The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1942-12-19


ton appeared till the time Of
Martin Luther and the Reforma-
ton. Second. that the early
Christians built their new customs
and music on those OF their for
mer faiths: and that consequently
the early Christmas carols, unlike
the hymns. are varied in charac-
ter and use. They may be either
historical. narrative. devotional.
legendary or toasting songs. Also
they are like the folk-songs. for
the greater part Of traditional
origin. and composed by the peo-
pie for the people.
Many important events in the
annals Of music are the result Of
the carol.
What was the origin Of the
custom and where did we get the
music?
From the period when
Greece was In her glory on
wards to the time when
Rome's greatness WAS declin-
ing, thence to the Christian
era. the carol may be traced
In the making.
OF such an illustrious ancestry
not a little may be expected.
"Carol," like its kindred term.
ballad" implies either dancing or
singing. The carol is and always
has been a bright song used to
express joyous emotions.
The Greeks had in their temple
ritual hymns sung in honor of the
gods and goddesses. accompanied
by dancing and the sound Of
.eymbals.
The Hebrews have an anti
= phon that dates back nearly
1000 years. Recalling these
facts we can readily under
stand that the early Chris
tians would want joyous
songs for their two great
festivals -. Christmas and
Easter.
The Romans, Athenians. the
Persians adopted joyous songs to
their end-of-the-season festivals.
The Druids celebrated a festival
by marching in solemn procession
to gather mistletoe, chanting to
the people, 1.-THE New Year Is at
hand; gather we mistletoe."
Thus the Christians by choosing
Dec. 20 as the Christmas, grated
It to a holiday time that had
significance in pagan celebrations
The practice grew and left last
ing impression out Of which we
get our Christmas carols.
The first Christian Christ
mas carol was the "Gloria In
Excelsis" sung by the angels.
In that century, Telesphorus,
Bishop Of Rome, instituted the
custom Of celebrating the
nativity with song.
The carols have as h rule a
pastoral character, suited to the
simplicity of the words and to
that of the shepherds who, we
suppose, sang them a. they went
forth to pay homage to the infant
Sesus in the manger.
Many Of the carols celebrate the
season, with Its joys and cares,
picturesquely glancing at the
shepherd and his flock. though
neither one nor the other would
be out freezing in the wintry
Judean hills much later than
October.
A mere alteration in the date,
however, does nothing to wrong
the event.
All countries and ages have
contributed to the present col
ossal heritage Of carols, Al
most all of which are TO be
had In English TRANSACTIONS.
France has furnished many Of
varied character, and possesses
the largest collection of Chants
de Noel" Of any nation in the
world. A 18th century chanson.
Bring the Torch, Jeanette. Isa-
belle" was carried over to Eng
land where IL was widely sung.
Russia and Poland clearly show
oriental and gypsy influences. The
Nordic races, 50 famed for their
vast fund Of folk songs. are equal
ly rich in carols. Many Of these
reached England as early as the
18th century
But perhaps II Is 10 Germany
that We look for a great variety
Of Weinachlslieder Christmas
songs). Germany has supplied
Holland and other countries from
/. their store Of wealth with some Of
+. the most beautiful carols ever
/. written II has numerous songs
+. for children, embracing such little
gems as "AIIe Jahre wieder
: kommt dAs Christus Kind" every
year comes again the Christ
. Child, and 20 due Froehliche, o
. du sehge" 20 thou happy one. o
. thou sacred one). The fine choral
. hArnonies Of the Gregorian mode.
. as used in the 18th century, and
. with which Martin Luther ss
singing monk would be naturally
imbued. give beauty and solemn