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Solstice

by Andy Ditzler

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Music video for Solstice, directed by the legendary George Kuchar:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=WG9VXO9HWHM

I couldn't fail to notice that so many of the holiday traditions we enjoy bear an uncanny resemblance to the pre-Christian rituals of pagan Europe and ancient Egypt, all of which centered around the Winter Solstice. As Christianity spread, it subsumed these rituals into Christmas celebrations. A neat trick -- it allowed people to keep their holiday traditions after they converted.

So this anthem for the Winter Solstice returns the favor. I think of it as a reverse appropriation, since it's in the style of all those Christmas pop singles I heard on the radio every winter when I was growing up. Happy holidays from Frequent Small Meals! -- Andy Ditzler

lyrics

SOLSTICE

Stay up tonight for the solstice
Keep your candle bright for the solstice
The return of the light on the longest night of the year

Well we know how to do jolly
with the mistletoe and the holly
And fertility rites on the longest night of the year

With pudding and cake and a feast divine
and presents under a big green pine
with a string of lights and colored balls bright
and on top a star that shines

Stay up tonight for the solstice
Keep your candle bright for the solstice
The return of the light on the longest night of the year

The stockings are over the telly
For the man with the beard and the belly
Mr. Wodan of course with his flying horse in the night

The athletes compete in their playoffs
and the rich give the poor a day off
We can slave for pay any other day of the year

The wassailed-up chorus is singing its tune
Cause the twelve days of Horus are coming up soon
Saturnalia and Sol Invictus too
There are so many parties to do
There'd have to be three of you!

Stay up tonight for the solstice
Keep your candle bright for the solstice
Let the lights all blink and the yule log burn
Let the wise men come and the fools return
For the birth of the sun on the longest night of the year!

It's the birth of the sun
The rebirth of the sun
It's the birth of the sun
The rebirth of the birth of the sun at the
most
wonderful
time
of the year

credits

released November 11, 2008
Music and lyrics copyright 2006 Andy Ditzler

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all rights reserved

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Andy Ditzler Atlanta, Georgia

Andy Ditzler is a composer, curator, and artist. Trained as a musician at Indiana University, he has composed and performed in contexts ranging from classical and jazz to free improvisation, rock. and live theater. His first CD Songs from Yes and No was followed by the single Solstice, with a music video by filmmaking legend George Kuchar. ... more

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