Oh Tannenbaum

Even though no snow has fallen yet, it's a chilly December morning in 1849 and a couple of Bank of England wagons are preparing to depart from Garrard's of London, the Crown Jewellers by appointment to Her Majesty, Queen Victoria. It wasn't too difficult to reproduce some convincing credentials that will identify us as more-or-less legitimate officials of the Bank of England sent to accompany the Garrard's officers who will deliver the silverware, crystal and porcelain for a series of Royal Family Christmas banquets. We also have the requisite forms to account for each item unpacked.
The first stage of our journey from Garrards to Paddington Station is quite chilly, even with the warm mittens and a fur muff, and all the layers of my dress (one of the few visits when I don't have to do drag, and I end up wearing a corset and these frightful button-up boots!). At least by the time the train has reached Windsor station we have had a chance to warm up a little. It's worth noting that the Queen herself first travelled by rail in 1842 and has instituted a number of measures aimed at ensuring the welfare of the railway workers. The station we are going to was only opened last year, after the reservations of the teachers of Eton College were overcome. Apparently, they felt that the proximity of the school to the station would offer opportunities that might encourage the boys to explore undesirable possibilities, whatever that meant!
From Paddington we go by the London and Southwestern Railway to the Windsor and Eton station which will later be known as Royal Windsor, and thankfully it's not a long journey from there to Windsor Castle which has been modernised several times and is now a shining example of nineteenth century technology with "silent valveless toilets" (indeed, under the direction of the Prince Consort, the plumbing throughout the Royal apartments has been thoroughly modernised) and speaking tubes in some of the rooms, rather than bell pulls to summon the servants.
You can see that the Union flag is flying as we approach; indicating that Her Majesty is in residence.
The carters unload the crated porcelain while we, under the eagle eye of Mr.Ironmonger (yes! that really is his name) carefully unpack each crate and place each piece as directed by the senior kitchenmaid. When we get to the last two crates Mr.Ironmonger halts us; we are to convey the small table service to the great dining room to be laid out in preparation for the banquet tonight.
With the plates, dishes and silverware loaded onto serving trolleys and still in their innermost wrappings we are hustled through the castle to the great dining room where Mr.Bulstrode, the butler supervises the laying of the table, occasionally straightening a knife, or rubbing an invisibly tiny speck of grime with his white gloves. We, too, are required to wear gloves in order to handle the service.

X:66 % number
T:O Tannenbaum % title
C:Traditional % composer
O:Stefan Karpiniec (this arrangement) % origin.
S:http://home.iprimus.com.au/karpiniec
M:3/4 % meter
L:1/8 % length of shortest note
Q:120 % tempo
K:F % key
V:1 name="Soprano" sname="S." clef=treble % voice 1
V:2 name="Alto" sname="A." clef=treble
V:3 name="Tenor" sname="T." clef=treble
V:4 name="Bass" sname="B." clef=bass
%===================================
%=============2===============3=============4===============5=============6
[V:1] z z C2 | F>F F2 G2 | A>A A3 A | G A B2 E2 | G2 F2 C2 |
w:O Tan-nen-baum, O Tan-nen-baum, Wie treu sind dei-ne Blät-ter, Oh
w:O Tan-nen-baum, O Tan-nen-baum, Du kannst mir sehr ge-fal-len. Oh
w:O Tan-nen-baum, O Tan-nen-baum, Dein Kleid-will mich was leh-ren, Oh
[V:2] z z C2 | C>C C2 E2 | F>F F3 F | D F G2 C2 | C2 C2 C2 |
[V:3] z z c2 | A>A A2 c2 | c>c c3 c | B d c2 B2 | B2 A2 B2 |
[V:4] z z C,2 | F,>F, F,2 C,2 | F,>F F,3 D, | G, F, E,2 C,2 | E,2 F,2 C,2 |
%--------------------------------------------------------------------------
%==================7==============8===============9============10
[V:1] F>F F2 G2 | A>A A3 A | G A B2 E2 | G2 F2 z c |
w:O Tan-nen-baum, O Tan-nen-baum, Wie treu sind dei-ne Blät-ter. Du
w:O Tan-nen-baum, O Tan-nen-baum, Du kannst mir sehr ge-fal-len. Wie
w:O Tan-nen-baum, O Tan-nen-baum, Dein Kleid will mich was leh-ren. Die
[V:2] C>C C2 E2 | F>F F3 F | D F G2 C2 | C2 C2 z F |
[V:3] A>A A2 c2 | c>c c3 c | B d c2 B2 | B2 A2 z F |
[V:4] F,>F, F2 C,2 | F,>F, F,3 D, | G, F, E,2 C,2 | E,2 F,2 z F |
%--
%=================11============12==============13===============14
[V:1] c A d3 c | c>B B3 B | B G c3 B | B>A A2 C2 |
w:grünst nicht nur zur Som-mer-zeit, Nein auch im Win-ter, wenn es schneit. Oh
w:oft hat nicht zur Weih-nachts-zeit Ein Baum von dir mich hoch er-freut! Oh
w:Die Hoff-nung und Be-ständig-keit Gibt Trost und Kraft zu je-der Zeit. Oh
[V:2] A F B3 A | F>^F G3 G | G E A3 G | E>E F2 C2 |
[V:3] F F F2 F2 | D>D D3 D | CC C2 C2 | G>G F2 C2 |
[V:4] F, F, B,, F, | D,>D, G,3 G, | G, G, C,2 E,2 | C,>^C, D,2 C2 |
%--
%=============15============16============17============18
[V:1] F>F F3 G | A>A A3 A | GA B2 E2 | G2 F2 z2 |]
w:Tan-nen-baum, Oh Tan-nen-baum, wie treu sind dei-ne Blät-ter.
[V:2] F>F F3 E | F>F F3 F | D^F G2 C2 | E2 F2 z2 |]
[V:3] C>C C3 C | C>C C3 C | DD D2 C2 | B,2 A,2 z2 |]
[V:4] A>A A3 G | F,>F, F,3 F | B,A, G,2 C2 | C,2 F,2 z2 |]

