The Christmas Song

"The Christmas Song" by Donna Summer, second of ten tracks from her album Christmas Spirit, her 16th studio album released in 1994. This song, subtitled either with "Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire" or "Merry Christmas to You," was written by Bob Wells and Mel Torme in 1945, and first recorded the year after by the Nat King Cole Trio.

Ms. Summer was born LaDonna Adrian Gaines on 31 December 1948. She was already a five-time Grammy Award winner and one of the world's best-selling artists of all time when she passed away in 2012; the year after, Ms. Summer was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

This month, liwaliw Sounds featured covers of Christmas carols and tunes by great musical performers born on December, and whose passing have left a great legacy in popular music. Other musical icons included this month were:

• Frank Sinatra (b. 12 December 1915, d. 14 May 1998)
• Marlene Dietrich (b. 27 December 1901, d. 06 May 1992)
• John Denver (b. 31 December 1943, d. 12 October 12 1997)

(Click HERE to view all of December in liwaliw Sounds)

Away in a Manger

"Away in a Manger" was known to be first published in the 19th century, but the words were once attributed to the Protestant Reformer Martin Luther, and was also called either "Luther's Cradle Song" or "Luther's Cradle Hymn." Nowadays, the carol is believed wholly American in origin. There are two common musical settings for this song: this cover by John Denver is based on James R. Murray's in 1887 (a setting also referred as "Mueller").

Away in a Manger was track one on side two of Rocky Mountain Christmas, Denver's tenth studio album, and first Christmas album, released in 1975. He will have two more Christmas albums; this carol will be featured again in Denver's third, Christmas, Like a Lullaby, in 1990.

Singer, songwriter, record producer, actor, activist and humanitarian, Denver was born Henry John Deutschendorf Jr. on 31 December 1943. He lived most of his life in Aspen, Colorado: the state named him Poet Laureate in 1974, and in 2007, also adopted Denver's 1972 signature hit "Rocky Mountain High" as its second state song. In his career, he will be inducted to the Songwriters Hall of Fame, and will receive awards from Academy of Country Music, American Music Awards, Country Music Association, Emmy Awards, and Grammy Awards. Denver died in 1997 when the aircraft he was flying solo as pilot crashed.

Interesting bit of trivia: John Denver in 1985 asked to join U.S.A. for Africa's recording of "We are the World." He was turned down. Later he performed in Farm Aid, a benefit concert organized by Willie Nelson (who was in U.S.A. for Africa), John Mellencamp and Neil Young.

This month, liwaliw Sounds features covers of Christmas carols and tunes by great musical performers born on December, and whose passing have left a great legacy in popular music.

The Bible Illuminated

From the Bible Illuminated, from the Breviary of Queen Isabella of Castile for #goliwaliwph #december2018 #pages pic.twitter.com/0s2HZX2cJb

— glenncruz (@glenncruz) December 31, 2018

The Bible Illuminated: How Art Brought the Bible to an Illiterate World by Karen York, Editor (with Len Woods), copyright by the Museum of the Bible, Inc., 2017, and published by Worthy Books, Franklin, Tennessee, United States.

On page 174, this full-page image at the beginning of the feature on the Breviary of Queen Isabella of Castile, a present to the Queen by her and King Ferdinand's ambassador, Francisco de Rojas. The liturgical book of prayer made by Flemish craftsmen, illuminated by artists such as the Master of the Dresden Prayerbook, the Master of the James IV of Scotland, and Netherlandish painter Gerard David. Caption reads: "Miniature of the Visitation with floral border and text, Breviary of Queen Isabella of Castile, multiple artists, 15th century."

For liwaliw Pages this month, looked for images related to Christmas or December holiday themes from books I acquired in 2018. Purchased this title second hand from Book Sale branch in SM City San Lazaro, City of Manila, 31 October 2018.

