Jingle Bells

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Jingle Bells

From: Judah Bruce Leblang
Length: 00:05:26

Christmas caroling--and setting a world record, in Medford, Mass Read the full description.

Piece Audio

Playing: Jingle Bells
From: Judah Bruce Leblang

Default-piece-image-2 "Jingle Bells" is a humorous vignette of a celebration in Medford Square, just north of Boston, during the Xmas season. A crowd of 5,000 or so were brought together to set 2 records--one for the most carolers singing together--and one for the longest continuous Xmas caroling. The author describes the scene, the crowd, his excitement in being a part of the event, and his sense of being "the other" as an outsider--a Jew, a gay man--watching the event, especially when the "patriotic" portion of the program is unveiled.

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Piece Description

"Jingle Bells" is a humorous vignette of a celebration in Medford Square, just north of Boston, during the Xmas season. A crowd of 5,000 or so were brought together to set 2 records--one for the most carolers singing together--and one for the longest continuous Xmas caroling. The author describes the scene, the crowd, his excitement in being a part of the event, and his sense of being "the other" as an outsider--a Jew, a gay man--watching the event, especially when the "patriotic" portion of the program is unveiled.

Broadcast History

NHPR "The Front Porch" on December 25, 2006,
WKSU radio, December 2006 on "Your Way Home."

Transcript

Jingle Bells or
How a gay Jew got into the Guiness Book of World Records

By Judah Leblang/2004
Medford Square
November 2004

I squeeze toward the entrance of a one-block square pen, between Papa Gino?s and Dunkin? Donuts in the center of the square, with three or four thousand of my neighbors (none of whom I know or recognize). Instead of the usual thrum of trucks rumbling over metal plates, of car horns and epithets, the square hums with Christmas music and amplified speeches, nary a moving car to be seen.
After filling out a green card, and providing my name, address and age, I squirm into the holding area. Moving to one side, I have a good view of the giant screen, provided by Comcast, on which the words for ?Jingle Bells,? ?Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer,? and a host of other songs will soon be projected.
The mayor, a silver-haired man in a long coat, who?s been i...
Read the full transcript

Timing and Cues

No special timing or cues--some dead time before, so piece is actually about 5 mins

Musical Works

None

Related Website

http://www.judahleblang.com