My little Gnudren,
To cheer us all this Yuletide Old Gnu offers you a bit of rumbustious late medieval jollity written in 1994. You see, my little Gnudren, the late medieval period has gone on for longer than you think. Some of us old church codgers are still in it. The first time Mrs. Gnu heard this song she spontaneously danced to it. Normally, when she hears one of Gnu’s new creations, she rushes out the room screaming with her fore-hooves over her ears. This song proved a rare exception. I hope one day she will choreograph a dance for this jolly song about the Angel Gabriel and Mary.
According to this picture he could write in Georgian
But no need to wait for that day. Just push the furniture back, get up and dance, do your own thing. If you are self-conscious about dancing then Old Gnu refers you to a video of Mr. Bean giving us all a worthy demonstration of spontaneous dance on You-Tube. But beware! Kahlil Gibran a Lebanese-American, was a poet, visual artist, and considered by many to be a philosopher, though he denied the latter vehemently. Old Gnu considers him to be a remarkably foresighted prophet who offers us some pertinent advice in these dark days.
(second from the left, or third from the right)
When you set about dancing to Old Gnu’s medieval jollity please pay strict adherence to Mr.Kahlil’s words in this poem The Prophet whether you’re in covid tier 1, 2, 3 or 4:
…Sing, dance and be joyous,
But let each one of you be alone.
Nay, there is yet more advice:
Fill each other’s cup, but drink not from one cup,
Give one another of your bread but eat not from the same loaf.
And not surprisingly an injunction that sums up all his wise guidance for us today:
Let there be spaces in your togetherness.
He did not specify how big the space should be, but please stick to a safe 2 metres.
And please note my little Gnudren, this is the advice he gives to people who are married. If you are not married then I suggest that you dance in separate rooms. If you leave the door open between you, and turn up the music really loud there can still be a deep sense of togetherness. Don’t worry about the neighbours. It’s Christmas and we are allowed once in a while to play music loudly.
So Happy Christmas everyone, even though this is not Christmas as we know it, Jim.
[The song was recorded by the heroic Christ Church Clifton Choir in June 1998]
Vetus Pater Gnu
Musicorum et Theologia
Turris LA
XVII Mensis Decembrist MMXX