A Caroling we go - Candlelight Carol

It is so hard to choose a favourite carol for the Bloggers' Christmas Caroling. There are the well known classics but there are many new pieces too that I enjoy hearing or singing.


Candlelight Carol by John Rutter - a contemporary piece. Unfortunately, the rendition I chose in 2014 is no longer available to share. Search the title on YouTube for different choirs singing this number.

Merry Christmas!

 © 2014 Janet Iles

Blog Caroling 2010

FootnoteMaven is hosting a Blog Caroling Event on December 15. We are to share a favourite Christmas Song. This year, I have chosen Mary's Boy Child. The video features the song sung by Helmut Lotti & Cliff Richard in 2003 in Brussels, Belgium accompanied by the Golden Symphonic Orchestra.

I like the message and the rhythm of the piece.  I hope you sing along. 




© 2010 Janet Iles

Advent Calendar of Memories - Music

December 21 - Christmas Music

What songs did your family listen to during Christmas? Did you ever go caroling? Did you have a favorite song?

Do you remember the 78s? I went to the basement to see what old Christmas records had survived. I found these.

I still have a record player. Although, they are a bit scratchy, I listened to one of them. They bring back memories. After 78s, we graduated to 33 albums and single 45s, then cassettes and now CDs.  There are so many beautiful Christmas songs and carols.


We listened to both secular and religious music. Some of the records also had stories. The orange record above had "It came upon a midnight clear", "Away in a Manger", "The First Noel" and "Hark the Herald Angels Sing". These are still favourites today. On the other side was the narration of "The Night before Christmas". The other disc had "C-H-R-I-S-T-M-A-S" (a favourite), "Jolly Old Saint Nicholas", "Up on the House Top" and the Village of Christmas Pie."

I can only recall caroling once outdoors.

When my dad was in hospital all the 1989 Christmas season, he was so pleased by the visitors who came to sing carols and of course, the visit of the Salvation Army with their musical instruments. I am sure he sang along.  When my dad was moved from re-hab to the regular hospital building,  he was able to have a small cassette player and miniature speakers in his room. He wanted to share the music with those who were spending time with him.

Every time I hear or sing Silent Night, I remember that Christmas.

 updated from 2007

© 2009 Janet Iles

Carnival of Genealogy - 83rd edition - Musical Instruments

Music is the way our memories sing to us across time.

--Lance Morrow

Thanks to the footnoteMaven for this attractive poster.

Welcome to the 83rd Carnival of Genealogy. Thank you to everyone who participated.

• Do you play a musical instrument or did one of your family members?
• What instrument do you play or did they play?
• If no one in the family played an instrument, what is your favorite instrument and what is your least favorite one?

Nature or nurture? Do you inherit the musical gene so that you are inclined to be a singer or play one or more musical instruments? Perhaps, these postings will help you to answer these questions.

Evelyn Yvonne Theriault presents A Picture Can Lie! posted at A Canadian Family, saying, "To my working class family, playing an instrument was something for the "higher" classes."

Denise Olson presents Chopsticks & Moonlight Sonata posted at Moultrie Creek, saying, "No amount of music lessons or bribery was going to turn me into a musician."

Bill West presents West in New England: 49 Genealogical Uses for Flutaphones: The Complete List! posted at West in New England, saying, "I am not musically gifted so I fell back on a running joke about myself and flutaphones to come up with a post for this edition of the COG!"

Charles Hansen presents Musical Instruments for COG posted at Mikkel's Hus, saying, "While I was not a great musician, I found out I was even worse as a band director."

Brett Payne presents Whistling Bird, the Arizona Cowboy and the Disappearing Lady posted at Photo-Sleuth, saying, "Very few of my family members have progressed much beyond the recorder in their early grades. However, my great-grandfather Charles Vincent Payne (1868-1941) did have something of a reputation for his singing voice, honed in travelling vaudeville."

Dorene Paul presents Steen and Doris Parker: They Liked to Sing and Play posted at Graveyard Rabbit of Sandusky Bay, saying, "My grandfather liked to play the piano, and my grandmother enjoyed singing. I only wish I could have heard them! Both passed away before I was born."

