MWC_Edition35

December 21_DK

Christmas is right round the corner, and this is the time of the year, when most Pop Artists get together to release an album for a social cause. Bob Geldof started this trend 30 years ago with the 'Band Aid' initiative. The first single that was released then was 'Do they know it's Christmas?'. This time round, the lyrics were penned by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure as well, as Geldof was approached by the United Nations to help raise funds for Ebola victims and for it's cure. Uri and Geldof tweaked the lyrics to suit the new requirements for the song, and the album was released. One Direction, Zoella (Zoe Sugg), Alfie Deyes Sam Smith, Ed Sheeran, Emeli Sandé, Ellie Goulding and Rita Ora and Bono feature in the album.

http://youtu.be/-w7jyVHocTk

[One Direction]
It's Christmas time there's no need to be afraid
[Ed Sheeran]
At Christmas time we let in light and we banish shade
[Rita Ora]
And in our world of plenty we can spread a smile of joy
[Sam Smith]
Throw your arms around the world at Christmas time
[Paloma Faith]
But say a prayer and pray for the other ones
[Emeli Sandé]
At Christmas time its hard but while you're having fun
[Elbow]
There's a world outside your window and it's a world of dread and fear
[Dan Smith]
Where a kiss of love can kill you
[Angelique Kidjo]
And there's death in every tear
[Chris Martin]
And the Christmas bells that ring there are the clanging chimes of doom
[Bono]
Well tonight we're reaching out and touching you
[Seal]
Bring peace and joy this Christmas to West Africa
[Ellie Goulding]
A song of hope where there's no hope tonight (ooh)
[Sinead O'Connor]
Why is comfort to be feared, why is to touch to be scared
[Bono]
How can they know it's Christmas time at all
[One Direction]
Here's to you
[Olly Murs]
Raise a glass to everyone
[Bastille]
Here's to them
[Sam Smith]
And all their years to come
[Rita Ora]
Can they know it's Christmas time at all
[Chorus - all singers]
Feed the world let them know it's Christmas time again
Feel the world let them know it's Christmas time again
Heal the world let them know it's Christmas time again
Feed the world let them know it's Christmas time again
Feel the world let them know it's Christmas time again
Heal the world let them know it's Christmas time again
Feed the world let them know it's Christmas time again
Feel the world let them know it's Christmas time again.

"Ebola is a particularly pernicious illness because it renders humans untouchable and that is sickening"."
- Bob Geldof

MWC_Edition39

December 24_DK

On Christmas Eve, we have a special Music with Coffee edition. In a few hours we will be celebrating the birth of our King , so I'd like to wish every one a Merry Christmas. Though this time of the year, church choirs round the world sing Christmas carols, I'd like for us to hear the 'Litany of Saints'. 

This is a formal prayer in the Catholic Church and a few other Churches as well. It's a prayer to the Trinity, comprising of The Father, Son and the Holy Ghost, and also calls upon The Virgin Mary, Saints and martyrs upon whom the Church was founded. Though traditionally sung during Easter and All Saint's Day, I am posting this Litany as most non Christians may not have heard it. It is one of the oldest prayers in the Catholic Church.

