Jingle Maria

If you have read my other lenses you will know I am a keen composer and arranger. I submit my music to several sites, but the Sibelius Music site is the main one. Back in the Spring, this site underwent a massive overhaul - fine tuning still continues now - and the Top Ten categories on the former site were dropped. The Beta site had only one Top Ten and it was immutable. That list contained more Ave Marias than anything else.


Virgin & Child, Ave Maria Mouse Pad by CatholicTraditions


Top Scores were also displayed for stores and composers, but Jingle Bells featured more than any other - and this was Spring! We commented on the Sibelius forum that these were the two songs that were overwhelmingly popular and that, to succeed as composers, we needed to write Ave Marias or arrange Jingle Bells.


Weihnachtskarte "Jingle bells" by fanvonhorn


The germ of an idea was born. Colin and I sat down to Sunday lunch and played with the idea of Ave Bells for a while - then the chorus of Jingle Maria came into my head. I scribbled the idea on paper and filed it away.

It was late Summer when Jingle Maria demanded "out" and I worked well into the night writing the main tune and lyrics and scoring it for male lead singer, children's choir, strings and latin percussion. The next day I worked on an MP3 for demonstration, uploaded it to the site and waited.... and waited.... and waited....

I knew it was a joyful song and that it brought together the family and traditional aspects in a hopeful way but it remained firmly undiscovered in the depths of Sibelius Music. It was then that I took my singing voice out of semi-retirement, transposed the tune into a key that was friendlier for female vocalists and recorded it. I had read about Tunecore in another Squidoo lens and I thought I would put out my own happy song for Christmas.


Angel and Shepherds by prawny

Early recordings when I was younger were done to half inch tape. This tape carried 8 tracks of music and a skillful engineer would mix them using a desk, then produce a master tape. This could be used to produce vinyls, cassettes and later CDs. Now the computer revolution has made it possible to record to a portastudio hard drive, mixdown on computer and produce your own CDs or music files. This revolution has democratised the recording industry. Whereas once expensive gear and expert knowledge were essential, amateurs can mix their own music, upload it and let it take its chance along with the best that money and the music industry can produce. Although CDs will be available to special order on Amazon, my song is available as a digital single and is gradually being released by various internet outlets. It is quite exciting really.



Three wise men by mydawson

Who can say whether Jingle Maria will be dancing around one Christmas Tree this year or many. Perhaps when I am old and grey she will be dancing around millions. Perhaps the ambition of a three year old to be a pop star when she grew up will be achieved. (Although growing up seems to have taken a LONG time! LOL...) Perhaps a real star will hear about her and ask to record her next year so that she dances ever more brightly.

Whatever the outcome, I can say that she dances pretty continually in my head! My compositions usually do this for a day or two, but Maria has been at it since September you know. It gets pretty loud at times and causes one or two late nights. Having said this, I hope you will take little Maria into your home for Christmas; but equally well I hope that ALL your days will be merry and bright - and the light, the love and the joy of a true family Christmas will be with you always!



Christmas Globe by prawny