What's next? How about some sedate organ music from Ethel Smith? There are some real gems in Ethel's catalog, but I'm afraid this record is not one of them. I think she was trying to be a bit somber and worshipful here, so it's almost all hymns with the addition of not-very-exciting versions of White Christmas and Jingle Bells. There are better organ records to be had when it comes to Christmas music, believe me. I shared out a 12" version of this record
many years ago that added a few tracks, and I don't remember them being any better. If you want to hear what Ethel can do with an organ on a good day, search some of the old Christmas in July shares I have on here, she really lets loose on some tracks here and there. But unfortunately, not on this record. But I know the completist in me still wants you to download and give a quick listen to
Ethel Smith-
Christmas Music (Decca 10 Inch 33 RPM DLP 5034, Mono, 1949). I think I found two slightly different covers for this one, so that's why you'll see extra scans in the download folder.
1. Silent Night (Christmas Hymn)
2. Adeste Fideles (O, Come, All Ye Faithful)
3. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
4. Oh, Little Town Of Bethlehem
5. It Came Upon The Midnight Clear
6. O Holy Night (Cantique De Noël)
7. White Christmas
8. Jingle Bells
MEGA
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The covers with different Decca bugs is a nice touch for us record nerds.
ReplyDeleteIt's a real pain for us record lovers...
DeleteThe completist in me thanks you.
ReplyDeleteAt least you don't have to store physical copies. :)
DeleteI’m very curious about how you manage that!
DeletePiles. Lots of piles.
DeleteThat's also my current strategy.
DeleteErnie, I don't remember who got me hooked on Ethel Smith organ music or not, but it is great to have more Ethel Smith :)
ReplyDeleteShe got much better as time went on, at least in the records I've heard. This one is downright morbid compared to what she did later. I guess Decca didn't want anything too out-there on a Christmas record at the time. Shame she didn't get to do more Christmas in the mid to late-fifties, that could have really been something to rival Lenny Dee!
DeleteReminds me if and when the organist played during one of our Masses, they always played solemn music in this style as the congregation arrived or departed from Mass.
ReplyDeleteYeah, nothing you'd want to listen to at home outside of church...
DeleteThe only times we heard the Organ play was during: Advent, Lent, and special days. Otherwise, it was silent.
ReplyDeleteWhen we did have organ music, out of the following Masses: 7, 8. 9, 10, 11:15 am and 12:30 pm, It was only heard at the 10, 11:15, and 12:30 pm Masses during these special times.
Seems like a lot of work to own and maintain a giant organ if you're only going to play it once in a while...
DeleteThe church has to pay for an organist. It may be that the only times that is viable is when the church is full - the more popular mass times and the special seasons.
DeleteIt was different when I was growing up. There always was an organist, but there was a choir only for one mass each Sunday. The organist was on staff and taught at the parish school. He also looked after the adult and youth choirs. This was when there were far more parishioners (and parishs) than there are now.
In my parish 65 years ago, there were masses hourly on Sunday, and two separate masses at 10, 11 and 12 - one in the church, the other in the gym. It was crowded!
DeleteI guess times have changed...
DeleteYes, from what I was told, the 7, 8, and 9 am Masses on Sunday were not well attended. The 11:15 was the most attended and the regular Church Choir, when it performed did so at this Mass. The 10 am and 12:30 pm Masses had lower attendance. Sometimes, the regular Church Choir also performed at one of these Masses. Otherwise, if a Choir performed, it was either the Grade School Choir, or the female High School Choir as we were in the same city as the church. The Male High School Choir sometimes performed, however, their school was located several cities away.
DeleteI think that's been the trend for a long time now...
DeleteAbout 20 years ago, my boyfriend at the time, begged me to come to his church on Christmas Eve. He was the Organist. He did not want to sing alone, and as I am a Tenor, he wanted me to sing with him.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, against my better judgement I went. The church maybe had no more than 20 parishioners in attendance. They were all above 40 years of age. I could not believe it. I asked where is all the people, it is Christmas Eve? His response was basically what you see, is it. I asked about the attendance on Christmas Day, and he just said there were not much more than what you see tonight.
Most of the people I know, meet, work for, or whatever, they do not practice any form of faith. Their children are not brought up in anyform of religion. Sad, but true.
I think it's cyclical. It's likely to turn around and go the other way someday, like so many other things.
DeleteDo you still have to declare if you have a religion on forms?
DeleteIn Germany, you are not required to declare your religious affiliation on forms unless you are a member of a church that collects church tax. If you are a member of a church that requires church tax, you must declare your membership when registering for Anmeldung. If you are not a member of a church that collects church tax, you can declare "no religion" on forms. However, if you have been baptized in a church that collects church tax, you must formally declare your departure from the church to avoid paying church tax.
I can't remember the last time I filled out a form here that asked about my religion. I'm sure it's been on the census form in the past, and may still be on there, I just don't remember it. We don't have any sort of a church tax here either.
DeleteSo, this is the reason or the hints I have heard.
ReplyDeleteThe churches I know of, go by, seem deserted for the most part. Occasionally, I do see their doors open. I have no idea, if they do have services, if they have only one or not.
For, the most part, all businesses are closed on Sunday's, with only a few Sunday's they are open each year, or if they are able to be open for some reason.
It use to be, all businesses closed at 2 pm on Saturday's, but they changed that some years ago. So Saturday is basically open like Monday through Friday, with exceptions.
There are always exceptions, is there not.
I think most churches are deserted places when they aren't being used, and most are only used on Sundays. Only the ones that are very active in the community will be open at other times, like when doing any sort of community outreach like classes or food banks or even just allowing the facilities to be used as meeting space. That's how you make a difference in the neighborhood.
Delete