Monday, December 17, 2007

The Politically Correct 12 Days of C*****mas

On the 12th day of the Eurocentrically-imposed midwinter festival, my potential acquaintance gave to me,
TWELVE males reclaiming their inner warrior through ritual drumming.
ELEVEN pipers piping (plus the 18 member pit orchestra made up of members in good standing of the Musicians Equity Union as called for in their union contract even though they will not be asked to play a note...)
TEN melanin-deprived, testosterone-poisoned scions of the patriarchal ruling class system leaping,
NINE persons engaged in rhythmic self-expression,
EIGHT economically-disadvantaged female persons stealing milk products from enslaved Bovine Americans,
SEVEN endangered swans swimming on federally-protected wetlands,
SIX enslaved fowl-Americans producing stolen, nonhuman animal products,
FIVE golden symbols of culturally-sanctioned enforced domestic incarceration, (NOTE: after a member of the Animal Liberation Front threatened to throw red paint at my computer, the calling birds, French hens and partridge have been reintroduced to their native habitat. To avoid further animal American enslavement, the remaining gift package has been revised.) FOUR hours of recorded whale songs,
THREE deconstructionist poets,
TWO Sierra Club calendars printed on recycled, processed tree carcasses,
and a Spotted Owl activist chained to an old-growth pear tree.
[Credit: Bob Martin]
Happy RamaHanuKwanzMas!

Bud's World

Christmas Tunes

“The Chipmunk Song”
This is a song, which is dusted off every year for the Christmas season. Ross Bagdasarian was a novelty writer in a non-novelty world. Making a living as a quirky songwriter, Ross had one major triumph…he had written the wacky hit, ‘Come Onna my House’ for Rosemary Clooney in 1951. He was later pushed to the other side of the recording booth to the position of recording engineer. Bagdasarian loved the dials, the buttons; the little gauges and lights. He truly got a kick out of playing with the technology of recording. By deliberately recording on the slowest speed possible on his reel-to-reel tape machine, he found he could sing normally, and sound like a freak on helium if he sped-up the recording to normal speed on playback. Using this novelty voice as the background singers for the chorus, he recorded ‘Witchdoctor’ and hit the top of the charts in 1958. With the same recording technique, he created the Chipmunks and their hapless manager, Dave. The character ‘Alvin’ was based on his son who drove him crazy with very complicated questions. The Chipmunk Song, released for the Christmas season of 1958, sold 5 million copies that year and the Chipmunk Song received two Grammy Awards in 1958: “Best Comedy Performance” and “Best Recording for Children.”

From the Choir Loft

Our upcoming 12/30/07 Christmas concert is the culmination of 6 months of planning and rehearsing by our chorus. Over 200 people have helped us in one way or another. The choir members, the drama members, secretaries, those who have helped with church decoration, dancers, construction, logistics, promotion, coaching, accompanists, our families, etc. It would be impossible to thank everyone! Please support our many efforts by attending 12/30/07 at 7:00 PM! You are our promotion department! Please invite your friends or relatives to attend.

History of Christmas Toys
1952
Banking on the idea that children like to play with their food, Hasbro introduced “Mr. Potato Head.”
George Lerner of New York City invented and patented Mr. Potato Head based on an earlier toy called “make a face” that used a real potato. A year after his appearance, Mr. Potato Head was introduced to the future “Mrs. Potato Head” and a short time later, were married.
“Mr. Potato Head” was the first children’s toy to be advertised on TV.

Today in history
December 16

1973 - O. J. Simpson became the 1st NFL player to rush 2,000 yards in one season
1972 – The Miami Dolphins became the 1st undefeated NFL team (14-0-0)
1966 – The Beatles released ‘Everywhere its Christmas’ in the UK
1944 – During WW II, “The Battle of the Bulge” began in Belgium
1901 – “The Tale of Peter Rabbit,” by Beatrix Potter, was printed for the 1st time
1773 – The Boston Tea Party took place

Church office: (716) 672-2048, Bud: (716) 934-7734, email: tubamanbud@gmail.com
www.frombudsworld.blogspot.com

History of Christmas Carols

‘Carol of the Bells’
Despite the lack of bells in the historical references of the early church, there existed a legend that at the very moment when Jesus was born, all the bells in the village of Bethlehem pealed together in one joyous cacophony of sound.
Perhaps this legend is the basis of a carol from the Ukraine, titled Schedryk.’ It was discovered and arranged by Mykola Dmytrovich Leontovich, a Russian composer who was born in 1877 and eventually taught music and singing in Ukrainian schools.
A student choir from the University of Kiev first performed his version of this catchy folk tune in December 1916. It was a part of the Ukrainian National Chorus repertoire during its 1,000-plus concert tour around Europe and the Americas. It was introduced to American audiences on October 5, 1921 at Carnegie Hall.
A recording of ‘Carol of the Bells’ on a 1958 best-selling Harry Simeone Choir holiday album further broadened the song’s appeal.
You will hear this song tonight during the Christmas cantata: ‘Noel.’ You will hear a piece titled: ‘Ring Those Bells Medley,’ which includes ‘Carol of the Bells.’

Meanwhile…1958…49 years ago…in the United States…

President: Dwight D. Eisenhower…V.P.: Richard Nixon
Bread: .19¢/loaf, Milk: .25¢/qt., Gas: .30¢/gal., Stamp: 4¢
Best picture: ‘Gigi’ Best Actor: David Niven
TV shows: Burns & Allen, Perry Mason, I Love Lucy, Gunsmoke, Leave it to Beaver
The Harry Simeone Chorale recorded the Fred Waring song: ‘Little Drummer Boy’
Al and Jerry Lapin founded The International House of Pancakes (IHOP) in California
The Barbie doll patented by Mattel. Ruth Handler (designer) named it after her daughter
Binney & Smith (Crayola crayons) introduced the 64-count Crayola crayon box
McDonald’s hit the 100 million sold mark
Legos building blocks were introduced
Wham-O began selling the Hula-Hoop
Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward were married
The Buffalo Evening News’ cartoonist, Bruce M. Shanks, won The Pulitzer Prize

Ref. HymnHistories Cyberhymnal WebEdelic DMarie TanBible Wikipedia BuffaloHistory.com

Christmas cantata

I hope you received word that our Christmas musical was postponed last night (12/16).
We had to make the decision early enough to contact the media in order to get the word out to the prospective audience; and we had to contact all those involved in the musical itself. I hope you didn't make an unnecessary trip in some pretty rough road conditions.
Diane and I were on the phones most of the afternoon. Thanks Diane!
We will present the musical in Sheridan on Sunday, December 30, 2007 @ 7:00 PM at Sheridan United Methodist church. Pray for good weather!
We will have choir rehearsal on Tuesday 12/18 @ 6:45 PM - 7:15 PM and chorus rehearsal from 7:15 -8:30 PM.
See you then...
Bud
ps for all of you wondering how our TubaChristmas went on Saturday (12/17) @ Kleinhans...there were 87 of us playing Christmas carols!