Jessica Oswalt presents Music in the Family ... posted at Jessica's Genejournal, saying, "A brief overview of family members and ancestors who were either musically inclined or were involved in music."

Greta Koehl presents Musical Instruments – More on the Fiddling Moores posted at Greta's Genealogy Bog, saying, "When I first learned of the subject of this COG, my heart sank. It's a subject dear to my heart, but I though I had covered it pretty completely in two previous articles on my family's love for fiddles and my Uncle Howard, the violin maker. After rummaging through my mother's old keepsakes, however, I found two articles on Uncle Howard that brought back a long dormant memory - of my Uncle Howard's old Violano Virtuoso."

Mary Beaulieu presents The Gift of Music posted at AncestorTracking, saying, "Memories of a beloved teacher and a remote father's legacy."

Linda Hughes Hiser presents Carnival of Genealogy, 82nd Edition—Musical Instruments posted at Flipside, saying, "Uncle John and his big band days!"


Tracy presents COG 83: Tone Deaf in a Family of Musicians posted at The Pieces of My Past, saying, "I am woefully challenged musically speaking, but am descended from a lot of musical talent."

Sheri Fenley presents My Musical Family - 83rd COG posted at The Educated Genealogist. GrannyPam has identified the instrument in the photo as a banjolele.

Lorine McGinnis Schulze presents Oompah, Oompah, Oom pah pah.... posted at Olive Tree Genealogy Blog, saying, "Who in my ancestral past had the DNA with the Music Gene?"

Travis LeMaster presents Sam the Music Man posted at TJLGenes : Preserving Our Family History, saying, "Information about Samuel Lambertson and his banjo, including a photograph."

Carol presents Carnival of Genealogy, 82nd Edition—Musical Instruments posted at Reflections From the Fence, saying, "We have quite a few musicians, even have 4 generations in a row that have played. The last generation are highlighted by photos, our pride and joy!"

John Newmark presents Carnival of Genealogy: Musical Instruments posted at Transylvanian Dutch, saying, "Past research has indicated I may have some musical heritage, though it's not certain. I did have some music lessons as a child, though."

Lori Thornton presents Music, Music, Music posted at Smoky Mountain Family Historian. Lori tells us about the different instruments that she plays. She also says that the voice is an instrument.


Jasia presents The Magic in Grandma's Parlor posted at Creative Gene, saying, "Here's the story of my discovery of a magical musical instrument and what it has meant to our family."

Miriam Robbins Midkiff presents AnceStories: The Stories of My Ancestors: Eight Musical Things about Me posted at AnceStories: The Stories of My Ancestors, saying, "I'm reviving a meme I wrote nearly a year ago when I shared eight things about myself...I chose to write about eight musical instruments I either mastered or attempted. What's ironic is that I no longer am involved in any musical groups, either vocal or instrumental. Maybe someday...when I'm not so busy!"

Apple presents Musical Memories posted at Apple's Tree, saying, "The history of musical instruments in my family doesn't extend back very far so the recent generations are making up for lost time."

Valerie C. presents Begin with 'Craft': More Music in the Family posted at Begin with 'Craft', saying, "Musical talent ran in my maternal family line - including my GG-Aunt Ethel & her recording artist husband."


Caroline Pointer presents Family Stories: Play It Again, Sam posted at Family Stories, saying, ""Life" lessons are found in piano lessons."

I wrote about Brass Bands - How I love them  at Janet the Researcher. When I think of the Iles family and their musical talents, I think of them playing brass instruments. I never played a brass instrument but do I love to hear a brass band.

 I do not know if this was a first posting for anyone else but I extend a warm welcome to Alice and Gayle  on their first postings to a Carnival of Genealogy.

Alice Keesey Mecoy presents John Brown's Favorite Hymn posted at John Brown Kin, saying, "John Brown's favorite hymn, "Blow ye the Trumpet, Blow!"

Gayle Gresham presents The Christison Musicians posted at Colorado Reflections, saying, "Prospecting is in my Christison blood, but there is another talent that runs through the Christison family – musical ability. It seems that those who weren’t bitten by the gold bug honed their musical talent. And, in two cases, without music (and the U.S. Air Force) two marriages may never have happened."

