Jauchzet, frohlocket, auf, preiset die Tage

choir.jpgIt’s September. That’s the beginning of Bach’s Christmas Oratorio, which is one of the pieces my choir will be doing this season. It translates to: Celebrate, rejoice, arise, praise these days!

MAKE ME. Just kidding. Although I basically spent yesterday curled up in a ball, and today looks like it might be shaping up the same way. I barely recognize myself these days.

The rest of the Oratorio:

Glorify what has been done by the highest, abandon fear (if only, God knows how long I’ve been working on that one) banish lament (working on it!) raise your voices in celebration and gladness. Serve the highest with glorious choruses, let us honor the name of the lord.

Here’s what I take away from that: Abandon fear, banish lament, abandon fear, banish lament, abandon fear, banish lament, abandon fear, banish lament, abandon fear, banish lament.

Admirable goals, I think. Easier said than done, I can’t resist pointing out, but quit lamenting already (talking to myself).

Stacy Horn

I've written six non-fiction books, the most recent is Damnation Island: Poor, Sick, Mad, and Criminal in 19th-Century New York.

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