Paul drove into Wilkes-Barre from Princeton on Christmas Day after the chapel service and dropped his bags at a forlorn motor lodge on Public Square—Christmas carols dragging at slow speed on its sound system—and swung by my parents.
—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
18 June 2026
That's4Entertainment's Christmas Con 2026 will take place at the New Jersey Expo Center in Edison, New Jersey, from December 11-13, and its halls will be decked to the gills with carols, tree lightings and sweet treats.
Gustave Doré, the celebrated French illustrator, did elaborate engravings for the three canticles in the mid-19th century and devoted 99 out of 135 of them to Dante Alighieri’s darkest scenes.
Take The Music Lesson, a study of a young woman playing the virginal, closely watched by a gentleman, which Graham-Dixon reads as a depiction of Collegiants chastely performing and singing psalms.
—
Clare Bucknell,
Harpers Magazine,
23 June 2026
Over the course of Gregory Orr’s long career, his poems have become increasingly incantatory, more and more like chants or psalms, repeating, reformulating, reaching for the edges of the same rich metaphors.
Many American poets have written hymns and howls, declarations and outcries for this country that brims with so many people, and so many hopes, from all over the world.
—
Scott Simon,
NPR,
4 July 2026
Transplants from the British Isles In 1776, as the nation’s founding generation proclaimed democratic ideals, music in the emerging United States consisted largely of British ballads, fiddle tunes, sea chanteys and hymns.
Families gathered, spirituals filled the streets, and emancipation—long delayed—became real at last.
—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
16 June 2026
This vibrant, free afternoon concert will feature a rich selection of beloved American choral favorites, including rousing gospel selections, powerful spirituals, and timeless classics that resonate across generations, a news release stated.
—
News Release,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
23 Apr. 2026
When the Black Queen’s message arrives in the Riverlands, the king consort, lil’ Oscar Tully, and their new pal Roddy the Ruin are busy reveling, making up ballads dedicated to their own derring-do.
—
Amanda Whiting,
Vulture,
29 June 2026
Within the flashy dance numbers and power ballads, American musicals often hold up a mirror to society.
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.