Little Town by Over The Rhine begins with the familiar words of O Little Town Of Bethlehem, and then takes a walk through some of the quieter streets. Over The Rhine produce Christmas music that recognises that, for a variety of reasons, for some people, the hope of Christmas is quiet and reflective rather than …

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I shared this with the Mount Gambier Presbyterian private Facebook group yesterday, and lots of people are sharing it on various social platforms. Simon Camilleri is a very clever communicator. I supported his Kickstarter project children’s book When Santa Learned the Gospel. Here his parody/tribute to Hamilton uses a familiar melodic strain with seasonal Christmas …

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Dilly Carol is another Christmas song I’d never heard before being introduced to it by Kate Rusby. It is another example of the way simple numerical progression and lyrical repetition served to reinforce memorisation of lyric and content among those who wouldn’t have had easy common access to printed materials. Folk singing at its best. …

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The 21st of December. Paul Kelly’s How To Make Gravy. Australian music publishing and performing rights body APRA AMCOS are featuring this cover/tribute to celebrate Gravy Day. A wonderful collection of vocalists and musicians bringing their unique skills to a faithful rendition of Kelly’s anthem to power of small traditions that speak to larger and …

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