{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"The Stories Behind the Songs: Three Carols Revisited - PHH 239","description":"I\u2019m kind of a Christmas carol geek, if there is such a thing. I\u2019ve always enjoyed playing them and even as a young person, I was fascinated by where they came from: their origins, translations, composers, text sources, etc. For me, the stories behind the carols were a kind of history and geography lesson rolled up into the magic and meaning of Christmas. I think the origin stories are what really held my interest. The writing of \u201cSilent Night\u201d because a church organ in Austria was damaged, or the composition of \u201cO Holy Night\u201d as a dedication piece to a renovated organ in France are stories that aren\u2019t just interesting, though. They shape how I think about those songs and how I play them, certainly how I arrange them as well. Today, I want to share the back stories to three carols. I know you\u2019re familiar with these carols, but you may not be familiar with their origin stories. If you\u2019re like me, you love hearing insider scoops and these are back stories you probably won\u2019t hear anywhere else. What\u2019s more, these three carols all share similar ethnic roots; they are all, to some degree at least, Czech.  I think all of these stories are interesting, and I think I can guarantee that at least one of these connections will surprise you. What I hope is that you learn something that will give you a new connection to the music itself, so that when you play these carols or even when you hear them, they resonate in a little more personal way because you know just a little bit more about them. It\u2019s kind of like discovering something new about a friend you\u2019ve known for years, something that adds a new layer of interest and delight.  So sit back with your cup of coffee and I\u2019ll tell you a story. Links to things I think you might be interested in that were mentioned in the podcast episode:  Blog from the archives: 7 Surprising Facts about \u201cO Holy Night\u201d Blog from the archives: Not So Silent Night: Going Viral 200 Years Ago Harpmastery.com Get involved in the show! Send your questions and suggestions for future podcast episodes to me at podcast@harpmastery.com Looking for a transcript for this episode? Did you know that if you subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts you will have access to their transcripts of each episode? LINKS NOT WORKING FOR YOU? FInd all the show resources here: https:\/\/www.harpmastery.com\/blog\/Episode-239   ","author_name":"Practicing Harp Happiness","author_url":"https:\/\/www.harpmastery.com\/podcast","html":"