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Midwinter: On Christmas Eve

by Maya Solovey

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1.
In the bleak mid-winter Frosty wind made moan, Earth stood hard as iron, Water like a stone; Snow had fallen, snow on snow, Snow on snow, In the bleak mid-winter Long ago. Our God, Heaven cannot hold Him Nor earth sustain; Heaven and earth shall flee away When He comes to reign: In the bleak mid-winter A stable-place sufficed The Lord God Almighty, Jesus Christ. Angels and archangels May have gathered there, Cherubim and seraphim Thronged the air - But only His mother In her maiden bliss Worshipped the Beloved With a kiss. What can I give Him, Poor as I am? If I were a shepherd I would bring a lamb; If I were a wise man I would do my part; Yet what I can, I give Him - Give my heart.
2.
I'm dreaming of a white Christmas Just like the ones I used to know Where the treetops glisten, and children listen To hear sleigh bells in the snow I'm dreaming of a white Christmas With every Christmas card I write May your days be merry and bright And may all your Christmases be white I'm dreaming of a white Christmas With every Christmas card I write May your days be merry and bright And may all your Christmases be white
3.
On Christmas Eve There's many ways to say I love you I love you. On Christmas Eve There's many ways to say I miss you I miss you. I hold my loved ones close Tonight is the night when everybody knows On Christmas Eve And love is all around Christmas Eve Is known in every sound Every laugh Every gaze Are different ways To say I love you On Christmas Eve.
4.
God rest ye merry, gentlemen Let nothing you dismay Remember, Christ, our Saviour Was born on Christmas day To save us all from Satan's power When we were gone astray O tidings of comfort and joy, Comfort and joy O tidings of comfort and joy In Bethlehem, in Israel, This blessed Babe was born And laid within a manger Upon this blessed morn The which His Mother Mary Did nothing take in scorn O tidings of comfort and joy, Comfort and joy O tidings of comfort and joy From God our Heavenly Father A blessed Angel came; And unto certain Shepherds Brought tidings of the same: How that in Bethlehem was born The Son of God by Name. O tidings of comfort and joy, Comfort and joy O tidings of comfort and joy "Fear not then," said the Angel, "Let nothing you affright, This day is born a Saviour Of a pure Virgin bright, To free all those who trust in Him From Satan's power and might." O tidings of comfort and joy, Comfort and joy O tidings of comfort and joy The shepherds at those tidings Rejoiced much in mind, And left their flocks a-feeding In tempest, storm and wind: And went to Bethlehem straightway The Son of God to find. O tidings of comfort and joy, Comfort and joy O tidings of comfort and joy And when they came to Bethlehem Where our dear Saviour lay, They found Him in a manger, Where oxen feed on hay; His Mother Mary kneeling down, Unto the Lord did pray. O tidings of comfort and joy, Comfort and joy O tidings of comfort and joy Now to the Lord sing praises, All you within this place, And with true love and brotherhood Each other now embrace; This holy tide of Christmas All other doth deface. O tidings of comfort and joy, Comfort and joy O tidings of comfort and joy
5.
Come they told me, pa rum pum pum pum A new born King to see, pa rum pum pum pum Our finest gifts we bring, pa rum pum pum pum To lay before the King, pa rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum, So to honor Him, pa rum pum pum pum, When we come. Little Baby, pa rum pum pum pum I am a poor boy too, pa rum pum pum pum I have no gift to bring, pa rum pum pum pum That's fit to give the King, pa rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum, Shall I play for you, pa rum pum pum pum, On my drum? Mary nodded, pa rum pum pum pum The ox and lamb kept time, pa rum pum pum pum I played my drum for Him, pa rum pum pum pum I played my best for Him, pa rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum, Then He smiled at me, pa rum pum pum pum Me and my drum.
6.
Good King Wenceslas looked out On the feast of Stephen When the snow lay round about Deep and crisp and even Brightly shone the moon that night Though the frost was cruel When a poor man came in sight Gath'ring winter fuel "Hither, page, and stand by me If thou know'st it, telling Yonder peasant, who is he? Where and what his dwelling?" "Sire, he lives a good league hence Underneath the mountain Right against the forest fence By Saint Agnes' fountain." "Bring me flesh and bring me wine Bring me pine logs hither Thou and I will see him dine When we bear him thither." Page and monarch forth they went Forth they went together Through the rude wind's wild lament And the bitter weather "Sire, the night is darker now And the wind blows stronger Fails my heart, I know not how, I can go no longer." "Mark my footsteps, my good page Tread thou in them boldly Thou shalt find the winter's rage Freeze thy blood less coldly." In his master's steps he trod Where the snow lay dinted Heat was in the very sod Which the Saint had printed Therefore, Christian men, be sure Wealth or rank possessing Ye who now will bless the poor Shall yourselves find blessing
7.
O come, O come, Emmanuel And ransom captive Israel That mourns in lonely exile here Until the Son of God appear Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel. O come, Thou Day-Spring, come and cheer Our spirits by Thine advent here Disperse the gloomy clouds of night And death's dark shadows put to flight. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel. O come, Thou Key of David, come, And open wide our heavenly home; Make safe the way that leads on high, And close the path to misery. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel. O come, O come, Thou Lord of might, Who to Thy tribes, on Sinai's height, In ancient times did'st give the Law, In cloud, and majesty and awe. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel.
8.
O Holy Night 05:14
O Holy Night! The stars are brightly shining, It is the night of the dear Saviour's birth. Long lay the world in sin and error pining. Till He appeared and the Spirit felt its worth. A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices, For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn. Fall on your knees! Oh, hear the angel voices! O night divine, the night when Christ was born; O night, O Holy Night , O night divine! O night, O Holy Night , O night divine! Led by the light of faith serenely beaming, With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand. O'er the world a star is sweetly gleaming, Now come the wisemen from out of the Orient land. The King of kings lay thus lowly manger; In all our trials born to be our friends. He knows our need, our weakness is no stranger, Behold your King! Before him lowly bend! Behold your King! Before him lowly bend! Truly He taught us to love one another, His law is love and His gospel is peace. Chains he shall break, for the slave is our brother. And in his name all oppression shall cease. Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we, With all our hearts we praise His holy name. Christ is the Lord! Then ever, ever praise we, His power and glory ever more proclaim! His power and glory ever more proclaim!
9.
We three kings of Orient are Bearing gifts we traverse afar Field and fountain, moor and mountain Following yonder star Born a King on Bethlehem's plain Gold I bring to crown Him again King forever, ceasing never Over us all to reign O Star of wonder, star of night Star with royal beauty bright Westward leading, still proceeding Guide us to Thy perfect light Frankincense to offer have I Incense owns a Deity nigh Prayer and praising, all men raising Worship Him, God most high Myrrh is mine, its bitter perfume Breathes of life of gathering gloom Sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying Sealed in the stone-cold tomb Glorious now behold Him arise King and God and Sacrifice Alleluia, Alleluia Earth to heav'n replies O Star of wonder, star of night Star with royal beauty bright Westward leading, still proceeding Guide us to Thy perfect light
10.
When it gets cold out And the sun sets so low We sit, and knit by the fire And then we make scones We love to make scones. The Christmas Tree And the candlelight Are all we need On this special night Just you and me And our family Are all we need Around the Christmas tree. In this darkest time of the year When the snow falls in shades of white Its warmest inside my hear Here inside where there's so much light. The Christmas Tree And the candlelight Are all we need On this special night Just you and me And our family Are all we need Around the Christmas tree.
11.
Have yourself a merry little Christmas, Let your heart be light From now on, our troubles will be out of sight Have yourself a merry little Christmas, Make the Yule-tide gay, From now on, our troubles will be miles away. Here we are as in olden days, Happy golden days of yore. Faithful friends who are dear to us Gather near to us once more. Through the years We all will be together, If the Fates allow Hang a shining star upon the highest bough. And have yourself A merry little Christmas now.
12.
Silent Night 05:38
Silent night, holy night All is calm, all is bright Round yon Virgin Mother and Child Holy Infant so tender and mild Sleep in heavenly peace Sleep in heavenly peace Silent night, holy night! Shepherds quake at the sight Glories stream from heaven afar Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia! Christ, the Saviour is born Christ, the Saviour is born Silent night, holy night Son of God, love's pure light Radiant beams from Thy holy face With the dawn of redeeming grace Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth "

