Mysterious Whooping

Outside of my classroom for several days now there has been a mysterious sound. Repetitive, loud, almost mechanical I originally thought it was far away but today it seemed much closer. Intrigued as I was I took a recording.

Here it is

https://tanzalongs.files.wordpress.com/2015/02/strange-whooping_3.wav

So what was it – I wondered if it might be a monkey? A student suggested it might be an owl. It turned out to be something altogether smaller

It’s called a Speckled Pigeon and although I took this photo several weeks ago in the tree outside my classroom – it’s undoubtedly the same bird. I saw it in the eves above my room (chest inflated and whooping – sadly no picture). Mystery solved.

Postscript – a less mysterious sound!
Incidentally this sounds above are a jolly sight nicer than the Ranting Preacher we have had to endure this past week (think Tanzanian Ian Paisley on steroids). I say this as a fellow Christian but there is only so much Fire and Brimstone you can take and he sounds so angry.

Songs of Christmas: Day 10: Winter Wonderland

Each year I start playing Christmas Music from the start of December.

Each day until Christmas (in addition to my other posts) I will post a link to a video of some of the Christmas tunes on my iPod. Some will be carols, others pop songs. Here is my 10th offering:

Day 10

Another song with a wide variety of versions from the likes of Doris Day, Eurythmics, Pentatonix, Sam Levine and a more unusual version by Steve Taylor!

Winter Wonderland: Doris Day

Winter Wonderland: Eurythmics

Winter Wonderland / Don’t Worry Be Happy: Pentatonix

Winter Wonderland: Steve Taylor

Winter Wonderland: Sam Levine

 

Songs of Christmas: Day 9 – Coventry Carol

Each year I start playing Christmas Music from the start of December.

Each day until Christmas (in addition to my other posts) I will post a link to a video of some of the Christmas tunes on my iPod. Some will be carols, others pop songs. Here is my 9th offering:

Day 9

So many different versions of this including two from my favourite artists, a more traditional version and a different version from the film “The Nativity”. Four for the price of one!

Lullay Lullay (Coventry Carol): Annie Lennox

Coventry Carol: Alison Moyet

Coventry Carol: Mediaeval Baebes

And Thou Bethlehem: Mychael Danna

Songs of Christmas: Day 8 – Carol of the Bells

Each year I start playing Christmas Music from the start of December.

Each day until Christmas (in addition to my other posts) I will post a link to a video of one of the Christmas tunes on my iPod. Some will be carols, others pop songs. Here is my 8th offering:

Day 8

Pentatonix: Carol of the Bells

I came across this ‘band’ on Facebook the other day and was amazed by the sound. An a capella group with a rich layered sound. There are many good songs on their two Christmas Albums. This is one of my favorites

 

For another alternative version there is this dramatic version from the Film Score to the Nativity

Mychael Danna : Is There A Place For Us?

Songs of Christmas: Day 7 – Real

Each year I start playing Christmas Music from the start of December.

Each day until Christmas (in addition to my other posts) I will post a link to a video of one of the Christmas tunes on my iPod. Some will be carols, others pop songs. Here is my 7th offering:

Day 7

Nichole Nordeman: Real

I bought this on an album last year, but for some reason I never heard it before this year. When I did I was amazed, such a hauntingly beautiful song, sung by a voice I didn’t know. Not a classic, definitely new but a firm favorite.

If you go to a Nativity this year think about this song and think!

Songs of Christmas: Day 1 – O Little Town of Bethlehem

Each year I start playing Christmas Music from the start of December.

Each day until Christmas (in addition to my other posts) I will post a link to a video of one of the Christmas tunes on my iPod. Some will be carols, others pop songs. Here is my first offering:

Day 1

Jars of Clay : O Little Town of Bethlehem

This is one of my favorite Christmas songs of recent years – I like because it is such a different rendition to the usual version of the Carol.

Come and Dwell

T minus 174

Last summer we went to see Watoto Children’s Choir* in concert locally. We purchased their new album at the end of the concert. This song is one of my favorites and listening to it again after securing the job at Isamilo in Mwanza, Tanzania – it seemed very apt. I have listened to it several times since – it has confirmed in me the decisions taken.

The lyrics of the chorus (as best as I can make them out) are as follows

Come and dwell in this place, you’re welcome, people of all the earth, you’re welcome, you’re welcome

Come and dwell in this place, you’re welcome, people of all the earth, people of all the earth 

*Watoto Children’s Choir is an African children’s choir based in Kampala, Uganda, at Watoto Church. It is composed of about twenty-two children from Uganda. Watoto means “Children” in Swahili language (source Wikepedia).

Below is the official video for the title song on their album “Beautiful Africa” (Link to UK  iTunes) another favorite of mine.