Twas in the moon of wintertime

Here’s a Christmas Carol that you might not be familiar with. I was first introduced to it in Louise Penny’s book How the Light Gets In. Now it’s one of my favorite songs of the season.

The Huron Carol is Canada’s oldest Christmas song. It was written in the Huron language in 1642 by Jean de Brébeuf, a Jesuit missionary at Sainte-Marie among the Hurons in Canada. The song’s melody is based on a traditional French folk song, “Une Jeune Pucelle” (“A Young Maid”). Tragically Father de Brébeuf was martyred in 1649 by the Iroquois.

The English version, written in 1926 by Jesse Edgar Middleton, uses imagery more familiar in the early 20th century rather than the classic Nativity story.

“Jesus is born in a “lodge of broken bark” and wrapped in a “robe of rabbit skin”. He is surrounded by hunters instead of shepherds, and the Magi are portrayed as “chiefs from afar” who bring him “fox and beaver pelts” instead of the more familiar gold, frankincense, and myrrh. The hymn also uses a traditional Algonquian name, Gitchi Manitou, for God.”

 

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Eurovision 2013 First Semi Final Results

Eurovision 2013 First Semi Final Results.

Lori does a great job following the Eurovision contest, going on right now!

My Darling is a Girl Raised by Wolves

Although Celine Dion and ABBA got their big break on this show, I doubt most Americans are aware of Eurovision, the huge song contest in Europe and parts of the Middle East.  According to Dr Karen Fricker, co-director of the Eurovision Research Network, the contest was set up in 1956 not to promote international unity, but for the practical purpose of testing the scope of new broadcast technology in the 1950s. Every year it gathers a larger more devoted following, 125 million last year.

That’s where Wolf Darling comes in. ByeAlex (born Alex Márta on 6 June 1984) is a Hungarian indie-pop singer who will represent Hungary in the Eurovision Song Contest 2013 in Malmö, Sweden.

Márta, a 29 year old editor at Tattoo Magazine holds a masters degree in philosophy. His gentle love song Kedvesem with whimsical lyrics is about his darling who was raised by wolves. It is currently #2 on the Hungarian Top 10.  Despite pressure to sing in English, out of respect for his fans he will be performing in Hungarian on May 16^th in the Semi-Final 2 group. Those Hungarians are fiercely proud of their language. This version has English  subtitles. And here’s another version;  Translate Kedvesem to your language!

Here’s the lyrics.

Will you be rooting for ByeAlex with me on May 16^th  ?

Suggested Listening: “Csárdás” by Vittorio Monti

ByeAlex and His Wolf Darling

ByeAlex. This is such a sweet song about his darling that was raised by wolves. I reposted this from a blog that writes about Eurovision.  I really enjoyed the song.

Listen to it. I’m sure it will make you smile.

12 POINTS TO...

ByeAlex is saying Hello, Malmö, after winning A Dal 2013, the Hungarian national selection for Eurovision. On March 2, eight finalists performed for a televised audience and professional jury. The jury voted and narrowed the field to four super-finalists. Televoters had the final say and they cast the majority of their votes for ByeAlex and his song, “Kedvesem.”

Compact Disco was one of my favorites last year. I have a thing for edgy, impassioned rock and I really liked their song, “Sound of Our Hearts.” Let’s see how ByeAlex, who’s real name is Alex Márta, will represent Hungary this year.

My first thought was, “Hipster Hungarians!” I don’t know why this surprised me. If I thought about, I would assume the subculture is worldwide. Of course, being hipsters, they should vehemently deny that they are hipsters. Anyway, I would have expected an edgier tune from someone so identified. ByeAlex has…

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