"Beethoven's Wig" CDs

Meta, our friend and neighbor in New York, introduced us to "Beethoven's Wig". The boys have been requesting "Tchaikosky's Cannonball Song" an average of 13 times a car ride lately. Myself, I enjoy the Can-Can song.

"Beethoven's Wig" CDs are 4 volumes of famous classical symphonies and songs put to catchy, silly lyrics. Here's the cover song above put to an animated music video.

I never really anticipated talking Stravinsky with my 4-year-old, but these CDs are a really fun way to get the conversation started about classical music and composers. I really like that the tracks without lyrics are also included, so they can hear the original song. (Or part of it, each song is just a few minute clip.)

Crossing our fingers it'll inspire these littles to take up some stringed instrument! Right now, they like the idea of the trumpet (fine) and cymbals (not fine).

Standin' Tall

This series of character building stories and music from Brite Music is making a major comeback in our household. And I kind of love it.

Set:

1--Obedience

2--Honesty

3--Forgiveness

4--Work*

5--Courage*

6--Happiness

7--Gratitude

8--Love

9--Service*

10--Cleanliness

11--Self-Esteem

12--Dependability*

*=boys' favs

My parents' graciously handed off the set I had growing up. Seth and Noah both request these as they go to bed and are driving in the car. It is oh so fun to see the boys developing the same little schema I had as a kid. 

Though, admittedly, "Cleanliness" was my favorite tape and I can't say I was cleaner than any other kid. So maybe the messages don't always hit a homerun...

I do think Seth, for one, is getting the idea though. At least about what procrastinating is and that it's no good. This message was brought to us by the "Dependability" CD, a favorite. (A no brainer, the setting is outer space and there's a bad guy.)  Recently he was pushing the limit on bedtime and coming out of his room again. 

"Mommy, can I listen to 'Dependability'?"
"No Seth, it's in the car and it's time for bed."
"Can you go get it?"
"No, shut your door."
"Mommy, are you procrastinating? I think you're procrastinating getting the CD."
"Hm, no, I think you're actually procrastinating going to bed. Is that right? "

Seth gives a knowing you-got-me smirk and eventually, sheepishly shuts the door and goes to sleep.

If trying to peg others' procrastinating is the start of his character education, so be it. We're starting somewhere.

Vocal Point

A cappella was never cool...until Vocal Point came along.

Ben and I saw them perform at BYU several times and adored their sound, stage presence and song selections. In fact, we enjoyed them so much I made a meager attempt to make one of them my brother-in-law. (Sadly, my sister didn't end up making the 4-hour drive for the date. *tear*)

This is all to say, we can watch them again! They are performing on NBC's "Sing-Off" on Monday nights. Watch here. It will make you happy. Because, as Ben Folds put it, they are truly sick.

I'm also going to shamelessly request you vote (here) while you're at it. Go Cougars.

Follow Through

I've had that Gavin Degraw song stuck in my head. And not because I've heard it recently. I've been thinking about following through. But Gavin isn't the one who sparked the idea. It was Gillian.

On Friday nights we trade babysitting with Gillian and Jonathan. Every other week they go on a date and I sit in their very orderly and homey living room while their boys sleep. Over time I've noticed two things.

1: their grand piano never has dust on it.

2: a new project is always done.

One week she had sown pillowcases. Another week they painted a table for their porch. For several weeks they were reading, buying for and preparing their first ever vegetable garden. The most impressive part is the projects are always completed.

I go home and look around. It doesn't take long to see how I do not follow through:

- dishes constantly left in drainer and not put away before used again

- mending and "to bleach" piles sitting...for months.

- October: family pictures taken, April: picture frames purchased, ?: order the prints

The non-follow through attitude is not so troubling when it comes to taking dishes from drainer. But it is alarming when that attitude spills into more important areas. Like e-mailing. Or acting on impressions I've received. I often fall into the "danger of 'someday'" trap.

