The Tenth Day of Christmas - The Music Of Broadway

While I have a great passion for classical music, I was born and raised on the songs and scores of Broadway. Blessed with friends in the theater, I was lucky to experience The Great White Way in all of its grandeur - Fiddler on the Roof, 42nd Street, On the Twentieth Century, Oklahoma, CATS, My Fair Lady, Man of La Mancha, Anything Goes, and Hello Dolly! to name but a few. A great blessing to be sure.

What a delight on New Year's Day to find the movie version of "Hello Dolly!" with a stellar cast under the direction of Gene Kelly. There was no "flipping" to see what else was on at the time or check the "Bowl" score for Barbara Streisand commanded my attention and brought great delight singing some of the awesome songs from Jerry Herman's classic score. Michael Crawford, of Phantom of the Opera fame, and Tommy Tune were just beginning their careers and gave youthful performances. And let's not forget that there was a special cameo by the one and only Louis Armstrong.

The show was based on Thornton Wilder's 1938 farce The Merchant of Yonkers, which Wilder revised and retitled The Matchmaker in 1955. Dolly was first produced on Broadway by David Merrick in 1964, winning the Tony Award for Best Musical and nine other Tonys. The show album Hello, Dolly! An Original Cast Recording was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2002. The musical has become one of the most enduring theatre hits, enjoying three Broadway revivals and international success. The movie version which was produced in 1969 was nominated for seven Academy Awards – winning three – but losing Best Picture to Midnight Cowboy.

Unfortunately, clips of the movie are hard to come by. So, on this Tenth Day of Christmas were we celebrate "Lords a Leaping", we will have to satisfy ourselves with this short theater trailer which will highlight most of the amazing score.

Here is a favorite Carol of the season to be used as prayer for the day:

I saw three ships come sailing in

On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day;

I saw three ships come sailing in

On Christmas Day in the morning.

 And what was in those ships all three,

On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day?

And what was in those ships all three,

On Christmas Day in the morning?

The Virgin Mary and Christ were there,

On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day;

The Virgin Mary and Christ were there,

On Christmas Day in the morning.

Pray, wither sailed those ships all three,

On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day;

Pray, wither sailed those ships all three,

On Christmas Day in the morning?

O they sailed into Bethlehem,

On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day;

O they sailed into Bethlehem,

On Christmas Day in the morning.

And all the bells on earth shall ring,

On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day;

And all the bells on earth shall ring,

On Christmas Day in the morning.

And all the Angels in Heaven shall sing,

On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day;

And all the Angels in Heaven shall sing,

On Christmas Day in the morning.

And all the souls on earth shall sing,

On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day;

And all the souls on earth shall sing,

On Christmas Day in the morning.

Then let us all rejoice again,

On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day;

Then let us all rejoice again,

On Christmas Day in the morning.

Love One Another - Brian