December 2013
Guild Tidings
The official publication of
The International Songwriters Guild
Volume 18, No. 12
NEXT MEETING (Christmas Party) - 5:00pm Sunday, December 1st, 2013
We will have a party with live music by anyone who wants to play. Please bring
family, friends and food!!!
Thanks to Logan Belle for his presentation on creativity in November.
We welcome new members Scott Forbes and Logan Belle
Christmas Tales
By Jeff Mason
Robert Wells was finding the heat of the day unbearable. The fans
weren’t working and so to stay cool he started thinking about winter and wintry
things. He took a spiral note pad and wrote a few lines on it. The year was 1946 and
Wells was awaiting the arrival of his songwriting partner. They had written together
for a number of years and had recently been commissioned to write the title songs
for two movies. His positive thoughts were not succeeding. He placed the spiral pad
on the piano and sweated. He was unable to stave off the unbearable California heat
and begin work on his assignments. His friend arrived and read the lines on the
spiral pad. Robert didn’t think he was writing a lyric. He was trying to “immerse
himself in winter so he could cool off” his friend remembers,”I saw a spiral pad on
his piano with four lines written in pencil. They started,’Chestnuts roasting, Jack
Frost nipping,‘Yuletide’ carols, Folks dressed up like Eskimos’.” Robert’s friend
saw the possibility in those lines and within forty minutes they had composed the
most recorded Christmas song of all time. That day, Robert’s friend and
collaborator, Mel Tormé showed the song to his friend Nat King Cole. The rest, as
they like to say is history! “The Christmas Song” was released in October of 1946
and stayed in the charts for two months. It has since been recorded by over a
hundred artists including Mel Tormé.
The melody accompanying the words to “Away in a Manger” has been
credited to Carl Mueller. Many people even doubt the existence of Mueller. No one
knows where the Boston publisher came up with Mueller’s name when he included it in
the songbook “Words and Song.” The book was published after World War 1. There are
several mysteries surrounding this timeless, Christmas carol. In 1887, American hymn
writer, James R. Murray had entitled the melody “Luther’s Cradle Hymn” and claimed
that the German reformer Martin Luther had written the carol for his children. In
his songbook, “Dainty Songs for Little Lads and Lasses” he even claimed that Luther
sang the song to his children before bedtime. As the song became popular in America,
people imagined German mothers rocking their babies to sleep to the song. When it
arrived in Europe from the USA in the Nineteenth century German mothers had never
heard of the song. Murray had an excellent reputation as a publisher and writer and
it is not known where he acquired this misinformation. It is unlikely that Martin
Luther, born in 1483, was the author of the song. In the UK the words are sung to
William J. Kirkpatrick’s “Cradle Song” and another popular air “Flow Gently Sweet
Afton” has served as a setting. Over forty melodies have accompanied the lyrics
adding further confusion to the songs origin.
Handel’s “ Hallelujah Chorus” was not intended for a Christmas
audience. When George Handel was commissioned to write the song it was meant to be
played at Easter. George Handel was living in London, in 1741, and had fallen on
hard times. His eyesight was failing and he was crippled with rheumatism. He had
spent his savings trying to find cures for his ailments. The once famous composer
was living in poverty with no income. He dreaded the mail arriving with more bills
to pay. In August 1742, two offers arrived in the mail. The Duke of Devonshire
wanted the composer to come to Dublin and produce a series of benefit concerts for
several charities. The second letter was from a wealthy, eccentric poet named
Charles Jennens. He had an idea for new oratorio and needed Handel’s help. Jennings
wanted to create a new musical based on biblical stories. For the first time in
years, Handel felt inspired and went to work immediately on the project. Within a
couple of weeks, Handel completed the three part oratorio and staged the production
in Dublin. It was a huge success for the duke’s charities and revived Handel’s
career. When it was staged in London, a few months later, King George II was so
moved by the “Hallelujah Chorus” that he rose to his feet and inspired the audience
to do the same.
Handel would stage the production annually at Easter for his
favorite charity, the Foundling Hospital. He conducted it eight days before his
death in 1759 and it was played at his funeral in Westminster Abbey. After his
passing the “Hallelujah Chorus” fell out of favor and was hardly played. A hundred
years later it was rediscovered and become popular during the Victorian Era. It was
so associated with Easter that people expected it to be played annually. Christmas
had become a month long holiday and so it was performed to raise money for
charities. People are more charitable at Christmas and so like it’s creator the
“Hallelujah Chorus” was given a second chance.
You may read more stories about the Christmas songs in two
books by Ace Collins, published by Zondervan and titled “Stories Behind the Best-
Loved Songs of Christmas” and “More Stories Behind the Best-Loved Songs of
Christmas” Have a good holiday. See you next month.
ISG Bulletin Board
Meeting space graciously provided by Central Florida Musicians Association, Local
389. You are invited to join the largest union in the world, representing the
interests of the professional musician. Visit their website at afm389.org for more
information. You may reach them by phone at: 407-894-8666.
Why isn't your gig announced here? Call us with your appearance schedule!
Matthew and Rebecca Campbell
Saturday December 14th @ 7-9:30p
EXPERIENCE KIRTAN,,,
New World Kirtan Concert
BOLO
What is Kirtan?
Bolo means ..to sing, Kirtan is a vibrational/musical experience that will leave you
feeling inspired, uplifted, and completely "blissed-out"!
New World Wellness is excited and blessed to be able to welcome musical performers
and Reiki Masters Matthew and Rebecca Campbell who will lead this experience along
with New World Wellness Owner and Yoga/Meditation Instructor, Craig Costello!
A participation mystique is encouraged as Matthew, Rebecca, and Craig lead the
audience through optional singing, dancing and meditations during this amazing
experience...participate as much or as little as you wish and just enjoy the amazing
vibrations and incredible energy! 20 DAKIN AVENUE, KISSIMMEE, FLORIDA 34741.
The Low Cost is $15 to RSVP call 407.847.8792
Current members please send us your website info if you would like your site to be
listed in the ISG members page. Also if you have any songs that have placed first in
the monthly critiques, please send the mp3's to isgorlando@gmail.com if you would
like to have them featured in the ISG MySpace page. https://myspace.com/21075001
I have added new songs to the list, including Will Campbell's. Check it out!!!
November 2013 Critique Results
1 Cooking For One Asli Goncer
2 Use me Dear Lord Will Campbell +1
3 Trust Our Love Logan Belle
4 Just Not Meant to be Susan Foster-Trewick, Virginia Royal
5 Ghost of Larry Jon Scott Forbes
New members always welcome!
Any Details not in this newsletter are at:
www.tinyurl.com/isgsongs
You can find info here about the Songwriter's Stage competitive open mic.
http://www.yelp.com/events/orlando-songwriters-stage
© 2013 ISG