Other books featured in this set of catch-up posts for December 2018 include:

• Art Galleries of the World
• The Art Museum, Princeton University 
• The Accademia Galleries in Venice 
• Ecce Homo: The Christ of All the World 
• An American Collection: Works from the Amon Carter Museum 
• New Orleans Museum of Art: Handbook of the Collection 
• A Thousand Dogs, or 1000 Dogs: The Presence of the Dog in the History of Photography, 1839 to Today -- two posts: 1 of 2 and 2 of 2 

Art Galleries of the World

From Art Galleries of the World, from a retable of San Benito el Real in Valladolid, Spain for #goliwaliwph #december2018 #pages #catchup #antedated pic.twitter.com/A7WJqDhWSQ

— glenncruz (@glenncruz) December 31, 2018

Art Galleries of the World by Helen Langdon, first published as the Mitchell Beasly Pocket Art Gallery Guide in 1981; in its current edition, published by Pallas Athene (Publishers) Ltd., 2002, London, United Kingdom.

On page 306, this full-page image opens the chapter on Spain. Caption reads: "Circumcision, from the retable of San Benito el Real of Valladolid (1520-32), Alfonso Berruguete, Museo Nacional de Escultura, Valladolid."

For liwaliw Pages this month, looked for images related to Christmas or December holiday themes from books I acquired in 2018. Purchased this title second hand in Book Sale branch in SM City Manila, 30 November 2018.


[This post is antedated: 20181231] 

The Art Museum, Princeton University

From the Art Museum, Princeton University, a Charles Herbert Moore for #goliwaliwph #december2018 #pages #catchup #antedated pic.twitter.com/Rfi8sVFYMA

— glenncruz (@glenncruz) December 31, 2018

Selections from the Art Museum, Princeton University, with Allen Rosenbaum, Director, on the Preface, copyright by the University, 1986, New Jersey, United States.

On page 275, part of the chapter on "American Art," Winter Landscape, Valley of the Catskill by Charles Herbert Moore, 1866, gift of Frank Jewett Mather, Jr.

For liwaliw Pages this month, looked for images related to Christmas or December holiday themes from books I acquired in 2018. Purchased this title second hand from Book Sale branch in SM City Manila, 29 June 2018.

The Accademia Galleries in Venice

From the Accademia Galleries in Venice, a Giambattista Pittoni for #goliwaliwph #december2018 #pages #catchup #antedated pic.twitter.com/uW7cCXGZ26

— glenncruz (@glenncruz) December 31, 2018

The Accademia Galleries in Venice, Giovanna Nepi Scire, editor, and copyright by the Ministero per i Beni e le Attivita Culturali, first edition in 1998, reprinted in 2002.

The book's section "15" features the final part of the Galleries' long Palladio corridor, mainly featuring works of Giovanni Antonio Pellegrini, Giambattista Tiepolo and Giannantonio Guardi -- on page 141, the Annunciation by Giambattista Pittoni, painted in 1757 and first displayed in 1777.

For liwaliw Pages this month, looked for images related to Christmas or December holiday themes from books I acquired in 2018. Purchased this title in Book Sale branch in SM City Manila, 29 June 2018.


[This post is antedated: 20181231]

From Twitter: HBD, Felix Vallotton

#FélixVallotton was a Swiss/French painter who was associated with Les Nabis, a group of Post-Impressionist avant-garde artists. He was born on this day December 28, 1865 and he died the day following his 60th birthday on December 29, 1925. 'Honfleur in the Mist' pic.twitter.com/CoMTeUFaEa

— Today Is Art Day (@todayisartday) December 28, 2018

Catching up on liwaliw Visuals posts for December, sharing this Felix Vallotton art history cum birthday trivia from one of my favorite Twitter accounts, Today Is Art Day. 

