Category Archives: Holiday

2019 “Uketide” Tunes – Part IV

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The recital on Wednesday went really well. Actually, my instructor said he got a little emotional thinking about how far I’d come in a year. That made my day. Aria performed Jingle Bells like a boss, and I did Bring a Torch, Jeanette, Isabella. My in-home dress rehearsal was the last video installment. Lisa took a photo right before leaving for the venue:

Aria and I have teamed up for another song, a favorite of hers on the radio. Sleigh Ride was originally an instrumental piece, composed by Leroy Anderson and first recorded in 1949. Lyrics were later added in 1950 by Mitchell Parish. Just hear those sleigh bells jingling:

* Note to self: Do not let perfection be the enemy of good, especially when working with a kindergartner. Time is not your friend!  Up next, I’ll have a solo of a classic Carpenters Christmas original.

2019 “Uketide” Tunes – Part III

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Frosty has melted and we’re off to France to revisit a song I did last year. Bring a Torch, Jeanette, Isabella is what I’ll perform this Wednesday night in my first recital. I’ve added a few things to the 17th century carol that weren’t in my performance last Christmas, and I’ve been polishing the piece for a month.

The recital is at Salem’s Historic Grand Theatre, which is a cool venue, built in 1900 and renovated three years ago. Looking forward to it! Consider this the in-home dress rehearsal:

Aria joins me on the next tune. I hope to get up three more songs before Christmas!

2019 “Uketide” Tunes – Part II

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Today we go from an Irish carol to a popular American Christmas song. Frosty the Snowman was written by Walter “Jack” Rollins and Steve Nelson. Gene Autry was the first to record the song in 1950 as a holiday follow-up to his 1949 seasonal hit, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Frosty went on to inspire a children’s book and several television shows. I believe at one point Frosty and Rudolph even co-starred in a stop-motion animation show.

When Christmas songs started their endless radio marathon in early November this year, Aria and I commented how often we heard this song. Regardless of repetition fatigue, Aria chose it for us to perform together:

The two of us have a Christmas recital we’re doing for the music school later this month. I’ll play my piece in the next “Uketide” Tunes installment.