The scents of the Christmas season account for so much of its specialness. In fact, no other holiday has such delicious odors trumpeting its arrival. Think of cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg wafting from the seasonal cookies and cakes in our ovens. Hot grog and spiced … Read more
Today we celebrate the Third Sunday of Advent, a Sunday associated with the name Gaudete, or Rejoicing Sunday. In the past on this Sunday we have reveled in featuring our favorite setting of the liturgical text for Gaudete. Oh, do we love to sing, hear, … Read more
The world will celebrate the 250th anniversary of Ludwig van Beethoven’s birth on Wednesday, December 16. An anniversary of this scale for a composer of Beethoven’s standing has led me to frame today’s Advent Post around the joyous Hallelujah Chorus from his sacred oratorio, Christ … Read more
Sometimes we hear people say, “Is no one writing beautiful music any more?” If you have wondered this as well, here is happy news. The day when “modern music” equated to purely mathematical constructions (twelve-tone system) and acerbic sounds is long over. Particularly in the … Read more
This evening at sunset begins Hanukkah, an eight-day observance starting on what historically was the 25th day of Kislev, the ninth month of the Hebrew ecclesiastical calendar. In recent decades Hanukkah has been marketed to seem like a parallel festivity to Christmas. The only parallel, … Read more
What if you wrote 600 short stories, but posterity remembers you for just one? Would you be pleased? It’s hard to know what American writer O. Henry (1862-1910) would say about our ongoing embrace of his thought-provoking story The Gift of the Magi, first published … Read more
“There is no need to reinvent the wheel.” How often I heard this saying as a child. Today I am reminded of these words because I want to invite you to partake in a marvelous series available from the National Gallery in London. Rather than … Read more
Ruth Bennett introduced herself to me in the early 1990s at the end of a pre-concert lecture I presented for the Van Cliburn Series. Her actual words I do not recall, but the force of her perceptive wit struck me instantly. Oh, how grand it … Read more
First, a festive reminder. Tonight is the Eve of St. Nicholas Day. Thus, in anticipation of December 6th, children all over the world will put out their shoes tonight in hopes of receiving a few sweets or trinkets. Note I have used the words “few” … Read more
