Tradition Tuesday – Advent Devotion for November 30, 2021

Karl Dietmeyer

Early in our marriage, Cheryl bought a piano arrangement of “Sleigh Ride,” by Leroy Anderson. She played it at parties, receptions, and recitals for about 10 years. Then, in 1995, when Laura was 8 and Karla was 5, I went over to Attina’s Music in Fayetteville and bought concert jingle bells, two “clip-clop” wood blocks with sticks and a stand, and a slapstick. Laura played the jingle bells, Karla played the slapstick, I played the clip-clops and my dad’s middle school cornet for the horse whinny at the end. We played it for ourselves, but word got around and soon we played it at piano and violin Christmas recitals.

As the girls moved on, other children (and adults, if I wasn’t around) picked up the instruments. Sleigh Ride became a looked-forward-to tradition at Cheryl’s piano studio Christmas recitals in our home. Younger siblings couldn’t wait to get older and take lessons and play something on Sleigh Ride at the Dietmeyer Christmas recital.

This year you’ll be able to see and hear Sleigh Ride if you want: it’ll be at Christ Our Shepherd! The church has graciously allowed Cheryl to schedule her Christmas recital there this year to allow people to spread out comfortably. (Last year her students recorded their Christmas piece and submitted it. One of Cheryl’s students put it all together in a video. One family came over and played the Sleigh Ride parts–with masks on, of course.) The recital will be held in the Sanctuary on Friday, December 10th. It’s the only time you’ll ever hear me play the cornet.

In a few years, our grandchildren will be old enough to hold those instruments, and we will introduce them to the fun that is Sleigh Ride.

“Now hear those sleigh bells jingling, ring-ting-tingling too…”

Loving God, thank you for reaching out to us and helping us find the joy of the season in something simple, like a fun piece of music! Amen.