Other December birthdays featured by Today Is Art Day -- and by liwaliw Visuals -- include:

• Jean Michel Basquiat (b. 22 December 1960, d. 12 August 1988)
• Paul Klee (b. 18 December 1879, d. 29 June 1940)
• Wassily Kandinsky (b. 16 December 1866, d. 13 December 1944)
• Edvard Munch (b. 12 December 1863, d. 23 January 1944)
• Georges Seurat (b. 02 December 1859, d. 29 March 1891)

(Click HERE and see them all.)

Holiday of no indulgence

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A post shared by Husky Lovers Community (@husky.cutie) on Dec 9, 2018 at 7:56am PST

Dateline: 28 December 2018, Pasay City

Spending the holidays in bed, not in a good (sexy) way. Mostly confined at home and in bed due to my usual illnesses, one coming in after another, all making a particularly vicious last hurrah before 2018 closes. Spent Christmas Eve and Day feasting on crackers and water, with handfuls of medicines on the side. (Missed the last two working days too.)

In other "news," as Christmas Day went, I also realized it was the 200th anniversary of the classic solemn Yuletide carol, Silent Night, or Stille Nacht, the original German written by Joseph Mohr, and music composed by Franz Xavier Gruber, 1818 in Salzburg, Austria.

Der Trommelmann

Der Trommelmann, or "Little Drummer Boy" is the last of the 25-track compilation Der Blonde Engel - Marlene 100: 25 Lieder (released under the EMI label on 01 Jan 2003 per Amazon, 10 December 2001 per Google). Originally titled "Carol of the Drum," this Christmas song was written and composed by Katherine Kennicott Davis in 1941. The Trapp Family Singers was first to record it in 1951.

Marlene Dietrich, German-American actress and singer whose long career spanned from 1910s to 1980s, was born Marie Magdalene Dietrich on 27 December 1901. The American Film Institute named her one of America's greatest screen legends, and she received the Medal of Freedom (in the United States) and Legion d'honneur (in France) for her humanitarian work in World War II. There was initially debate and controversy about her war-time contributions in Berlin, but later, in 1997, a plaque commemorating her was unveiled at the place where she was born. She passed away in Paris in 1992; at her interment, she was honored like a soldier.

This month, liwaliw Sounds features covers of Christmas carols and tunes by great musical performers born on December, and whose passing have left a great legacy in popular music.


[This post is antedated: 20181231]

Ecce Homo

From Ecce Homo, Nativity by Koseki Kimiko (Japan) for #goliwaliwph #december2018 #pages #catchup #antedated pic.twitter.com/EKQsg4RMD6

— glenncruz (@glenncruz) December 31, 2018

Ecce Homo: The Christ of All the World by Joseph Jobe, published in London, United Kingdom by Macmillan and Company, Ltd., 1962.

Page 46, part of the chapter on "The Childhood of Jesus," the Nativity by Koseki Kimiko from Japan. With reference to the artwork, excerpt from a preceding paragraph: "[O]ne gets the feeling of enormous love which surrounds both humans and inanimate objects on this happy Christmas night."

For liwaliw Pages this month, looked for images related to Christmas or December holiday themes from books I acquired in 2018. Purchased this title second hand from Book Sale branch in SM Megamall, Mandaluyong City, 27 October 2018.


[This post is antedated: 20181231]

An American Collection

From An American Collection, a Currier & Ives for #goliwaliwph #december2018 #pages #catchup #antedated pic.twitter.com/2fMnZ5oJG2

— glenncruz (@glenncruz) December 31, 2018

An American Collection: Works from the Amon Carter Museum, Patricia Junker, et al, authors, with Will Gillham, general editor, copyright by the museum, 2001, Fort Worth, Texas, United States.

Page 67 contains the 21st work featured in the book, Central Park, Winter: The Skating Pond, 1862, a Currier and Ives lithograph by Lyman Wetmore Atwater after Charles Parsons.

For liwaliw Pages this month, looked for images related to Christmas or December holiday themes from books I acquired in 2018. Purchased this title from Book Sale branch in SM Megamall, Mandaluyong City, 27 October 2018.


