tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11123046.post6014780768792915809..comments2023-08-10T01:09:49.154-07:00Comments on Saints and Spinners: Songs of the Week: Ocho Kandelikas and Ma'oz TzurSaints and Spinnershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08532215042953620628noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11123046.post-32970802723677265122008-12-15T12:04:00.000-08:002008-12-15T12:04:00.000-08:00Yes. There are some sadly dreadful secular songs ...Yes. There are some sadly dreadful secular songs in the mix, too (Polar Puppy, anyone?), but the kids seem to like learning about traditional songs and carols. Not to mention singing them! Masters in this Hall is really lovely--do you know it?Anamaria (bookstogether)https://www.blogger.com/profile/10361389598002568007noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11123046.post-57269375942157322182008-12-15T09:31:00.000-08:002008-12-15T09:31:00.000-08:00Library Lady:"The Dreidel Song" has never been a f...Library Lady:"The Dreidel Song" has never been a favorite either, though I discovered after my daughter Maddalena was born that I was singing silly words to the tune, a la, "I had a Madda-ladle, I loved to kiss her so." I just requested the Baum .book from the libary. Thanks for the recommendaton! <BR/><BR/>LSM: Indeed, it was. I think we would have been more jolly had we not been struggling with coughs.<BR/><BR/>Anamaria: It's a mixed bag, isn't it? On the one hand, there's the separation of church and state and that's really important. On the other, it's a mistake to children of good music, and so much of the secular winter holiday music is just dreadful. (This is one blogger's opinion.) I'm glad that your school has the songs.<BR/><BR/>Speaking of secular songs I really don't like, the "Sleigh Ride" song (sleigh bells jingling, ring-ting tingling) sets my teeth on edge, but I was looking at the chords last night, and they're complicated. There are key changes all over the place, too. I appreciate complexity in a song. I just don't have to enjoy it.Saints and Spinnershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04733517166056974501noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11123046.post-51589501036834397082008-12-15T06:50:00.000-08:002008-12-15T06:50:00.000-08:00Ladino's not widely known in this country. There a...Ladino's not widely known in this country. There are pockets of Sephardim, but most Jews in the US are Eastern European/Ashkenazi, speakers of "mama loshen"--Yiddish.<BR/><BR/>I've had an antipathy towards "The Dreidel Song" since elementary school but I sing "O Hanukkah" in both English and Yiddish and my girls loved it when they were little. In fact, SC often asked for it as a lullaby!<BR/><BR/>But this year I used a lovely book version of "I Have A Little Dreidel" (by Maxie Baum)at story hours. It has verses that describe a Hanukkah party that fit the music beautifully. In fact, I discovered to my chagrin that I quite liked singing the song and that it worked well with my voice. <BR/><BR/>AND there's no mention of gifts, let alone (feh) "the tradition of eight gifts" which always gets my dander up!The Library Ladyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14321601076252214546noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11123046.post-89217509164546776452008-12-11T21:35:00.000-08:002008-12-11T21:35:00.000-08:00Sounds like a lovely party.Sounds like a lovely party.Lone Star Mahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14339475499304565638noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11123046.post-17278975905545955762008-12-11T13:19:00.000-08:002008-12-11T13:19:00.000-08:00What a nice way for all of you to celebrate the se...What a nice way for all of you to celebrate the season! I know one of those two songs: Elliot's public school has a holiday sing-along that includes LOTS of overtly religious Hannukah and Christmas songs, including Ocho Kandelikas, Masters in this Hall, and (my favorite) Children, GO where I send thee! with hand motions. I have no idea how they get away with it, but it's a beloved tradition that we sadly have to miss this year (we're driving up to Rhode Island for Christmas).Anamaria (bookstogether)https://www.blogger.com/profile/10361389598002568007noreply@blogger.com