As a preface, I just wanted to provide a brief addendum to my “H.O.L.I.D.A.Y. Music” Project (intro, part the first, and part the second) by linking to two relevant items, in the off-chance that I have inspired you to rebel against the ubiquity of the Messiah:

• The inestimable music critic Alex Ross helpfully contextualises the Messiah, noting that the words in the Hallelujah chorus are drawn from the fire-and-brimstone Book of Revelation.  Since I’ve read the Left Behind series and am therefore obviously an expert on the End of Days, I can tell you that shit gets real in this part of the holy scriptures.
• Over at the Atlantic, Heather Horn has a piece called “The Classical Holiday Music You Should Be Hearing at CVS,” which is in the spirit of my own project, only with a less pithy title (also, mine came first!).  She has some really nice selections – if you’re feeling adventurous and modern, do give the Messiaen a try.

Anyway, by the time this post goes live, I will be back at home for the weekend but will return to DC on Monday evening so that I can resume work on Tuesday.  Yes, dear readership: this will mark the first time in my life that I will be labouring during the week between Christmas and the New Year, and, if my to-do list this week has been any indication, it will be a very busy time indeed.  I’m still not sure how I am going to handle this, given I am used to letting my brain shut down completely during the last few weeks of the calendar year.  Thus, I hope to get plenty of rest and, perhaps more importantly, delicious home-cooked Chinese food while ensconced in my suburban abode.

As 2011 draws to its inexorable close (insert obligatory remark about time’s powers of flight), content in this space will officially shift into year-in-review mode.  I would apologise ahead of the time for my navel gazing, but, you know, this is a blog, so.

With that, I hope everyone has a very happy Christmas!