Monthly Archives: December 2015

Countdown to Christmas – Day 25

Posted on December 25, 2015 by mj263

You can never have too much Messiah. A very Happy Christmas to music librarians and their readers everywhere. May you have a wonderful festive season, and a music-filled New Year. See you in 2016! Thanks to Paul Nash and the … Continue reading →

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Countdown to Christmas – Day 24

Posted on December 24, 2015 by mj263

It’s nearly here…. Many thanks to Paul W. Nash and the librarians of Oxford University for today and tomorrow’s posts.

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Countdown to Christmas – Day 23

Posted on December 23, 2015 by mj263

Examine the manuscript of Handel’s Messiah. Although the full score hasn’t been digitised yet, much of the Christmas music has been photographed, and you can listen to the festive chorus For unto us a child is born. Courtesy of the British Library. http://www.bl.uk/turning-the-pages/?id=38fd72b2-5b98-4fc2-aaae-98e717e8d512&type=book

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Countdown to Christmas – Day 22

Posted on December 22, 2015 by mj263

Listening to carols in Padstow on the phone – A lovely interview about bygone Christmases from the Bob & Jacqueline Patten English Folk Music Collection at the BL : http://sounds.bl.uk/World-and-traditional-music/Bob-and-Jacqueline-Patten-Collection/025M-C1033X0271XX-1800V0 And how does this connect to Stargazy pie? Listen to the … Continue reading →

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A Joint Force Christmas

Posted on December 21, 2015 by mj263

Last Tuesday’s Christmas showcase at Westminster Music Library was anything but a “Silent Night”, as our very own Joint Force Singers Choir* gave their debut public performance in festive style. Keen followers of Westminster Music Library’s community events may already … Continue reading →

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Countdown to Christmas – Day 21

Posted on December 21, 2015 by mj263

As well as the usual delights of the festive season—feasting , games, music and dancing—telling stories has long been a feature, especially spooky stories, which became increasingly popular in Victorian times, reaching their height in the early twentieth century when M.R. … Continue reading →

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Countdown to Christmas – Day 20

Posted on December 20, 2015 by mj263

“The People’s Collection, Wales” is a fascinating online collection of items from museums, archives, libraries, and individuals in the Principality. A Christmas postcard from “Jack” of the 38th (Welsh) Division to “Edie” was part of an exhibition commemorating the Welsh experience in … Continue reading →

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Countdown to Christmas – Day 19

Posted on December 19, 2015 by mj263

Christmas Day in the Workhouse. This gloomy poem was a stalwart of the Victorian Christmas fireside. There’s a rather jollier parody in the British Library’s collections – http://sounds.bl.uk/World-and-traditional-music/Roy-Palmer-collection/025M-C1023X0007XX-1400V0

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Countdown to Christmas – Day 18

Posted on December 18, 2015 by mj263

Miners singing Christmas carols underground at Bersham Colliery, Rhostyllen, Wrexham. Courtesy of the National Archives, UK. Have a look at their wonderful Flickr page – https://www.flickr.com/photos/nationalarchives/

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Countdown to Christmas – Day 17

Posted on December 17, 2015 by mj263

Christmas with the choir of Cambridge University Library…  

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