Street Musician Plays Christmas Music, Soothes The Savage Sleigh-Beast
Yes, indeed– the Christmas Season is upon us!
And here’s Busker, everyone’s favorite street musician, to get us in the mood.
Hm. He’s attracted a listener, but there seems to be a problem. I’m sure the little guy can solve it, though, I know he’s a resourceful chap.
The original was in B&W, but I added a little color here for extra excitement… : )
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Do you have a favorite Christmas carol?
Does music really soothe the savage beast?
Ever seen any reindeer hangin’ out on main street?
Hope you’ll leave a comment.
If you enjoyed this post, please click the Like button below.
If you’d like to share this post with others, please click Tweet or Facebook or StumbleUpon or one of the other Share buttons.
I also invite you to get updates. Just click the Get Updates button in the sidebar below the Portfolio Thumbnails, or click + Follow in the blog menu bar.
Other Posts You Might Enjoy:
Snowball Vs. Hat: A Drama In 4 Panels
No Partridge, No Pear Tree, But We Do Have Birds, Trees, And A Famous Saint
Mark Armstrong Illustration Specializing In Content Marketing Advertising Editorial Infographics Animation Videos and Social Media 
We go to Banff in the Rocky Mountains, a town in a National Park about 175 km. north of us, where yes, we often see deer walking down the main drag. http://cyclewriteblog.wordpress.com/2011/12/26/canadian-reindeer-look-alikes-elk-and-mule-deer/ There are different ones. It is an area for wild elk also.
I do like a wide range of traditional Christmas carols and choral numbers, which are baroque. The full Handel’s Messiah is magnificent in terms of musicality.
Though I don’t go to church, I’ve always associated strongly Christmas with the carols …..and the lights at night outdoors.
Merry Christmas, Mark! (I will have a blog post to complement your characters, real animal…).
LikeLike
Banff! That brings back fond memories, Jean. I took the Backroads Bicycle Tours’ Canadian Rockies tour back in the… early 90’s, maybe?? One of my all-time favorites, and I remember it finished in Banff, which was the only “touristy” part of the trip (still very pretty and a lot of fun, tho). I seem to recall seeing elk on the last leg into Banff; don’t recall seeing them in any of the shops, tho they may have been wearing sunglasses and silly tee-shirts… : )
Yes, it wouldn’t be Christmas without Messiah Sings. I’ve been to a few abbreviated versions, never the whole thing. If you’ve never heard it, you might enjoy The Roches’ (three sisters singing a cappella) version of The Hallelujah Chorus.
Merry Christmas, Jean, and thanks as always for your kind support. I shall look forward to your Real Animal post!! : )
LikeLike
Funny, the commercial caribou. 🙂
Backroads right now is more high end touring company. Hope you had a good deal then.
My real animal is in latest on Christmas, etc. on blog now.
LikeLike
Yes, why did they call the song Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer?? Claude The Commercial Caribou would have been much catchier… : P
Ha! Thanks, Jean. Backroads was always a bit pricey, I think, but you’re right– they’re definitely high end now. Been many years since I’ve been on one of their bicycle tours…
I’m overdue at your blog, and looking forward to reading your latest!!
LikeLike
I have a number of favorite Christmas Carols, and “Silver Bells” is the first one that came to mind. Sorry, Rudolph.
LikeLike
Ah– Silver Bells. An excellent choice, Jak– that one rates 10 candy canes outta 10! And being the trivia nutcase I am, I happen to know that song only goes back to 1951, and that it was introduced in a Bob Hope movie called The Lemon Drop Kid.
So if that info ever helps you win $50,000 on Final Jeopardy, we’ll split it, OK?? : )
LikeLike
Sure.
LikeLike
Hi there,
Many deer live on our property but no reindeer do. It’s far too warm and wet here to suit them. Unlike Jean I have grown tired of hearing the Messiah every year. I have also grown tired of watching the Nutcracker. I suppose you could say I like lots of carols but don’t have a favorite.
LikeLike
Lots of deer? Good– that jibes with my mental picture of Time Thief Manor as a kind of benevolent nature-utopia. I see a lighted Christmas tree in your yard with all the little forest creatures gathered around it in wonder, with lots of happy birds in the branches– kind of like those Christmas cards, you know? Yes, I’m sure I’m right about that… : )
I was about to send you tickets to The Messiah and The Nutcracker in Toronto. Ah, well. I’ll only lose my deposit. $150 is nothing to a man like me, of course… : )
LikeLike
I “LIKE” this! Sorry it doesn’t show up in your “Likes.”
