The Absence of Ducks and Cathedrals.

12-16-10 SHORT HILLS: Last night we went with Bill and Lynn to the Candlelight Carol Sing at the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart, Newark, NJ 07104. www.cathedralbasilica.org It is a huge church, built in the late 19th century, of gray stone with a vast nave. They do an annual carol sing accompanied by a chamber orchestra and organ that is thrilling. Whatever your take on the original, precipitating event, the usual and customary, standard carols are great music.

Consider the survival of “Silent Night” and “Adeste Fideles” as a triumph of the fittest. Probably every year for the last 2,000 or so, a few carols have been presented, but only a couple dozen are regularly heard now. The rest—vanished. I predict that “Alvin and the Chipmunks” will not enjoy a long life span.

Having linked evolution and nativity, I consider my night’s work done, except to mention that we had a pleasant dinner with Hank and Laurel at Locanda Verde on Greenwich St. in Tribeca and rate it as ‘worth a detour’.

As I mentioned the Passaic River in the last post, I stopped to snap an image this afternoon, unfortunately I scared away all the wary ducks.


Passaic River looking winter bleak, but symmetrical, ice along the edges, duckless.


The Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart, Newark, NJ 07104.
Candlelight Carol Sing.
www.cathedralbasilica.org
Picture courtesy of WGBL.