,920 --> 00:43:12,920 Who tripped to the door and slipped back the lock, 372 00:43:12,920 --> 00:43:16,920 Who tripped to the door and pulled back the pin, 373 00:43:16,920 --> 00:43:19,920 For to let these jolly wassailers in. 374 00:43:19,920 --> 00:43:22,920 Wassail, wassail, all over the dock, 375 00:43:22,920 --> 00:43:25,920 How toasty it is when in the rain it is frown, 376 00:43:25,920 --> 00:43:28,920 How bone it is made of the white-capped tree 377 00:43:28,920 --> 00:43:32,920 That the wassailing hall will drink today. 378 00:43:32,920 --> 00:43:35,920 Wassail, wassail, all over the dock, 379 00:43:35,920 --> 00:43:38,920 How toasty it is when in the rain it is frown, 380 00:43:38,920 --> 00:43:41,920 How bone it is made of the white-capped tree 381 00:43:41,920 --> 00:44:05,920 That the wassailing hall will drink today. 382 00:44:12,920 --> 00:44:20,920 On Christmas night all Christians sing 383 00:44:20,920 --> 00:44:24,920 To hear the news the angels bring. 384 00:44:24,920 --> 00:44:28,920 On Christmas night all Christians sing 385 00:44:28,920 --> 00:44:32,920 To hear the news the angels bring. 386 00:44:32,920 --> 00:44:37,920 News of great joy and of great mirth, 387 00:44:37,920 --> 00:44:45,920 News of our merciful King's birth. 388 00:44:45,920 --> 00:44:49,920 Then why should men on earth be so sad 389 00:44:49,920 --> 00:44:53,920 Since our Redeemer made us glad? 390 00:44:53,920 --> 00:44:57,920 Then why should men on earth be so sad 391 00:44:57,920 --> 00:45:01,920 Since our Redeemer made us glad? 392 00:45:01,920 --> 00:45:06,920 When from our sin he set us free, 393 00:45:06,920 --> 00:45:13,920 Oh, how to gain our liberty! 394 00:45:36,920 --> 00:45:54,920 Oh, loud of darkness we have lied 395 00:45:54,920 --> 00:46:05,920 Which made the angels sing this night. 396 00:46:05,920 --> 00:46:10,920 Glory to God and peace to men, 397 00:46:10,920 --> 00:46:17,920 Now and forevermore, amen. 398 00:46:17,920 --> 00:46:23,920 Glory to God and peace to men, 399 00:46:23,920 --> 00:46:35,920 Now and forevermore, amen. 400 00:46:35,920 --> 00:46:45,920 SILENT NIGHT 401 00:46:45,920 --> 00:46:59,920 Silent night, holy night, 402 00:46:59,920 --> 00:47:14,920 All is calm, all is bright. 403 00:47:14,920 --> 00:47:31,920 Round yon virgin, mother and child, 404 00:47:31,920 --> 00:47:48,920 Falling so tender and mild, Sleeping peace. 405 00:47:48,920 --> 00:48:02,920 Silent night, holy night, 406 00:48:02,920 --> 00:48:17,920 Shepherds quake at the sight. 407 00:48:17,920 --> 00:48:35,920 Glories streaming from heaven afar, 408 00:48:35,920 --> 00:48:52,920 Heavenly hosts sing alleluia, Christ is born. 409 00:48:52,920 --> 00:49:07,920 Silent night, holy night, 410 00:49:07,920 --> 00:49:22,920 All is calm, all is bright. 411 00:49:22,920 --> 00:49:47,920 Angels let us sing alleluia to our King, 412 00:49:47,920 --> 00:49:59,920 Christ is born. 413 00:49:59,920 --> 00:50:19,920 Alleluia, alleluia. 414 00:50:19,920 --> 00:50:22,920 Our last song cycle was called Carols. 415 00:50:22,920 --> 00:50:24,920 There were four of them. 416 00:50:24,920 --> 00:50:27,920 The first was from a Baroque Christmas 417 00:50:27,920 --> 00:50:30,920 from the Metropolitan Museum of Art concerts, 418 00:50:30,920 --> 00:50:34,920 Julianne Baird and the Aulis Ensemble. 419 00:50:34,920 --> 00:50:35,920 What a beautiful singer. 420 00:50:35,920 --> 00:50:37,920 That was Wassail, the first one. 421 00:50:37,920 --> 00:50:42,920 Then we had the instrumental of Good King Wenceslas 422 00:50:42,920 --> 00:50:44,920 from the Joan Baez Noel album. 423 00:50:44,920 --> 00:50:49,920 The third one was back again from the Julianne Baird album. 424 00:50:49,920 --> 00:50:52,920 This was the Sussex Carol. 425 00:50:52,920 --> 00:50:55,920 And then that last one, the beautiful setting 426 00:50:55,920 --> 00:50:58,920 of the traditional words for Silent Night, 427 00:50:58,920 --> 00:51:00,920 that was by Kevin Oldham, 428 00:51:00,920 --> 00:51:03,920 and Pamela Williamson was the soloist 429 00:51:03,920 --> 00:51:07,920 with Lyra Pringle-Farigo on the flute 430 00:51:07,920 --> 00:51:09,920 and Wesley Kelly on harp. 431 00:51:09,920 --> 00:51:14,920 It's from a CD called Nativitas by the Kansas City Chorale, 432 00:51:14,920 --> 00:51:16,920 although we didn't actually hear them on that cut. 433 00:51:16,920 --> 00:51:20,920 And as you heard, the composer does refer 434 00:51:20,920 --> 00:51:24,920 to the Gruber melody, the famous melody 435 00:51:24,920 --> 00:51:25,920 in the flute part, 436 00:51:25,920 --> 00:51:29,920 and then the voice when it sings Hallelujah. 