Christmas carols (12/19/99)

By Paulette Tobin

Do you remember the first time you heard the "Hallelujah" chorus from "The Messiah"? I do. I was a sixth grader, which would have made it 1966 or 1967. The Eureka High School mixed chorus, under the direction of Miss Sharon Gugel, was preparing to sing the "Hallelujah" chorus and every day we heard them practice it in the gym as we passed through there on our way to lunch. I remember thinking it was the most amazing thing I had ever heard. It made chills go up and down my spine then and still does today.

When I was about 20 years old I bought a three-album set of "The Messiah" and every Christmas since then I've made it part of my holiday preparations to listen to it from beginning to end. From "Comfort ye, my people," "And He shall purify" to "I know that my Redeemer Liveth," it is magnificent. Recently I broke down and bought "The Messiah" on CD and this week I listened to it while I stripped and polished the kitchen floor. I thought how appropriate it seemed that I was on my knees at the time.

Once again I thought back to the EHS choir in 1967 and considered what a challenge it must have been for them to perform that piece of music. I recalled that we had a very good choir that year, and I remembered that Miss Gugel had been very highly regarded. So while I was waiting for the kitchen floor to dry, I got out my 1967 "Trojan" yearbook to see who was singing in the choir that year.

What a huge group it was - 75 voices in all, almost as many students as there are in the entire Eureka High School today. The yearbook said the chorus had broken a record by capturing eight firsts at the music contest. In addition to the mixed chorus, there was a boys' octet, miscellaneous ensemble, mixed ensemble and girls triple trio. The yearbook further reported that EHS had topped the competition at the annual Region VI solo and small ensemble music contest in Mobridge for band and chorus, earning two one-pluses, 27 first places, 17 seconds and five thirds. For a school that always prided itself on its outstanding athletes, it's good to recall that there were some really talented musicians, too.

That year the choir was led by some fine singers, including Joyce Oster, Sandra Kusler, Bernetta Gruebele, Carolyn Fischer, Judy Bertsch, Vickie Moldenhauer, Karen Kramlich, Terry Neuharth, Sonja Bentz, Arba Della Beck, Bonnie Schnabel and Deb Keisz, and James Fischer, Barry Lapp, Ken Opp, Tom Schnabel, Clark Holzwarth, James Stoebner, Willard Holzwarth, James Heilman, Tim Weber and Todd Gross.

When I think of Christmas music and Christmas concerts at EHS, I can't forget the year we were seventh graders and sang "It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas," mainly because I never really cared for that song. A few of us made up our own alternate lyrics, which will not be reprinted here to protect the guilty. Our choir director, Mr. Wilske, chose the piece for us. In those days all seventh graders were required to take chorus, whether they could carry a tune or not and whether they wanted to be there or not. What a trial we must have been to poor Mr. Wilske. There were a couple of times when he snapped and certain of our classmates and the chairs they were sitting on went flying.

My list of favorite Christmas albums would have to include the soundtrack from the movie "Home Alone 2," which kicks off with a rousing rendition of "All Alone on Christmas" by Darlene Love. Celtic music is all the rage these days, but - having married an Irishman - I was into Celtic before Celtic was cool, and I am a big fan of the Chieftains. Their "Bells of Dublin" CD is terrific. "Celtic Christmas II, A Windham Hill Sampler," which begins with a magical version of "The Wexford Carol," is great for a quiet, snowy evening by the fire. I also love "Ultimate Christmas," which our Emily picked up last year at Target. It has Eartha Kitt singing "Santa Baby," and "White Christmas" by Bing Crosby followed by "Blue Christmas" by Elvis, plus Pavarotti, Boys II Men and Judy Garland. Awesome!

Another CD I take out and enjoy this time of year is "A Prairie Home Christmas" by Minnesota author and radio personality Garrison Keillor. It contains songs and skits, all excerpts from his Christmas shows from 1991 to 1994. One of my favorite Christmas songs is "Nothing But a Child," words and music by Steve Earle, and performed by Robin and Linda Williams. It's such a beautiful expression of the miracle of Christmas: That to this world that so prizes power, riches and celebrity, God chose to send his love and grace through the birth of a poor baby in a stable. The song goes like this:

"Once upon a time in a far off land/ Wise men saw a sign and set out across the sand/ Songs of praise to sing/ They traveled day and night/ Precious gifts to bring/ Guided by the light

"They chased a brand new star/ Ever toward the West/ Crossed the mountains far and when they came to rest/ They could scarce believe their eyes/ They'd come so many miles/ This miracle they prized was nothing but a child

"Nothing but a child/ Can wash those tears away/ And guide a weary world Into the light of day/ Nothing but a child/ Can help erase those miles/ So once again we all can be children for a while

"All around the world in every little town/ Every day is heard a precious little sound/ And every mother kind and every father proud/ Looks down in awe to find/ Another chance allowed

"Nothing but a child/ Can wash those tears away/ And guide a weary world into the light of day/ Nothing but a child/ Can help erase those miles/ So once again we all can be children for a while/ Nothing but a little baby, nothing but a child."

Merry Christmas, everybody.