Oh, fabtastic! You’re soooooooooooooooooooooo good at this, Mark! Wonderful story, just a few marvelously expressive lines. I’ve never seen such an angry-looking reindeer!!! Or such a worried Busker!
The music is super, too.
No reindeer on main street here, only lots of deer. They wear nose-cozies, so no red noses.
🙂
LikeLike
Poor Rudolph– he is subject to temper tantrums, I’m afraid. Santa let me ride in his sleigh one year, and Rudy’s nose blew out over Philadelphia– they hadda stop and change the bulb. Rudy used language that woulda gotten a kid on the Naughty List pronto… : )
Deer wearin’ nose-cozies… HAW!! After hearing the long-range forecast for next week, I’ll be wearin’ a nose-cozy myself– in the house!!
Thanks for your boffo comment, you dear jolly elf!! : )
LikeLike
Busker at his best! The addition of red makes all the difference and, needless to say, your Rudolf is adorable (in all 4 carols)!
Enjoy the season, my friend! 🙂
LikeLike
So true, dear Marina! They just painted our local fire engine red, and it does make all the difference. It used to be lime green with purple polka-dots, and it just didn’t inspire confidence… : P
Thank you for your lustrous comment, and for being a shining star on the WordPress Christmas tree!! : )
LikeLike
I love the music that accompanies your beautiful, humorous illustrations. Rudy’s (I may call him Rudy, right?) frustration is understandable. .
My favorite Christmas song is “Carol of the Bells.” Here is one version that i like. Poor guy! Looks like he’s fr-ee-zing! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9GtPX6c_kg I also like Bruce Springsteen’s song, “Santa Claus is Coming to Town,” and the Beach Boys “Jingle Bell Rock.” Merry Christmas, Mark, and to your lovely wife.
LikeLike
Thanks, Judy, you right jolly old elf, you! I like that music I posted, too, tho I was hoping I could find something with a saxophone, for obvious reasons! : )
I’ve always loved Carol Of The Bells myself, but I’d never’ve thought of playing it on a cello!! (great video clip, thanks!)
Hope you’re having a lovely holiday season, Judy, and a very Merry Christmas to you and yours!! : )
LikeLike
Hi-Dee-Ho-Ho-Ho!
Just stopped back to tell you that you inspired me to go to SoundCloud for some music of my own. Well, not MY music, but music that I love. Thank you, Mark!
LikeLike
You’re welcome, my dear Tuna! I know tunas are naturally tuneful (or do I mean, tunaful??) : )
I’d never heard of SoundCloud until a few weeks ago. If anyone else is interested in embedding a SoundCloud music track in one of their posts, here’s a link to the related WP Support document:
http://en.support.wordpress.com/audio/soundcloud-audio-player/
LikeLike
Very funny Mark, I love the red nose, very Rudolf!
LikeLike
Ha! Thanks, Jen. Yes, I think ol’ Rudy’s been takin’ a nip or two of something– maybe some of that legendary Australian Eggnog I’ve heard about… : )
LikeLike
Oh Mark, thank you for sharing this kind of music 🙂 I love it! It tickles all my nerves!
xoxo
LikeLike
What?? The music got on your nerves?? Oh wait, I see– it got on your nerves in a good way– excellent! If you’d like to show your appreciation by leaving a box of donuts on my doorstep, that would very nice… : P
Always happy to give you a tickle, my dear Toothsome!! : )
LikeLike
Wonderful music, Mark! And look at that cute little Busker. 🙂 My favorite Christmas song is Christmas Eve – sung by Perry Como. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4h2gmLrYfWo (Hopefully that won’t automatically load.) Yes, music soothes the savage beast, and I’ve seen quite a few red noses hanging out on Main Street. 😉
Merry Christmas to you, Mark Armstrong, my very favorite illustrator in the whole world!
LikeLike
Here I am again, floating up in the clouds, a blissful smile on my handsome face, all thanks to charming Maddie Cochere, exciting thriller writer, motorcycle madcap, kindest of souls, and one of the Nicest People On Ye Olde Planet… ah, how perfectly blissful!! : )
Thank you, my dear Maddie! You are priceless, and a treasured friend.
