the way out here

The sound of Christmas

By HUNTER HILL
Posted 1/1/25

We find ourselves deep in the holiday season, despite some of it already passing. A lot of us like to keep the positive spirit alive by listening to the music of the season. My family is no …

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the way out here

The sound of Christmas

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We find ourselves deep in the holiday season, despite some of it already passing. A lot of us like to keep the positive spirit alive by listening to the music of the season. My family is no exception, opting for Christmas hymns and instrumental music over the television in the evenings as we while away the cold dark remainder of winter. When I was younger I began my college career in music education only to move on to other things as the tides of life directed. Despite this adjustment though, I have never given up my involvement in music. As in most years past, I recently performed with my church brass group as well as my grandfather’s barbershop quartet. While I don’t get out as much as I used to, I see my boys already taking an interest in it themselves. 

As recently as last year, they both sang in the barbershop chorus with me and are constantly attempting to emit their own renditions of a racket from my trumpet. Barring the abuse of my horn, I attempt to give them free license to explore the sounds that I myself have come to love. If ever there was a time for children to enjoy music it would be around Christmas.

There is no shortage of school concerts, radio specials, live music and more out and about in town, that is certain. But out here in the quiet of the woods, we have a monopoly on the entertainment amidst the snow and the trees. We are also blessed to be able to have it whenever the desire strikes us. A few years back my wife gave me a radio combo with a turntable and cd player included. Now whenever we find the boys have a bit too much energy, we pick from our little music library and get them dancing around in the living room. If recordings won’t suffice, out come the instruments in whatever form the boys can safely handle. A popular one among many is the harmonica box. Each of them typically grabs a key and start inhaling and exhaling with gusto before swapping them out for another. If they are in a more patient mood, I’ll sometimes bring out the trumpet or the clarinet for a brief recital. If Rorick, my oldest, is taking lead he normally takes to song, bellowing through the songs he’s learned in school. 

Someday soon, we plan to get a small piano moved into the living room, at which time I’m sure we will never have a quiet morning in the house again. C’est la vie. Some sacrifices are for the greater good. And if I can impart on my children a little musical inspiration, I suppose it’s worth some lost sleep. On the other hand, perhaps they’ll get the hang of it and the morning wake-up concertos will become a more pleasant experience. For now though, they plink out some electronic tunes on the smaller keyboard at their grammy’s house. 

The sounds coming through the house typically resemble quite the raucous of yelling and crashing and all of the elements of two young boys, but when the music starts, it all seems a little more sane. 

The way out here we love music; we make music; and we appreciate the music of Christmas and life and everything in between. Whether you are a farmer, a lawyer, a rancher or a doctor, all can enjoy the sounds of a season, and few compare to the music made with family. 

Happy New Year from the Hill family!

sound of christmas, way out here,

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