Litany of the Saints

Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, have mercy on us. Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, hear us. Christ, graciously hear us.
God, the Father of heaven, have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world,
God the Holy Ghost,
Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us.
Holy Mary, pray for us.
Holy Mother of God,
Holy Virgin of virgins,
Saint Michael,
Saint Gabriel,
Saint Raphael,
All ye holy angels and archangels,
All ye holy orders of blessed spirits,
Saint John the Baptist,
Saint Joseph,
All ye holy patriarchs and prophets,
Saint Peter,
Saint Paul,
Saint Andrew,
Saint James,
Saint John,
Saint Thomas,
Saint James,
Saint Philip,
Saint Bartholomew,
Saint Matthew,
Saint Simon,
Saint Thaddeus,
Saint Matthias,
Saint Barnabas,
Saint Luke,
Saint Mark,
All ye holy apostles and evangelists,
All ye holy disciples of the Lord,
All ye holy innocents,
Saint Stephen,
Saint Lawrence,
Saint Vincent,
Saints Fabian and Sebastian,
Saints John and Paul,
Saints Cosmos and Damian,
Saints Gervase and Protase,
All ye holy martyrs,
Saint Sylvester,
Saint Gregory,
Saint Ambrose,
Saint Augustine,
Saint Jerome,
Saint Martin,
Saint Nicholas,
All ye holy bishops and confessors,
All ye holy doctors,
Saint Anthony,
Saint Benedict,
Saint Bernard,
Saint Dominic,
Saint Francis,
All ye holy priests and levites,
All ye holy monks and hermits,
Saint Mary Magdalene,
Saint Agatha,
Saint Lucy,
Saint Agnes,
Saint Cecilia,
Saint Catherine,
Saint Anastasia,
Saint Clare,
All ye holy virgins and widows, pray for us.
All ye holy men and women, saints of God, make intercession for us.
Be merciful, spare us, O Lord.
Be merciful, graciously hear us, O Lord.
From all evil, O Lord deliver us.
From all sin,
From Thy wrath,
From sudden and unprovided death,
From the snares of the devil,
From anger, and hatred, and all ill-will,
From the spirit of fornication,
From the scourge of earthquake,
From plague, famine, and war,
From lightning and tempest,
From everlasting death,
Through the mystery of Thy holy Incarnation,
Through Thy coming,
Through Thy birth,
Through Thy baptism and holy fasting,
Through the Institution of the Most Blessed Sacrament,
Through Thy cross and passion,
Through Thy death and burial,
Through Thy holy resurrection,
Through Thine admirable Ascension,
Through the coming of the Holy Ghost the Paraclete,
In the day of judgment, O Lord deliver us.
We sinners, we beseech Thee, hear us.
That Thou wouldst spare us,
That Thou wouldst pardon us,
That Thou wouldst bring us to true penance,
That Thou wouldst vouchsafe to govern and preserve Thy holy Church,
That Thou wouldst vouchsafe to preserve our Apostolic Prelate and all orders of the Church in holy religion,
That Thou wouldst vouchsafe to humble the enemies of holy Church,
That Thou wouldst vouchsafe to give peace and true concord to Christian kings and princes,
That Thou wouldst vouchsafe to bring back to the unity of the Church all those who have strayed away, and lead to the light of the Gospel all unbelievers,
That Thou wouldst vouchsafe to confirm and preserve us in Thy holy service,
That Thou wouldst lift up our minds to heavenly desires,
That Thou wouldst render eternal blessings to all our benefactors,
That Thou wouldst deliver our souls, and the souls of our brethren, relatives, and benefactors from eternal damnation,
That Thou wouldst vouchsafe to give and preserve the fruits of the earth,
That Thou wouldst vouchsafe to grant eternal rest to all the faithful departed,
That Thou wouldst vouchsafe graciously to hear us,
Son of God, we beseech Thee, hear us.
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.
Let us pray.
Almighty, everlasting God, who hast dominion over both the living and the dead and art merciful to all who, as Thou foreknowest, will be Thine by faith and works; we humbly beseech Thee that they for whom we intend to pour forth our prayers, whether this present world still doth detain them in the flesh or the world to come hath already received them stripped of their mortal bodies, may, by the grace of Thy fatherly love and through the intercession of all the saints, obtain the remission of all their sins. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who with Thee in the unity of the Holy Spirit liveth and reigneth God, world without end. Amen.

http://youtu.be/jb23Z5X3uhA

The Litany of Saints in Latin transports me mentally to the Sistine Chapel in Italy. It gives solace to us when we hear it.

MWC_Edition40

December 25_RJ

On the day of Christmas, we look at a tamil song that celebrates the arrival of the lord to this world. The song மண்ணுலகில் இன்று தேவன் இறங்கி வருகிறார் (MannuLagil Indru Devan iRangi varugirAr) from the movie Punidha Anthoniyar is composed by M.S. Viswanathan and sung by Vani Jairam and Muthuraman

here is the lyrics, if you want to sing along....

ViNNil thOndrum thaaragaiyellaam Devadhaiyaagum 
VeNNilavO Devan amarum vaaganamaagum
GnyaanajOthiyae, Uyarvaana jothiyae 
Thaanagavae ulagail irangum Dharmajothiyae! 

MaNNulagil indru Devan irangi varugiraan 
Nalla manidhar naduvil kuzhandhai vadivam perugiraan 
Ennilaadha adhisayangal seidhu kaattavae 
Oru puNNiyanin madiyinilae pudhalvan aagiraan 

MaNNulagil indru Devan irangi varugiraan 
Nalla manidhar naduvil kuzhandhai vadivam perugiraan 
Ennilaadha adhisayangal seidhu kaattavae 
Oru puNNiyanin madiyinilae pudhalvan aagiraan 

Mazhalai mozhigal kaetkka kaetkka manadhu thuLLaadhO 
Madiyil vandhu amarum pOdhu mayakkam koLLaadhO 
Paarvai pattaal pOdhum nam paavam yaavum pOgum 
KaigaL thottaal pOdhum udan kavalai ellaam theerum 

MaNNulagil indru Devan irangi varugiraan 
Nalla manidhar naduvil kuzhandhai vadivam perugiraan 
Ennilaadha adhisayangal seidhu kaattavae 
Oru puNNiyanin madiyinilae pudhalvan aagiraan 

Adiyavarin madiyinilae Aandavaraam Pillai 
AravaNaikkum adiyavarO Iraivanukkum Annai 
Kodumai paavam thuyaRilirundhu meetppavar vandhaar 
Kulam thazhaikka kuzhandhaiyaaga meippavar vandhaar 

MaNNulagil indru Devan irangi varugiraan 
Nalla manidhar naduvil kuzhandhai vadivam perugiraan 
Ennilaadha adhisayangal seidhu kaattavae 
Oru puNNiyanin madiyinilae pudhalvan aagiraan 
maNNulagil indru Devan vandhu iranginaar 
Nalla manidhar naduvil kuzhandhai vadivam perugiraar 

Note0: This song celebrates the arrival of lord to earth in the form of a child and praises the lord as an embodiment of knowledge and peace. 

Note1: What makes this song special is the voice of Vani Jayaram. 

Note2: Trichy AIR used to play this as a part of the religious songs at 7 AM. So this song also kindles quite some nostalgia for me....

http://youtu.be/vUPZF_PhCYE