Meet Me in St. Louis

Did you know that the famous tune, "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" came from this oldie-but-goodie movie? It's also the source for "The Trolley Song," "Under the Bamboo Tree," and "Meet Me in St. Louis" (obviously). Judy Garland is young, with a gorgeous voice and amazing hair! She is one of four daughters who are learning "the lessons of life and love" in the year before the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair.  This is a very fun, quaint story that our family enjoys.

Amahl and the Night Visitors

While I didn't grow up listening to opera often, this children's opera was one that I knew by heart. We listened to our record of this every Christmas while putting up our tree and decorations. This charming fictional tale explains how Amahl, a young, crippled shepherd boy, troubles his poor, widowed mother with stories that he invents, maybe while caring for his goat. When he tells her that he has seen a huge star with a tail as large as a window, and then that there are three kings at their door, she is a her wit's end. She discovers the truth as she opens the door and sees three kings standing there! 

One of my favorite songs was always the song about the box that one of the 3 kings was carrying with him that had black licorice in it! I loved how he shared some of it with Amahl. 

Perhaps you will have the opportunity of watching this opera performed live in your community. If not, this video will allow you to enjoy the charm of this endearing story which has softened my heart year by year of the plight of widows and those who suffer from disability or other loss. As with other operas, if you can get the lyrics ahead of time, it might help you to enjoy the story better. (Try checking out the storybook version of this opera at your local library.)

Christmas with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir

We received this wonderful DVD as an early Christmas gift this year and have already started to enjoy it. If you love classical Christmas music and gorgeous lyrical singing, we're guessing you will love this DVD that includes the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, the Orchestra at Temple Square, and Frederica von Stade and Bryn Terfel. We were excited to see some fabulous bagpipers included as well! (Go utah pipe band!) While watching this, Peter decided that he does not want to play the bass (like I had suggested) or the drums (like Nate wants), but he likes the bassoon. I said GREAT! But whatever happened to the inexpensive instruments? Wait, is there such a thing as an inexpensive instrument...besides the plastic recorder? Merry Christmas!

Cry, the Beloved Country

I have not yet read the book, but this movie inspires me to want to. Cry, the Beloved Country is a moving story about two South African fathers whose lives are transformed by their sons' actions. Very moving and thought-provoking. 

One of the poignant scenes is when Mr. Jarvis, the white father, asks his wife, "Why do we bring children into this world?" I believe his question is answered when he discovers what kind of person his son has been, and how it changes the way he sees his fellowmen, and how it changes his heart.

There are so many beautiful scenes in this movie, such as when the younger Johannesburg priest gives his money to Father Kumalo and Father Kumalo says he will pray for him every morning and night for the rest of his days; also, when Father Kumalo dries the tears of his future daughter-in-law; also, when he rages in to the room of his sister, who has become a prostitute in order to support her son, and then he embraces her and cries with her. Many other noteworthy scenes, and lovely music and scenery. 

Lane and I applaud James Earl Jones' and Richard Harris' performances and appreciate the lessons of compassion, service, and example taught in this film.

PG-13. We were glad to see this before we would have our children who are probably high-school age see this, depending on the child, with the opportunity to discuss the themes together afterward. Some rather difficult scenes and themes that would certainly not be appropriate for younger children.