By
the time Halloween arrived this year, we were bombarded with Christmas
commercials on television, stores that were decorated for the Holiday and
announcements were made as to how early retailers will be opening on
Thanksgiving Day. What happened to
Halloween? What happened to
Thanksgiving? What happened to Christmas
shopping and advertising starting the day after Thanksgiving? OK, I’m giving away my age and my disgust at
the consumerism that has become our Holiday season.
Writing
this blog just two weeks before Thanksgiving, I remind myself of all the
beautiful Christmas music that will flood the airwaves very shortly. Gorgeous secular tunes that remind us of how wonderful
it will be to be home for Christmas, twelve days of Christmas with birds, dancers
and golden rings for gifts and then, reindeer with red noses set a mood of
crisp winter air. Carolers may appear at
your door singing “O Holy Night” or “O Christmas Tree.” Our memories recall these words and melodies easily, no
matter what our age.
In
1912, Arthur P. Schmidt published Gena Branscombe’s beautiful Christmas song,
“Hail Ye Tyme of Holiedayes” with words by Kendall Banning. Yes, old English words were used to give a
feeling of merry old England’s celebration of Chrystmasse. Recalling mistletoe, hollie, feastings,
noblesses dressed in gold and songs of happiness, the poet and composer declare
a tyme of peace, madrigals for halle and that Chrysten gentlefolke be reminded
that Chryst will be with alle!
A
bright, cheerful song filled with Gena’s usual zest for life, “Hail Ye Tyme of
Holiedayes” became her best selling song earning her more royalty money than
any of her other published compositions.
Not only did she compose this as a solo song in a multitude of keys, her
own Branscombe Choral performed it in an SSAA arrangement nearly every year on their Christmas concert at the Broadway Tabernacle Church. They also performed it for the commuters at
Grand Central Station and Pennsylvania Station in New York. In addition, she arranged the song for SATB and
men’s chorus. She covered all the bases
of publishing this work for every possible musical need!
This
Christmas song is performed during my one-woman show where Gena recalls her
beloved Branscombe Choral’s lush, rich sound from the alto section!
A
beautiful Christmas anthem not in the standard Holiedaye repertoire today, yet a
song that clearly expresses Miss Branscombe’s old fashioned beliefs.
May
all of our Holiedayes whether it be Chanukah, Christmas, Winter Solstice or
Kwanza be filled with peace, kindness, happiness and gentlefolke!
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