Susan's posting shares the importance of music to her family during a difficult time. Thank you for sharing.

Susan A. Kitchens presents One month ago: Hootenanny in the Hospital posted at Family Oral History Using Digital Tools [News], saying, "This post is about a guitar. And singing. But it's also a post about why I have not been doing much blogging of late. Thank you so much for this theme, at this time-- it's the PERFECT way for me to segue from a looooooong bout of non-posting to posting again. With just the right touch. Oh, and there are links at the end of the story to two other stories about music and family. The This Land is Your Land link is about a banjo. And music. And family."

This is the end of the interesting articles about Musical Instruments and your family for the 83rd Carnival of Genealogy. I am sure you will enjoy reading them. I did. Thank you Jasia for giving me the opportunity to host this Carnival.

Call for Submissions!
The topic for the next edition of the Carnival of Genealogy will be:
What the Carnival of Genealogy has meant to you.

The COG has been published twice a month for over three years now, 83 editions thus far! It's covered a wide variety of topics and introduced many, many new bloggers and even a new carnival. Here's an opportunity to look back and reflect on when you first discovered the COG and when you first participated in it.

• What was your favorite topic to write about? 
• Have you guest hosted the COG? 
• Is there an article you've read in the COG that stands out in your mind?
• What have you learned from reading or writing for the COG?
• Have you ever recommended the COG to anyone?
• If you haven't participated in the COG thus far, why not?
• How has the COG helped your family history research? 
• Has it impacted your life in any way? 

Share your COG experience with us and please indicate the number of COG editions you've participated in at the end of your article.

The deadline for submissions is November 15th and the next edition (#84) will return home to Jasia's Creative Gene blog.

Submit your blog article to the next edition of carnival of genealogy using our carnival submission form. Past posts and future hosts can be found on our blog carnival index page.

© 2009 Janet Iles

La Messe Québecoise

La Messe Québecoise - I remember

Two weeks ago at church, we sang one of our hymns in both English and French: I'll Praise Eternal God (Je louerai l'Éternel) The French words and music were by Claude Fraysse and translated and arranged in 2002 by John L. Bell. A very simple hymn of praise, but for me very meaningful in both languages.

This got me to thinking. During the summers of 1968, 1969 and 1983, I attended the University of Western Ontario's French summer school at Trois Pistoles Québec. During six weeks, we were fully immersed in the life and culture of this small community as we took university level courses. Because of the extra work I did to prepare, I was able after grade 12 to take the third year general language course. Although I am not Catholic, as part of the immersion, I attended Sunday morning mass during each of the summers I was at Trois-Pistoles. What I don't remember is singing hymns during the services. Perhaps, it is because we were accustomed to speaking only French that it didn't stand out as anything different.

In 1983, I took a leave of absence from the library along with my vacation so that I could take another course, this time in Commercial French. I needed more courses to complete my Diplôme de français pratique and to fulfill the residency requirement. We had classes in the morning and electives in the afternoons. I chose to be part of the choir again that summer. The highlight of the summer was when we sang at Église Notre-Dame-des-Neiges, the Messe Québecoise by Pierick Houdy. It was fun and challenging to learn all the pieces. It was fast paced with the singers accompanied by organ, fiddle and spoons. The musicians were all students at the summer school.

Brass bands - how I love them

It's easy to play any musical instrument: all you have to do is touch the right key at the right time and the instrument will play itself.

 --Johann Sebastian Bach

Well, Johann Sebastian Bach makes it sound like it is quite simple to play a musical instrument. Oh yes, you might make a sound but is it pleasing to the ear? To play an instrument well takes skill and practice. You also have to enjoy it too.

I took piano lessons for a few years. My brother and I took lessons with a woman who lived near our school. I must admit I was not one to practice a lot but I did learn to play. I progressed to grade eight but we didn't take exams or perform in recitals. In addition to our music books, I learned to play hymns from the hymnary. These days, if I am to sit down to the piano to play, it would be most likely a piece from one of our hymn books.

