The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1892-01-01
SINGING ON CHRISTMAS DAY.

To review even briefly the wonderful
Christmas singing and playing in the
thirteenth, fourteenth and fifteenth cen.
turtles is beyond our limits; yet what
scenes, splendid, romantic, and CLOWN g
with life, form and color, mention of
those old pageants can summon up
Account-books of the day, preserved in
the British Museum, show what vast
sums were spent upon them. Cheapside,
Tower Hill, Southwark, even forlorn and
fallen Whitechapel, were scenes of such
festivities. They wake to life as we read
of the carolling professions of the Olden
time; yet, as may well be imagined, such
redundant doings led to excuses, and
then authority had to step in. Ministers
and priests forbade much that had been
customary, while with the Puritans came
law against even the singing of carols.
Queer, droning music, tuneless and de-
pressing, was that of Cromwell's choice;
yet here and there, in the homes of the
better classes voices were not to be
silenced. Had they not the prece-
dent of the angels ? As Jeremy Taylor
says of that FIRST Christmas music, Gas
soon as those blessed chOristers had
sung their Christmas carol, and taught
the Church hymn to put into her offices
forever on the anniversary of this festiv-
ity, the angels returned to heaven"
their earthly message sung for all wax
ing Christian world. Meantime in other
lands the people had caught up the Song
of the Nativity. In Italy the music
of Christmas day for centuries
was famous, the Sistine Chapel
being historic for its work of praise that
great day, and from the sweep of the
BenedictuS and MdgnifcGt we reach the
sweet soft notes of those Calabrian shep-
herds, called Pifferari, whe come down
from the mountains to sing Christmas
hymns from place to place, visiting
chiefly stables, where they have tradi
ton the Child Jesus has passed by.
To dictate precisely what should and
what should not constitute good Christ
mas singing is not possible; but of
course there are, as in every branch of
the divine art, certain guiding rules, the
first one being that all music appropriate
for the day should be joyous and express
sive of thanks to God, while there are
solemn parts of every service of such
thanksgiving, of course, as with every
deep Joy is the stiffness in heart and voice
and utterance. No home but should
have it's own festival of rejoicing; and
let those who seek for home harmOnies
search only the Noels or carols of
France, or the hymns of those English
writer's who have vast cathedral aisles to
fill, yet contrived to preserve an exquisite
simplicity in all their work.
We need to preserve every Christian
tradition dearly. If the yule-log cannot
be lighted, yet, from year to year, we
can surely keep fire of goodwill and
cheer, and rekindle the old flame, as they
who have the yule are wont to do. In
the old times we have been considering,
a custom was maintained which we have
seen revered in that same Norfolk dwell
ing mentioned before, when after the
Christmas dinner had been enjoyed, the
lOving-cup was passed around, doors at
one end of the long hall were thrown
open, and there entered company of
perhaps fifty peoPle-guests of the host,
humble men and women and children,
invited from far and wide. After a word
OF welcome, all arose, and as with one
voice, sang that most perfect of Christ
mas hymns, with Hearts Truly Crate
full
Centuries ago other carols were sung
there, and, as now, feast provided for
one and all, while the question of rank
was for that day forgotten. Later, in
the orchards, the songs of the season
were sung-a tradition prevailing that
this insures good crop for all during
the coming year.
Our theme is endless, yet it is embod-
led in one dominant idea. Whether the
notes of great organ will fill cathe-
dral, whether the humblest little band of
waits" go from door to door, there
should be one thought uppermost We
sing the message of the angels, we praise
God, and our hearts should remember,
Peace on earth is the glory of the day.
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