Abbie Burt Betinis composes new Christmas carols

Posted at 10:25 AM on December 19, 2011 by Marianne Combs
Filed under: Music

Editor's note: Thanks to MPR Classical's John Birge for this post.

"This song more or less is
The way one expresses
The spirit that blesses
Our Jesus today."

The Reverend Bates Burt wrote those words for "Let Christmas Be Merry," a carol he composed for Christmas 1933. For the 2011 holiday, Burt's great-granddaughter, Abbie Burt Betinis, is still writing songs that express "the spirit that blesses" at Christmas.

Betinis carries on a family tradition begun in 1922 by her great-grandfather Bates Burt, and continued by Betinis's great-uncle, Alfred Burt. Some of Alfred Burt's carols, such as "Caroling, Caroling" and "The Star Carol" have become a part of the standard Christmas repertoire.

In the first video the "MPR Carolers" sing Betinis' latest, "Come in, Come in, Come in Ye" -- a fun and complex canon. In the second video the group sings last year's carol -- "Carol of the Snow" -- based on a poem by Longfellow called "Snow-Flakes."

89.3 The Current celebrates its 7th birthday with two nights of music

Posted at 3:28 PM on December 19, 2011 by Marianne Combs
Filed under: Music

Has it been seven years already?! My, time flies.

89.3 The Current announced today that it will celebrate its seventh year in the radio biz with a two-day birthday bash January 27 and 28, 2012, at First Avenue in Minneapolis.

Haley Bonar is one of the Minnesota acts who will be performing as part of 89.3 The Current's 7th birthday bash

According to program director Jim McGuinn, the lineup features some of the best bands from Minnesota.

We're really excited to showcase some of the best up and coming and legendary bands from our music scene. Over the past few years the Current's Birthday Party show has really become a chance to meet up and share in the great music produced in the Twin Cities all year long. We're really looking forward to it.

The January 27 show lineup: Tapes 'N Tapes, Dead Man Winter, Low and Night Moves.

The January 28 show lineup: Poliça, Suicide Commandos, Sims, Haley Bonar.

Both nights of the party will also feature music spun by The Current DJs.

You can find out more about tickets here.