I can’t let this Christmas pass without a tribute to my aunts–Gertie, Millie, Joan, Florence, and Betty.
Whenever I went to see them during the Christmas season–which was often, they only lived a few blocks from us–they had Andre Rieu on TV, playing Christmas music. And this was one of their favorites: O Holy Night.
Note the little girl in the audience imitating Andre Reiu conducting the orchestra.
Summer’s over, fall is here. A summer without baseball, without a vacation, without a backyard cookout with the neighbors: without a lot of things. But we did have birds and butterflies, and flowers, and God’s blue sky, green grass, and shining sun.
Thomas Moore wrote poems that bring a tear to the eye; The Last Rose of Summer is one of them. Andre Rieu and his orchestra perform it here.
Without Christ, the losses would be unbearable; but He said, “Behold, I make all things new” (Rev. 21:5) And we believe Him.
I’m happy to honor a hymn request from a new reader, Carla, who asked for anything by Andre Rieu. I usually post him around Christmas-time: my aunts always had him on TV.
So here he is with his orchestra, and Nearer My God to Thee–and this rendition of the hymn will move you.
Whenever I went to see my aunts at Christmastime, I’d find them watching this man on TV–Andre Reiu, with his orchestra, with Christmas carols. Here, Silent Night.
I do find it hard to separate the music from my memories of loved ones who loved this music. But every good thing we have ever known is the gift of God, and Christmas is a good time to remember that.
Our friend SlimJim asked for this: Amazing Grace. I chose this instrumental version by Andre Rieu and his orchestra–you don’t really need the lyrics, do you? The hymn is so well-known. “Amazing grace, how sweet the sound/ That saved a wretch like me…”
The first time I tried to post this lovely song here, I had nothing but problems. So here it is again–The Last Rose of Summer.
This goes straight to my heart. Poems written by Thomas Moore do have a way of doing that (“The Minstrel Boy,” “Believe Me, If All Those Endearing Young Charms”). And I can’t see Andrew Rieu and his orchestra without remembering my aunts at Christmas time, and how they loved his music.
Well, the post seems to have worked this time.
And it looks like the worst part of my allergy attack has abated, thanks be to God.
Does the beauty of Christmas ever move you to tears? Let it! We are stranded in an age in wherein, by sin and negligence, the guilty “investigate” the innocent: but Christmas brings the assurance of our rescue. Christ Jesus is our Savior: He will deliver us.
Silent Night: Andre Rieu with the violin solo, backed up by his choir and orchestra. Balm for the spirit.
If you went over to my aunts’ house anytime around Christmas, Andre Rieu was on their TV. They couldn’t get enough of his Christmas specials. I like to remember this.
Anyhow, here he is with his Johann Strauss orchestra–Andre Rieu, O Holy Night: dedicated to Gertie, Millie, and Joan.
Yes, I know I posted Amazing Grace just a couple of days ago. But “SlimJim” asked for it, and anyway, I’m not sure there’s any such thing as too much Amazing Grace.
I selected this performance by Andre Rieu and his orchestra–and by Jove, before I was over, my eyes were filling up with tears. Ditto for a lot of people in the audience. They’re filling up again now. Stop that! Sorry–I can’t see Andre Rieu without thinking of my aunts’ living room at Christmas-time.
And no, we are never going to meet the mortal who has had his fill of God’s grace.
My aunts used to have Andre Reiu on TV all thoughout the Christmas season. Now the house is gone, my aunts are gone, and the memories stand. Christmas is a good time for memories, and an even better time for hope. Jesus Christ is come in the flesh.
Anyway, I’m standing on the hilltop, waving the Christmas flag. Please feel free to join in with a hymn request of your own.