I perplexedly told Ben my realization. "I don't follow through!" He made a suggestion: instead of looking for all the instances you fall short, decide to see it as, "Look, I can improve by following through with this."

Okay. To do this I think I have to pinpoint why I stop before getting to the finish line.

Sometimes it's not wanting to giving effort to the last 10% of the task.

Sometimes it's not wanting to put forth the first effort.

Sometimes it's lack of energy.

Oftentimes it's motivation. "I can always do it later..."

Oftentimes there's something else I'd rather do.

Oftentimes it's wanting someone else to make the decision, or show me how to do it, or even tell me when to do it.

And many times there's also a dash of fear I won't do it right.

Now I have the causes identified, so time for the list. (There always has to be a list you know.)

It will be a list of weekly progress---tasks I wanted to put off but followed through with, no matter how small. To pressure myself to follow through with it I'll report back in a week with how it goes.

Truth be known, I've been meaning to make this list for 3 days. I still have yet to do it. I will make it now, before I post or it will surely never happen!

Done!

How Sweet It Is

I just want to stop--and thank you baby. You've been working and studying so diligently, and to boot you share, listen to and reassure me, and help me with a smile. You're such a good daddy, great husband and will be a great future physician! Good luck with the 6-week stretch before Step 1 of the boards!

We Didn't Start the Fire

This song takes me back to my freshman year of college. I decided if I ever was a high school history teacher I'd have my students memorize it for extra credit.

Each time I hear it I want to learn more history. I want to see more about where we've been, what we've cause, and then consider where we are now and where we're going.

As far as the chorus goes, I'm sure we started some of the fire. I don't know exactly where Billy Joel's wanting to pass the buck. To Adam I guess.

See words with explanatory links here.

This Marriage

I've never studied poetry. I started to by reading Sound and Sense when Seth was a newborn. But then he started to move around. And thus ended my study of poetry. One day I'll go back to it.

In the meantime, the only poetry I get is from music. I've already mentioned my esteem for Eric Whitacre's music. Aside from the music though, the texts he chooses are so good.

Here is one. I feel like this 13th century Persian poet really captures the hope we have and the sweetness that can be found in marriage.

This Marriage

Jalal ad-Dīn Rumi

May these vows and this marriage be blessed.

May it be sweet milk,

like wine and halvah.

May this marriage offer fruit and shade

like the date palm.

May this marriage be full of laughter,

our every day a day in paradise.

May this marriage be a sign of compassion,

a seal of happiness here and hereafter.

May this marriage have a fair face and a good name,

an omen as welcome as the moon in a clear blue sky.

I am out of words to describe

how spirit mingles in this marriage.

Michael Burritt on Marimba

We recently attended a concert of this guy. Amazing. His energy on stage feels more like he's about to skydive than play a concerto. His love for his instrument made me love it too. Somehow, it makes music that's soothing and exciting. Check out his music here. (His marimba concerto is, unfortunately, not on there though. That was the coolest!)

Little Tree

Seth's birthday is coming right up. He's almost one-year-old! Today I was looking at pictures of little him.

It reminded me of the night he was born. Somewhere between my very close contractions and his heart rate dropping again, one of the doctors gave me a shot to slow down the contractions. They dimmed the lights and let me relax for about an hour. It was beautiful. I listened to the "Birth" playlist on the iPod. Sitting in the dark I thought of Seth and that I was about to meet him.

One of the songs was "Little Tree" by Eric Whitacre. The text is by e.e. cummings. I listened to it several times. I felt very much like it was me singing to baby Seth. He was the little tree. And he was about to come from the great forest into our home. And we would welcome him by celebrating. (Never mind the "my little sister and I.")

