2015 Term 4, Week 8: Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, and the Story of The Christmas Tree.

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer  was written as a poem. It first appeared in a 1939 booklet written by Robert L May especially for a department store called Montgomery Ward to give away as a free gift at Christmas.  The names Reginald and Rollo were considered, and a moose was initially considered but reindeer were thought to be more friendly.  In its first year, over two and a half million copies were given out. 

May's brother-in-law Johnny Marks changed the story slightly and wrote the song Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer, and it was recorded by Gene Autry in 1949. It was an instant hit and has sold over 25 million copies. A short cartoon movie was made of the story in 1944 and was re-issued with Johnny Mark's song in 1949.  

The other 8 reindeer (Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid,   Donner and Blitzen)  first appeared in a poem known as  'Twas the NIght Before Christmas  by Clement Clarke Moore  and first published in USA in 1823.  The poem is also known as "A Visit from Saint Nicholas." 

This is a Walt Disney Silly Symphony  classic cartoon of The Night Before Christmas (1933). 

 This is a 1948 cartoon based on the Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer story.

This is a video of the original story book  of Rudolph being read aloud. See how the original Rudolph looked. 

 

Follow this link for an easy-to-play score of Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer. (See below) 
The numbers in circles tell you what fingers to use if you are playing the piano.

 Here's another version telling you what notes to play on the glockenspiel or recorder - but there's no timing given, so you'll have to play the rhythm pattern by ear.

 

It might take you a while to get this joke. Here's a clue: Rudolph's subjects are maths, science, English, history, art and gym.

Here's a very traditional Christmas song, originally from Germany, called Oh Christmas Tree. 

This is faster karaoke version .   

And here's  how a cat would sing Oh Christmas tree. 

This is the Horrible Histories  version of how we came to have Christmas Trees in our homes. 

And here's the History Channel's history of the Christmas tree.  



Here's some interesting ideas to decorate your Christmas tree. 

 Link to National Anthem backing track by TGS Orchestra.