History of The Day The Music Died: American Pie

American Pie

Reading Time: 4 minutesHISTORY OF THE DAY THE MUSIC DIED: AMERICAN PIE Podcast version   n February 3, 1959, a plane crash occurred in Iowa during a snowstorm shortly after 1:00 AM, killing three young rock and roll singers who would go down in history: Buddy Holly, Richie Valens, and J.P. “The Big Bopper” Richardson. They were part…

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History of Carol of the Bells: from a Ukrainian folk song

Carol of the Bells

Reading Time: 4 minutesHISTORY OF CAROL OF THE BELLS: FROM A UKRAINIAN FOLK SONG he popular Christmas song “Carol of the Bells” is based on a Ukrainian folk song that initially had nothing to do with Christmas and was, in fact, popular in pre-Christian Ukraine.   How did this folk song become such a popular American Christmas carol,…

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History of Christmas Music: More than just Carols

candlelit carols

Reading Time: 5 minutesHISTORY OF CHRISTMAS MUSIC hristmas carols transcend mere musical compositions; they are intricately woven into the tapestry of our holiday customs. These songs serve as a unifying force, fostering a sense of community, celebrating faith and familial bonds, and instilling a spirit of goodwill. Whether performed in the serene ambiance of candlelit churches or amidst…

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History of Amazing Grace: Abolition of the British Slave Trade, part 2

William Wilberforce

Reading Time: 4 minutesHISTORY OF AMAZING GRACE, part 2: William Wilberforce As I mentioned in my first article on the History of Amazing Grace, this is the story of the lives of two men and that one song. In the first part, we discussed the life of the song’s author, John Newton. However, the 2007 film “Amazing Grace”…

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History of a Sacred Oratorio: Considered Scandalous?

covert garden theatre 300x221

Reading Time: 2 minutesHISTORY OF A SACRED ORATORIO The genteel reception accorded the original debut performance stood in marked contrast to the savage hostility that greeted the work less than a year later in the Royal Opera House at Covent Garden, London. The English aristocracy and churchmen began an unrelenting campaign against the work and its creator. They…

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History of Christmas Music: More than just Carols?

Christmas Music

Reading Time: 3 minutesHISTORY OF CHRISTMAS MUSIC Music early became a marked feature of the Christmas season. But the first chants, litanies, and hymns were in Latin and deemed too theological for popular use. Under Francis of Assisi‘s influence in the 13th century, we began to see the rise of the carol written in the vernacular. The word carol comes…

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History of Beethoven: 250th Anniversary — 5 Things You Didn’t Know

Beethoven

Reading Time: 2 minutesHISTORY OF BEETHOVEN: 250TH ANNIVERSARY — 5 THINGS YOU DIDN’T KNOW The renowned German composer and virtuoso pianist Ludwig van Beethoven celebrates his 250th anniversary today. Anniversary of what? Here are 5 things you may not have known about the famous composer who came to fame between the Classical and Romantic periods of European music.  …

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History of Christmas Music: more than just carols?

Reading Time: 2 minutesHISTORY OF CHRISTMAS MUSIC Music early became a marked feature of the Christmas season. But the first chants, litanies, and hymns were in Latin and too theological for popular use. The 13th century found the rise of the carol written in the vernacular under the influence of Francis of Assisi. The word carol comes from…

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History of A Sacred Oratorio: most popular Christmas music scandalous and profane?

Reading Time: 2 minutesHISTORY OF A SACRED ORATORIO The genteel reception accorded the original debut performance stood in marked contrast to the savage hostility which greeted the work less than a year later in London. The English aristocracy and churchmen began an unrelenting campaign against the work and its creator. They labeled it “a profanation,” scandalized at “the…

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History of Christmas Music

Reading Time: 2 minutesHISTORY OF CHRISTMAS MUSIC Music early became a marked feature of the Christmas season. But the first chants, litanies, and hymns were in Latin and too theological for popular use. The 13th century found the rise of the carol written in the vernacular under the influence of Francis of Assisi. The word carol comes from…

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