O Tannenbaum, o Tannenbaum, wie treu sind deine Blätter! Du grünst nicht nur zur Sommerzeit, Nein auch im Winter, wenn es schneit. O Tannenbaum, o Tannenbaum, wie treu sind deine Blätter! O Tannenbaum, o Tannenbaum! Du kannst mir sehr gefallen! Wie oft hat nicht zur Weihnachtszeit Ein Baum von dir mich hoch erfreut! O Tannenbaum, o Tannenbaum! Du kannst mir sehr gefallen! O Tannenbaum, o Tannenbaum! Dein Kleid will mich was lehren: Die Hoffnung und Beständigkeit Gibt Trost und Kraft zu jeder Zeit. O Tannenbaum, o Tannenbaum! Das soll dein Kleid mich lehren. Lyrics: Ernst Anschütz, 1824

O Christmas tree, o Christmas tree How loyal are your leaves/needles! You're green not only in the summertime, No, also in winter when it snows. O Christmas tree, o Christmas tree How loyal are your leaves/needles! O Christmas tree, o Christmas tree You can please me very much! How often has not at Christmastime A tree like you given me such joy! O Christmas tree, o Christmas tree, You can please me very much! O Christmas tree, o Christmas tree Your dress wants to teach me something: Your hope and durability Provide comfort and strength at any time. O Christmas tree, o Christmas tree, That's what your dress should teach me.

Ever since Her Majesty married the Prince Consort nine years ago, in 1840, England has embraced more and more Germanic traditions and characteristics, and here in the great dining room, the centerpiece of the table, which, in earlier years might have been one of the splendid silver sculptures that Garrard's excel in, is a small fir tree!
As soon as we have finished laying out the table, Mr.Ironmonger retrieves a small strongbox from one of the trollies, from which he proceeds to take and unwrap a number of small, brilliantly enamelled silver figurines, jewelled stars and miniature paintings. Still under his watchful eye we are encouraged to deck the boughs of the fir tree with these delightful ornaments, and Mr.Ironmonger steadies a library chair, evidently brought for the purpose, for Mr.Bulstrode to place the last decorations on the highest boughs. Although he doesn't say anything, I get a faint impression that Mr.Bulstrode regards the tree as quite out of place in a royal dining room.

Before Mr.Bulstrode can even dismount the chair, the Prince Consort himself enters the room, and everybody bows, or curtsies to his royal highness who surveys the table, and the arboreal centerpiece with a critical eye, a smile finally lighting his features.
When he speaks, it is with a slight German accent which seems to emphasise his straight aristocratic bearing.
"Excellent! Most delightful! I congratulate you, Mr.Ironmonger, I am sure our guests tonight will be most pleased." And with those encouraging words, he leaves the room once more.
Had we only been able to visit a couple of years earlier, we might have had an opportunity to meet Felix Mendelssohn, another of Queen Victoria's German friends, with whom she studied piano. But I notice, as we return to the servant's stairway, a portrait of the late Felix draped with black chiffon. Clearly, the people whom her majesty befriends, are counted as very dear to her.

X:23
T:Silent Night
C:Franz Gruber
M:6/8
L:1/8
R:carol
Q:60
K:Bb
"Bb"F>G F D3|F>G F D3|"F"c2 c A3|"Bb"B2 B F3|
w:Stil-l-e Nacht! Hei-li-ge Nacht! Al-les schläft; ein-sam wacht
"Eb"G2 G B>A G|"Bb"F>G F D3|"Eb"G2 G B>A G|"Bb"F>G F D3|
w:Nur das trau--te hei-li-ge Paar. Hol-der Knab_ im lock-ig-ten Haar,
"F7"c2 c e>c A|"Bb"B3 d3|BFD "F7"F>E C|"Bb"B,3 z3||
w:Schlafe in himm-lisch-er Ruh!_ Schl-afe in himm-li-scher Ruh!

Stille Nacht! Heilige Nacht! Alles schläft; einsam wacht Nur das traute heilige Paar. Holder Knab im lockigten Haar, Schlafe in himmlischer Ruh! Schlafe in himmlischer Ruh! Stille Nacht! Heilige Nacht! Gottes Sohn! O wie lacht Lieb´ aus deinem göttlichen Mund, Da schlägt uns die rettende Stund´. Jesus in deiner Geburt! Jesus in deiner Geburt! Stille Nacht! Heilige Nacht! Die der Welt Heil gebracht, Aus des Himmels goldenen Höhn Uns der Gnaden Fülle läßt seh´n Jesum in Menschengestalt, Jesum in Menschengestalt. Stille Nacht! Heilige Nacht! Wo sich heut alle Macht Väterlicher Liebe ergoß Und als Bruder huldvoll umschloß Jesus die Völker der Welt, Jesus die Völker der Welt. Stille Nacht! Heilige Nacht! Lange schon uns bedacht, Als der Herr vom Grimme befreit, In der Väter urgrauer Zeit Aller Welt Schonung verhieß, Aller Welt Schonung verhieß. Stille Nacht! Heilige Nacht! Hirten erst kundgemacht Durch der Engel Alleluja, Tönt es laut bei Ferne und Nah: Jesus der Retter ist da! Jesus der Retter ist da! Josef Mohr, cir­ca 1816-1818

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 Savior is born, Christ the Savior 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. Silent night, holy night Wondrous star, lend thy light; With the angels let us sing, Alleluia to our King; Christ the Savior is born, Christ the Savior is born!

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