about

The Deli NYC front page Review:

Like all true rockers, we tend to react pretty badly to Christmas music - we were particularly devastated by Bob Dylan's obscene Christmas album released a few years ago. But there are always exceptions, and the song streaming below, by Brooklyn chanteuse Maya Solovey, is one of them. "In the Bleak Midwinter" is a late 19th century poem by the English poet Christina Rossetti, which was then made into a Christmas carol in the early 20th century. What we like about Maya's version is that it takes it back to what it was originally: a poem about Christmas, rather than a carol - we actually wonder if the author ever meant for it to become a carol! The song is the opening track of the songwriter's latest release, entitled "Midwinter: On Christmas Eve," which features many of the classic Christmas tunes in a super stripped down, sleigh bell-free version. This bare bone treatment highlights Maya's beautifully expressive soprano, and allows for a new appreciation of melodies and lirycs almost all of us know by heart.

"It’s December 17th and we’ve decided it’s officially OK to feel all whimsical about the holidays. And hearing the age old Christmas carols turned hauntingly beautiful by the velvet voiced siren, Maya Solovey — such “whimsy” becomes downright cool and stunningly beautiful." --Socially Superlative

Maya has a delicate, sultry and soulful voice very reminiscent of the charismatic Hope Sandoval (Mazzy Star). The album's minimal arrangements (just voice and acoustic guitar) serve her well. Midwinter is an excellent addition to even the most complete collection of Christmas carols and standards. -- Gail Worley, Worleygig.com


"Maya Solovey sings with emotion and raw authenticity, accompanied by refreshingly simple instrumentation. Her haunting voice reminds me of a female Sting." --Valerie Smalldone, Radio and Media Personality

“Maya Solovey defines Christmas like no other Jew since Irving Berlin.” --Moses Avalon, author, blogger, personality

credits

released November 27, 2014

Maya Solovey-- Vocals, guitar, arrangements
Recorded by Maya Solovey at Biddy Central Studios, Brooklyn, NY
and Bob Brockman at the Commando Room, Brooklyn NY

Mixed and mastered by Bassy Bob Brockmann in Brooklyn, NY

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Maya Solovey Brooklyn, New York

Singing in English, Spanish, and Portuguese, Maya Solovéy ropes together an unusual combo of humor, coy sensuality, and an impeccable beauty-- possessed of a voice that is haunting, soothing, and erotic all at the same time.

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