[This post is antedated: 20181231]

New Orleans Museum of Art

From New Orleans Museum of Art, by Bernardino Luini for #goliwaliwph #december2018 #pages #catchup #antedated pic.twitter.com/WoehueErFU

— glenncruz (@glenncruz) December 31, 2018

New Orleans Museum of Art: Handbook of the Collection, selected by E. John Bullard, coordinated by Sharon E. Stearns, published on the occasion of the museum's 85th anniversary, copyright by the museum, 1995.

On page 23, part of the chapter "Arts of Europe," section on Italy, Adoration of the Christ Child and Annunciation to the Shepherds by Bernardino Luini, circa 1520-25, oil on wood transferred to canvas, from the Samuel H. Kress Collection.

For liwaliw Pages this month, looked for images related to Christmas or December holiday themes from books I acquired in 2018. Purchased this title from Book Sale branch in Pedro Gil, City of Manila, 26 July 2018.


[This post is antedated: 20181231]

From Twitter: HBD, Jean Michel Basquiat

Did you know that #JeanMichelBasquiat refused to have a bank account? In the early 80's, he would keep all his money in his loft, hidden in books, under rocks or between cushions of his sofas. #Basquiat was born on 22 December 1960. This work is called 'Fishing'. pic.twitter.com/fLuUcwlCKL

— Today Is Art Day (@todayisartday) December 22, 2018

Catching up on liwaliw Visuals posts for December, sharing this Jean Michel Basquiat art history cum birthday trivia from one of my favorite Twitter accounts, Today Is Art Day. 


[This post is antedated: 20181230]

Year-end Sentimentality

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CHRISTMAS SHIBE 🎥@kona_and_hana Follow @pavlovthecorgi

A post shared by Pavlov’s Corgi & Dog Memes 🐶🐾 (@pavlovmemes) on Dec 4, 2018 at 2:14pm PST

Dateline: 22 December 2018, Pasay City

Whether it's the end of the day, or this inevitable end of the year, I almost always feel melancholy. Things I'd rather not happen, happened. Things I should have finished, unfinished. Things I should have long resolved, remained unresolved. Then as 31 December turns to 1 January, it uneventfully just becomes just another day. At least a new calendar gets pinned on the wall.

Universe, don't mind me and my depressing thoughts. But thank you for reminding me that December is almost over, and I just but started on my first post for the month.


UPDATE [20181230]: December posts dated before this, and some after, are actually antedated (as duly noted)

From Twitter: HBD, Paul Klee

#PaulKlee almost became a musician. But he rebelled in his teen years to focus on painting. He was born on 18 December 1879. 'Mask of Fear' pic.twitter.com/DkIa5aOn6r

— Today Is Art Day (@todayisartday) December 18, 2018

Catching up on liwaliw Visuals posts for December, sharing this Paul Klee art history cum birthday trivia from one of my favorite Twitter accounts, Today Is Art Day.


[This post is antedated: 20181230]

From Twitter: HBD, Wassily Kandinsky

"Lend your ears to music, open your eyes to painting, and... stop thinking! Just ask yourself whether the work has enabled you to 'walk about' into a hitherto unknown world. If the answer is yes, what more do you want?" #Kandinksy was born today in 1866. This is 'Auf Weiss II' pic.twitter.com/zPgjyBeCbn

— Today Is Art Day (@todayisartday) December 16, 2018

Catching up on liwaliw Visuals posts for December, sharing this Wassily Kandinsky art history cum birthday trivia from one of my favorite Twitter accounts, Today Is Art Day.


[This post is antedated: 20181230]

Jingle Bells

This month, liwaliw Sounds features covers of Christmas carols and tunes by great musical performers born on December, and whose passing have left a great legacy in popular music.

One of the best known and commonly sung songs, a cover of "Jingle Bells" was included in third studio album of Frank Sinatra, one of the most popular and influential American musical artists of the 20th century. The song was part of the 1948 album Christmas Songs by Sinatra, which was first released as a set of four 78 rpm discs. Jingle Bells was on the B-side of the second disc.