437 00:51:29,920 --> 00:51:33,920 Well, we actually have some time left over, 438 00:51:33,920 --> 00:51:37,920 so I'd like to play the Joan Baez version 439 00:51:37,920 --> 00:51:39,920 of the traditional Silent Night. 440 00:51:39,920 --> 00:51:42,920 It really is the right way to end things. 441 00:51:42,920 --> 00:51:46,920 When we have our annual sing at my friend Dick's house, 442 00:51:46,920 --> 00:51:48,920 we always end with Silent Night. 443 00:51:48,920 --> 00:51:52,920 It's interesting about very simple songs. 444 00:51:52,920 --> 00:51:55,920 Why are some of them sort of trite 445 00:51:55,920 --> 00:51:59,920 and others just beautiful in their simplicity? 446 00:51:59,920 --> 00:52:02,920 Now, you can't get a more simple-minded song 447 00:52:02,920 --> 00:52:03,920 than Down in the Valley. 448 00:52:03,920 --> 00:52:09,920 Down in the valley, the valley so low. 449 00:52:09,920 --> 00:52:10,920 But I love that song. 450 00:52:10,920 --> 00:52:13,920 I used to sing that as a lullaby for my kids. 451 00:52:13,920 --> 00:52:15,920 And Silent Night is certainly one of those songs 452 00:52:15,920 --> 00:52:20,920 that as much as it's played and as much as it's heard 453 00:52:20,920 --> 00:52:24,920 and as sentimentally as it is sometimes presented, 454 00:52:24,920 --> 00:52:26,920 it's just a very moving song 455 00:52:26,920 --> 00:52:31,920 and somehow the right way to end a Christmas sing. 456 00:52:35,920 --> 00:52:44,920 Silent night, holy night 457 00:52:44,920 --> 00:52:53,920 All is calm, all is bright 458 00:52:53,920 --> 00:53:02,920 Round yon virgin, mother and child 459 00:53:02,920 --> 00:53:11,920 Holy infant so tender and mild 460 00:53:11,920 --> 00:53:19,920 Sleep in heavenly peace 461 00:53:19,920 --> 00:53:28,920 Sleep in heavenly peace 462 00:53:28,920 --> 00:53:38,920 Silent night, holy night 463 00:53:38,920 --> 00:53:48,920 Shepherds quake at the sight 464 00:53:48,920 --> 00:53:58,920 Shepherds quake at the sight 465 00:53:58,920 --> 00:54:08,920 Holy string from heaven afar 466 00:54:08,920 --> 00:54:18,920 Heav'nly hosts sing alleluia 467 00:54:18,920 --> 00:54:29,920 Christ the Savior is born 468 00:54:29,920 --> 00:54:39,920 Christ the Savior is born 469 00:54:39,920 --> 00:54:52,920 Christ the Savior is born 470 00:54:52,920 --> 00:54:58,920 Joan Baez, singing Silent Night from the Noel album. 471 00:54:58,920 --> 00:55:01,920 Have a very good holiday. 472 00:55:01,920 --> 00:55:03,920 Peace on earth. 473 00:55:03,920 --> 00:55:23,920 And that's Sickily Mix for this week. 474 00:55:23,920 --> 00:55:26,920 Our program is made possible with funds provided by 475 00:55:26,920 --> 00:55:33,920 the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, 476 00:55:33,920 --> 00:55:36,920 by the National Endowment for the Arts, 477 00:55:36,920 --> 00:55:40,920 and by this radio station and its faithful members. 478 00:55:40,920 --> 00:55:42,920 Not only that, our program is distributed by 479 00:55:42,920 --> 00:55:45,920 PRI, Public Radio International. 480 00:55:45,920 --> 00:55:47,920 We'll tell you in a moment how you can get an official 481 00:55:47,920 --> 00:55:50,920 playlist of all the music on today's program 482 00:55:50,920 --> 00:55:52,920 with album numbers and everything. 483 00:55:52,920 --> 00:55:54,920 Just refer to the program's website 484 00:55:54,920 --> 00:55:57,920 This is program 80. 485 00:55:57,920 --> 00:55:59,920 The music you're hearing is 486 00:55:59,920 --> 00:56:04,920 Louis-Claude Ducan, Noël en Musette, Bagpipe Carol, 487 00:56:04,920 --> 00:56:08,920 from the Julianne Baird album we've been listening to. 488 00:56:08,920 --> 00:56:10,920 And the voice you're hearing is that of Peter Sickily 489 00:56:10,920 --> 00:56:13,920 saying goodbye and reminding you that it don't mean a thing 490 00:56:13,920 --> 00:56:16,920 if it ain't got that certain je ne sais quoi. 491 00:56:16,920 --> 00:56:17,920 You're looking good. 492 00:56:17,920 --> 00:56:24,920 See you next week. 493 00:56:47,920 --> 00:57:16,920 ¶¶ 494 00:57:16,920 --> 00:57:31,920 ¶¶ 495 00:57:31,920 --> 00:58:00,920 ¶¶ 496 00:58:00,920 --> 00:58:02,920 If you'd like a copy of that playlist I mentioned, 497 00:58:02,920 --> 00:58:05,920 send a stamped, self-addressed envelope to Sickily Mix. 498 00:58:05,920 --> 00:58:10,920 That's S-C-H-I-C-K-E-L-E, Sickily Mix. 499 00:58:10,920 --> 00:58:12,920 Care of Public Radio International, 500 00:58:12,920 --> 00:58:20,920 100 North 6th Street, Suite 900A, Minneapolis, MN 55403. 501 00:58:20,920 --> 00:58:30,920 P-R-I, Public Radio International.