The instrumental versions are beautifully done, but I've always been bothered by Christian hymns performed without the words being sung. Here's my favorite version of one of the above songs.
I will not pretend that Goldi and I were great friends, because we were not. When I was young, one of my first managers at a job was a delightful old black woman from Louisiana who always amused me to no end because she constantly talked about her own death someday and was quite concerned that she didn't want anyone "Lyin' and cryin' at my funeral!" Apparently she had once attended a funeral where someone who had hated the deceased while they were alive threw themselves on the coffin and sobbed like their best friend had passed.
I am however, saddened by the extremely sad circumstances that Goldi's death revealed about her. It's very sad that at least so far it appears that the only people to note her passing are the condo management and internet acquaintances. It's also profoundly sad that she lost a 4 year old child years ago to such a painful disease. I hope that she is now reunited with that child she loved so much at last, and thus never again alone. May God have mercy on her soul.
Here's a Hanukkah song for you Goldi, may you rest in peace.
Here is a very nicely done video with one of the hymns which will be sung to commemorate Christ's nativity at the place of His birth. It is sung in Arabic, but the video editor has done a nice job of adding English subtitles along with a nice collection of appropriate photos.
"Christmas is the time to STFU and quit being a whiny b$#@%^"
LOL...
Political correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical minority, and rapidly promoted by mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end.
Incidentally, I will note that it is traditional at even "secular" performances of Handel's Messiah for the audience to stand when the Hallelujah Chorus is sung. This is because during the first performance of this in front of the Emperor, he was so moved that he stood up when it began (liturgically this would be sung in a Church service immediately before the Gospel Reading, when the congregation should stand; so evidently the Emperor was so caught up that he forgot that it was not at a Church service) And protocol being what it was, when the Emperor stood up everyone else attending stood up as well.
Today, of course, we do not stand because of an earthly Emperor, we stand to honor the King of Kings.