I like to think this actually happened: Mary offering Jesus' blanket to Joseph as a hanky. Listen: International Orange Chorale sings 'O Child'
Accord Treble Choir sings 'O Child' tomorrow and December 15 in NYC!
The Bible doesn't tell us much about Joseph's state of mind when his virgin wife gave birth in a stable to the soundtrack of a heavenly choir, but I've always been pretty impressed that he seems to have held it together well enough not to elicit comment from the Gospel writers. Could he possibly have been as calm as those Nativity scenes always show him to be? Seems doubtful.
When my son Hank was born in 2009, and then my daughter Eliza in 2012, I feel like I got an inkling of what might have been going through Joseph's head that night. He probably didn't hear the heavenly hosts. He probably didn't notice all those donkeys invading his personal space. He probably didn't care whose name went on the birth certificate, his or God's. He was probably just thinking about that child, his child, perfectly whole in the straw.
I wrote 'O Child' from Joseph and Mary's perspective, and set it to music in two versions: one for mixed choir and one for treble choir.
San Francisco-based choir International Orange Chorale premiered the first version last December, and I've been holding on to their recording ever since so I could share it with you during the holiday season. They gave a stunning performance!
Listen: International Orange Chorale sings 'O Child'
My good friends Accord Treble Choir in New York City are premiering the treble choir version tomorrow, December 7 at 6:00pm in Manhattan, and next Sunday, December 15 at 3:00pm in Brooklyn. I apologize for the short notice, but hope that my NYC-based friends can make it!
Full concert info here. Admission is free (donations accepted).
Accord Treble Choir sings 'O Child' tomorrow and December 15 in NYC!
The Bible doesn't tell us much about Joseph's state of mind when his virgin wife gave birth in a stable to the soundtrack of a heavenly choir, but I've always been pretty impressed that he seems to have held it together well enough not to elicit comment from the Gospel writers. Could he possibly have been as calm as those Nativity scenes always show him to be? Seems doubtful.
When my son Hank was born in 2009, and then my daughter Eliza in 2012, I feel like I got an inkling of what might have been going through Joseph's head that night. He probably didn't hear the heavenly hosts. He probably didn't notice all those donkeys invading his personal space. He probably didn't care whose name went on the birth certificate, his or God's. He was probably just thinking about that child, his child, perfectly whole in the straw.
I wrote 'O Child' from Joseph and Mary's perspective, and set it to music in two versions: one for mixed choir and one for treble choir.
San Francisco-based choir International Orange Chorale premiered the first version last December, and I've been holding on to their recording ever since so I could share it with you during the holiday season. They gave a stunning performance!
Listen: International Orange Chorale sings 'O Child'
My good friends Accord Treble Choir in New York City are premiering the treble choir version tomorrow, December 7 at 6:00pm in Manhattan, and next Sunday, December 15 at 3:00pm in Brooklyn. I apologize for the short notice, but hope that my NYC-based friends can make it!
Full concert info here. Admission is free (donations accepted).
 Zane Fiala conducts International Orange Chorale |  Accord Treble Choir: Liz Geisewite, director |
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