Christmas Carols are interesting. In an attempt to keep things as simple as possible, I’ll categorize them into three groups: purely sacred carols, somewhat sacred carols, and secular carols.

It’s easy to identify purely sacred carols like “Hark, the Herald Angels Sing” because they actually refer to the Christmas story and have Biblical references. Likewise, secular carols are easy to identity – they tend to be about a general holiday feeling of warmth and love, or mention Santa Claus.

Then there’s that “somewhat sacred” group. “The Holly and the Ivy” is a song about plants, and the only association with religion is that the words make rhymes about Mary. “King Jesus hath a Garden” is also about vegetation, with metaphorical associations to Christ-like virtues. Then there’s the “Cherry Tree Carol” (again about a plant), a totally non-Biblical story which barely has a religious message at all. Some argue that these originated long ago from Pagan solstice celebrations and were adopted and changed into Christian music.

These “somewhat sacred” carols are still sung today in churches, but you’d never hear them at the mall. They mention sacred things, but their theology isn’t exactly rock-solid. Not too long ago, they were considered completely secular, and would never have been sung in a church.

Anyway, today’s piece is a gorgeous German somewhat-sacred carol. And yes, plant life is mentioned.

Mary wandered through a thorny wood, Lord, have mercy,
which was leafless for seven years – Jesus and Mary.

What did Mary carry by her heart? Lord, have mercy.
A little baby without pain – Jesus and Mary.

Hanukkah has ended.

Renaissance composer Salamone Rossi was a court musician in the important musical city of Mantua. During Rossi’s lifetime (and long after), many European Jews (including those in Mantua) were required to wear a yellow badge or hat, were often forced to live in a walled and guarded ghetto. 16th century Mantua was known as a city of relative cultural tolerance. Rossi’s skill as a violinist and composer earned him great renown in the city, and he was excused from wearing the yellow badge.

Like his contemporaries, Rossi’s output as a composer includes plenty of popular, secular court music that was all the rage in Italy: madrigals, dances, love songs. It’s good stuff. But what makes him stand out is his music for religious use in the Synagogue. The words were sacred, but the music was in the same style of the cultivated, aristocratic courts of Italy. It was a revolutionary step for Jewish religious music, similar to the musical revolution that had been happening in the European Christian churches at the same time.

The story ends as sadly as it began. Rossi and his sister, one of the first opera stars ever, were killed (probably) during a battle in Mantua in which the attackers destroyed the Jewish ghetto.

The song of praise “Adon Olam” isn’t specifically attached to Hanukkah; still, it is a beautiful and appropriate way to celebrate the holiday. Rossi set it in the style of the Italian Renaissance – there are multiple choirs, contrasting instrument ensembles, similar to this piece. The Hebrew text is set clearly so every word can be heard – very important, especially for those who view it as the Holy Language.

The story of Salamone Rossi and remains frighteningly relevant today, in all cultures, in all parts of the world. May we all be ever vigilant to crush hatred and prevent evil.

The Magnificat, or Song of Mary, has been set by countless composers. This is  partly because this canticle is used in the daily office – fixed prayers said or sung throughout the day. It is also because the text is so potent and stirring – the song of a humble girl whom God had chosen for things beyond her imagination.

One of my favorites has to be Giovanni Gabrieli‘s Magnificat a 33. That is, for 33 musicians – 33 individual independent parts. These musicians were grouped into “choirs” and placed around St. Mark’s Basilica in Venice, where Gabrieli was principal organist and composer. The effect was the various phrases of the text would come to you from different locations, with different musical colors. Sadly, a stereo recording loses this grand effect; to hear it in that massive cathedral must have been magnificent!