Jingle Bells was written by James Lord Pierpont, was published in 1857 as "One Horse Open Sleigh," and was originally a song for Thanksgiving (not Christmas). First performed in Boston in 1857, its first recording however was by Will Lyle in 1889.

Mr. Sinatra was born Francis Albert Sinatra on 12 December 1915. The night after his death in 1998, the Empire State Building in New York City was lit in blue, and lights dimmed and casinos halted along Las Vegas Strip in honor of Ol' Blue Eyes.


[This post is antedated: 20181231]

From Twitter: HBD, Edvard Munch

Happy birthday #EdvardMunch! Did you know that he was described as the most handsome man in Norway? "Norway may rest assured; its 'most handsome man' is once more happy and laughing" can we read in the Norwegian paper Dagbladet. 'Starry Night' pic.twitter.com/dcjfYuanz2

— Today Is Art Day (@todayisartday) December 12, 2018

Catching up on liwaliw Visuals posts for December, sharing this Edvard Munch art history cum birthday trivia from one of my favorite Twitter accounts, Today Is Art Day.


[This post is antedated: 20181230]

A Thousand Dogs, 2 of 2

From A Thousand Dogs (Taschen), 2 of 2, for #goliwaliwph #december2018 #pages #catchup #antedated pic.twitter.com/ouDbPa7mLr

— glenncruz (@glenncruz) December 31, 2018

A Thousand Dogs, or 1000 Dogs: The Presence of the Dog in the History of Photography, 1839 to Today by Raymond Merritt and Miles Barth, Editors, published in Cologne, Germany by TASCHEN GmbH, 2008.

Page 401, part of chapter "The 70s (The Seventies)," photograph credited to Gerry Winogrand, circa 1970. Full photo credit: Gerry Winogrand, Dog in Central Park, c. 1970. Copyright 1984, The Estate of Gerry Winogrand. Courtesy Fraenkel Gallery, San Francisco and The J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles.

For liwaliw Pages this month, looked for images with Christmas or December holidays themes from the titles I acquired in 2018. Purchased this from a Book Sale branch in Makati Cinema Square, 06 May 2018.


[This post is antedated: 20181231]

A Thousand Dogs, 1 of 2

From A Thousand Dogs (Taschen), 1 of 2, for #goliwaliwph #december2018 #pages #catchup #antedated pic.twitter.com/fBVZHRzZba

— glenncruz (@glenncruz) December 31, 2018

A Thousand Dogs, or 1000 Dogs: The Presence of the Dog in the History of Photography, 1839 to Today by Raymond Merritt and Miles Barth, Editors, published in Cologne, Germany by TASCHEN GmbH, 2008.

On Page 243, part of the chapter "1930-1950, Weathering the Storms, from Realism to Expressionism," work from an unknown photographer, circa 1938. Full photo credit: Unknown Photographer, Christmas Shoppers, Lisbon, c. 1938, gelatin silver print. Courtesy, Hulton Getty Picture Library.

For liwaliw Pages this month, looked for images with Christmas or December holiday themes from the titles I acquired in 2018. Purchased this title second-hand from a Book Sale branch in Makati Cinema Square, 06 May 2018.


[This post is antedated: 20181231]

From Twitter: HBD, Georges Seurat

Happy birthday #GeorgesSeurat! He is famous for his pointillist style consisting of applying small and distincts dots of color to form an image. Simply put, the colors blend in the eye rather than on the canvas. 'Seascape at Port-en-Bessin' pic.twitter.com/I07d6GiH8j

— Today Is Art Day (@todayisartday) December 2, 2018

Catching up on liwaliw Visuals posts for December, sharing this Georges Seurat art history cum birthday trivia from one of my favorite Twitter accounts, Today Is Art Day.


[This post is antedated: 20181230]