Elementary school was where I acquired my knowledge of Christmas Carols from the music teacher, Mrs. Shirley Wiggins, who was graceful, elegant and had a sixth sense for kids who needed her. I was one of those kids and she allowed me to perform in her choir of which there were tryouts. It took two or three tries for me and I know she helped me along. In her wisdom, she didn’t just choose the popular, well dressed or smart kids. She chose the under dogs. I love her for that and remember her to this day.
Immense talent, vision and patience is an understatement to describe Mrs. Wiggins. Somehow she could take a band of rag tag elementary kids, a piano, a cafegymatorium (that’s a cafeteria used as gym turned into a theatrical emporium) and shape it into a theatrical production with costumes, music and a musical score. We had lines that would render a present day elementary schooler dumbfounded. She demanded the best and we willingly gave it. Choir we were not. According to her, we were the Durkee Performing Chorus complete with initialed robes in green and white. Perform we did, in shopping malls and nursing homes, all across Houston. That would never happen today, and I am so grateful it happened to me. Today, Mrs. Wiggins would not tolerate the new tolerance that is slowly eradicating songs that give the true meaning of Christmas. Wherever you are Mrs. Wiggins, it is to your credit that these songs are engraved on my heart and brain and I sing them now.
Silent Night
Silent Night, Holy Night
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon Virgin Mother and child
Holy infant so tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly peace
Sleep in heavenly peace
O Christmas Tree!
O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree!
How richly God has decked thee!
O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree!
How richly God has decked thee!
Thou bidst us true and faithful be,
And trust in God unchangingly.
O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree!
How richly God has decked thee!
My favorite and originally intended to be sung year round as an hymn, “O Come All Ye Faithful”, is the truest form of worship to be sung.
O Come All Ye Faithful
Joyful and triumphant
O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem
Come and Behold Him!
Born the King of Angels;
O Come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
Christ the Lord!