You can listen to it here. (I only listened to the first two measures. Sorry if the recording's not the best.) I love the text.

little tree

little tree
little silent Christmas tree
you are so little
you are more like a flower

who found you in the green forest
and were you very sorry to come away?
see i will comfort you
because you smell so sweetly

i will kiss your cool bark
and hug you safe and right
just as your mother would,
only don’t be afraid

look the spangles
that sleep all the year in a dark box
dreaming of being taken out and allowed to shine,
the balls the chains red and gold the fluffy threads,

put up your little arms
and i’ll give them all to you to hold
every finger shall have its ring
and there won’t be a single place dark or unhappy

then when you’re quite dressed
you’ll stand in the window for everyone to see
and how they’ll stare!
oh but you’ll be very proud

and my little sister and I will take hands
and looking up at our beautiful tree
we’ll dance and sing
“Noel Noel”

E.E. Cummings, 1894 – 1962

Silence

When I was younger I learned that my mom and dad didn't have a TV the first year of their marriage. During some of that time they read The Screwtape Letters together. In retrospect they felt it promoted more talking and more quality time together.

I thought that was awesome. I made a goal then to not own a TV when I was first married. I remember sharing that with someone. They responded, "Good luck finding a guy that doesn't want to watch his sports." Because I guess men only care about sports. But I'm glad they wished me luck.

As luck would have it, my goal was met. And I think it has fostered a strong sense of unity. We share what we're thinking and learning. We entertain each other. We get creative with our time. And we sometimes do read books together. I certainly read more in my own downtime too.

Besides that, our home is quieter. The voices in our home are our family's voices.

I love when it's quiet. I love having time to think. I love that the input into my brain and memory is my choice.

There's a song that Ben sang in BYU Singers called "In the Quiet Hours". I can't find the song or the text anywhere online. I only know the first line. But I think about it rather frequently: "God is calling in the silence."

I think that's true. When I feel God speak, it's most often in the quiet hours.

We love some movies too. And we'd likely enjoy some TV shows too. We by no means have a "no TV forever" policy. We're planning to get a TV in future.

But I'm grateful for what I'm learning now, so I can remember it later. God is calling in the silence. Don't saturate my mind with noises, voices or images that drown Him out.

The Lark Ascending

I've been listening to this song over and over lately. It is powerful. One of the most popular songs by Ralph Vaughan Williams for good reason.

To me the lark is finding that place in myself that catches the winds of hope. A place where peace and beauty exist amidst any circumstance.

Can listen to the beginning of it here.

(The video is a bit distracting to me, but it's better than nothing.)

The Gravel Road

I love this theme. It's from The Village. I can listen to it when I'm happy, sad, calm, excited. The violin is so stirring. And it speaks in so many ways. I bet it speaks to everyone. Listen and see.

Sure On This Shining Night

For some reason this song always makes me want to weep. The strange thing about that is I'm not even sure what the text means. But something about the music, the way Dr. Staheli conducted, the way BYU Singers sang it, the way Jared Oaks played--it really speaks to me. Like my inside knows that whatever the words mean it's deep and true. And the music brings that out. It's beautiful to me. So beautiful in fact, oftentimes it makes my heart ache a little and even makes me a bit sad. A longing for something?

The text:

"Sure On This Shining Night"

Text by James Agee

Set to music by Morten Lauridsen (and not Samuel Barber)

Sure on this shining night
Of starmade shadows round,
Kindness must watch for me
This side the ground.

The late year lies down the north.
All is healed, all is health.
High summer holds the earth.
Hearts all whole.

Sure on this shining night
I weep for wonder
wandering far alone
Of shadows on the stars.

When I listened to it in the car yesterday I felt more in words what it meant to me. It's being alone in a dark moment, but seeing brightness and feeling firm and bright; being sure kindness is coming from heaven. Being sure of it. Everything that's ever happened is behind you and you feel warm, healed, whole. And in that moment everything shines.

(I'm still thinking about the last line.)

Since the music is half of the beauty I found a pretty decent recording on utube. Not the recording in which every nuance shines, but it makes the point. Especially if you're listening for the feeling.