The Pre-Raphaelite Burne Jones' "Angel Playing the Flageoloet" doesn't pretend to be theological. It doesn't need to be. An angel is a messenger from God, and the Christmas story wouldn't work without them. The annunciation to Mary, the sorting out of Jospeh, the cosmic orchestra at Bethlehem, the security branch facilitating the flight to Egypt, are all hinge points when heaven interrupts the earthly drama to redirect the plot.
Music is essential to the story – praise, joy, peace, – annunciation, communication, contemplation – these are almost the only words needed to define a good Christmas carol.
One of my occasional experiments is to look at a painting like this and decide which carol works best with it. "Hark the Herald Angels Sing" is far too theologically and conceptually heavy for this one. The calypso carol too upbeat. Maybe "Love Came Down at Christmas"? Any suggestions for a carol that complements this rather gorgeous but not over-excited angel?
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