Other than my Iles relations, I do not know whether anyone on my mother's side of the family played a musical instrument. When I think of the Iles family, I primarily think of them playing brass instruments. Some played woodwinds, such as the saxaphone (not my favourite instrument) but it is always the brass instruments that I remember.

I enjoy very much listening to a brass band, especially when they play a good rousing march or a steering or thoughtful hymn. Perhaps, this comes from attending band concerts as a child or listening to band music records. I love the sound of the Salvation Army band.

My grandfather, William George Iles, played the cornet. He began playing it when he was fourteen years old. I don't know if he joined the Salvation Army after he had started to play or whether he learned the instrument after he joined the local corps in Birmingham. When he came to Canada, he re-organized the band in Owen Sound. Later, he played an active part in the development of the Owen Sound city band.Grandpa played until he was seventy-six years old

In an earlier posting, Genealogist's Parade, I talked about the various instruments played by my family. I never learned how to play a brass instrument. I don't know if I could at this stage in my life.

This posting was written for the 83rd Carnival of Genealogy. It will be hosted here at Janet the Researcher. I look forward to hearing about the musical instruments played in your family. To submit your submission click here.

© 2009 Janet Iles

A Caroling we will go - Bring a Torch Jeanette Isabella

It is difficult to choose a favourite Christmas carol or song.

I chose to feature Bring A Torch, Jeanette Isabella, a French Provençal carol by Émile Blémont. Originally sung in French (Un flambeau, Jeannette, Isabelle) it has been translated and one English version is shown below.


Bring a torch, Jeannette, Isabella!
Bring a torch to the cradle run!
It is Jesus, good folks of the village;
Christ is born and Mary's calling:
Ah! ah! beautiful is the mother!
Ah! ah! beautiful is her Son!

It is wrong when the Child is sleeping
It is wrong to talk so loud;
Silence, all, as you gather around,
Lest your noise should waken Jesus:
Hush! hush! see how fast He slumbers:
Hush! hush! see how fast He sleeps!

Softly to the little stable,
Softly for the moment come;
Look and see how charming is Jesus,
See how He smiles, Oh see how rosy!
Hush! hush! see how the Child is sleeping;
Hush! hush! see how He smiles in dreams.



To also hear and see a rendition of the carol by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir go to this link.

C-H-R-I-S-T-M-A-S, C is for . . .

December 21 - Christmas Music

What songs did your family listen to during Christmas? Did you ever go caroling? Did you have a favorite song?
Do you remember the 78s? I went to the basement to see what old Christmas records had survived. I found these.

I still have a record player. Although, they are a bit scratchy, I put one on to listen to. They bring back memories. After 78s, we graduated to 33 albums and single 45s, then cassettes and now CDs.
We listened to both secular and religious music. Some of the records also had stories. The orange record above had "It came upon a midnight clear", "Away in a Manger", "The First Noel" and "Hark the Herald Angels Sing". These are still favourites today. On the other side was the narration of "The Night before Christmas". The other disc had "C-H-R-I-S-T-M-A-S" (a favourite), "Jolly Old Saint Nicholas", "Up on the House Top" and the Village of Christmas Pie."
I can only recall caroling once outdoors. When my dad was in hospital at Christmas (1989), he was so pleased by the visitors who came to sing carols and of course the visit of the Salvation Army with their musical instruments. I am sure he sang along. Every time I hear or sing Silent Night, I remember that Christmas.

You Tube - great variety

I spent several hours exploring the videos on You Tube. I was surprised at the variety - quality, topics and length. The challenge is the band width. The best time without pauses was the beginning of the soccer game gold cup this year between Guatemala and Canada. I saw all the introduction but quit before the game began as it started to have too many pauses. It was to be an hour video. Most I chose to look at were under 3 minutes. I did a variety of search terms to see what is there. -- books, genealogy, libraries, church and Canada. I wondered who submitted some of them as I would have thought there would have been copyright on them.

The one I have chosen to share is one my brother sent me the link to a few weeks ago. I seem to be able to watch all the way through without pauses. It shows what can happen when you follow your dream.