And thanks for sharing that lovely song. I’ve always been a fan of Mr. C., surely one of the smoothest and most affable of crooners. I especially love his Christmas songs, but I’d never heard Christmas Eve before– ’twas truly excellent, as was your quip about seeing red noses hanging out on main street– haw!!!
Thanks so much for all your support, and for being the lovely person you are. Hope you’re having a jolly holiday season. Merry Christmas, Maddie, and a wish for every happiness thruout the new year!!! : )
LikeLike
You simply make me swoon with your words, dear friend. It’s been a pleasure getting to know you here, and I see many more encounters in the coming year.
I love crooners. Simply love them. The song Christmas Eve was on one of Perry Como’s Christmas albums. My brother put the song on a cassette tape for me, and I wore it out. I’m so glad you liked it. 🙂
LikeLike
Not sure I have a favorite, but I like different renditions. For instance, the version on this post is awesome as I enjoy the different take on the classic. As a handbell player, our choir is working on a nontraditional arrangement of the same tune. Gotta love Manheim Steamroller’s SIlent Night.
Meanwhile, glad my time has freed back up so I can return here.
LikeLike
Thanks for that lovely comment, Frank, sincerely appreciated.
You’re a bell ringer? Excellent! We have a local church group that performs during the holidays. I was absolutely knocked out the first time I saw them– talk about concentration and teamwork!! Beautiful music, and true performance art as well.
Manheim Steamroller puts out quite a sound– guess they’d have to, with a name like that!! : )
Delighted to see you here, and thanks so much for your support. Merry Christmas, and all the best to you in 2014!! : )
LikeLike
A friend once told me that some church groups ring bells, others play them. ,,, so I’m assuming the group you saw were players. In November we got to premier a commissioned piece … here it is. http://afrankangle.wordpress.com/2013/11/11/on-premiering-a-fantasia/
Merry Christmas … stop by anytime … especially next Saturday’s post.
LikeLike
Beautiful, Frank– thanks for sharing! : )
LikeLike
🙂
LikeLike
Honk, honk! Honk if you think Rudolph has a honkin’ rad nose. Well, mine’s red and honkin’ too thanks to a bad cold (not drunk unless nasal spray contains alcohol?).
Oh, deer! Scene 3 looks like “Deck the Busker”!
Love the snowfall effect (tutorial on how-to coming up?) and the Christmas music. 😀 Merry Christmas to you and yours, Mark. Thanks for the laughs, wit and sketches! Can’t wait to see what you come up with in 2014.
LikeLike
Honk, Honk, Honk! That was the ol’ Triple Honk to say I hope you’re feeling better, and that your own nose has been downgraded from “rad” to “merely pink.” : )
Thank you, my dear Radhika! Your visits are always the digital equivalent of someone spiking the eggnog… : )
The Snowfall Effect? Blush! That’s the WordPress Weatherman’s doing– I just checked the “snow box” under Settings>General… : )
A very Merry Christmas to you and yours!! I can’t wait to see what I come up with in 2014 either. But I know that with you to inspire me, it’s sure to be something epic!!! : )
LikeLike
LOL…funny! hahahahahaahahahahahaa
I think I love all Christmas carol. Great cartoon!
LikeLike
Ha! Thanks, Inge! Always great to hear your cheery laugh ringing out. How it manages to cross the entire Atlantic Ocean and make it to New Hampshire remains a great mystery… : )
It is hard to pick a favorite Christmas carol– so many good ones. Hope you’re having a jolly holiday season, complete with many great photo opps! A very merry and blessed Christmas to The UK’s Best Photographer!!
LikeLike
Ho Ho Ho Ho Ho! You remind me to my childhood and very nice memorys. Thanks a lot! Rudolph was utterly unkown here. I saw a comic book about and begged my mum a couple of weeks until I got it. I still have it. Well my dear, you can’t know this but I’m a christmas fairy. This time of the year I’m always veeery busy. One of my dutys is writing a chrismas story every year..
LikeLike
Dearest of Tutti’s–! Your jolly Ho-Ho-Ho’s fill me with Christmas cheer!!
You still have your Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer comic book?? Excellent! Rudolph’s story is a most interesting one. I’m not surprised to learn that you appreciate great literature… : )
You write a Christmas story every year?? You are following in the footsteps of Charles Dickens– and I know he would approve. I shall look forward to reading your 2013 Christmas story, my dear, talented Tutti!! : )
LikeLike