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Media
DVD and VHS Reviews for Family Viewing
Piano Books to Accompany Dance and Ballet - Kids and Adults
Susan
Helene Kramer
susan@susankramer.com
DVD and VHS Reviews for Family Viewing
1.
Chronicles of Narnia - The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe - DVD
2. Meetings with Remarkable Men - G. I. Gurdjieff - VHS and DVD
3. The Railway Children - DVD
4. The Secret Garden - DVD
4a. The Tales of Beatrix Potter Ballet - DVD
Piano Music Books - to Accompany Dance and Ballet Lessons
5. Nursery Rhyme Book - Piano Music
6. Joy of Ballet Music - Piano Music
7. Joy of Beethoven - Piano Music
8. Joy of Christmas - Piano Music
9. Joy of Mozart - Piano Music
More Reviews
doll making - paperdolls
- media - educational books - books for kids - instructional, inspirational
for teens, adults
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1. Chronicles of Narnia - The
Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe - DVD |
The Chronicles of Narnia - The Lion, the Witch and the
Wardrobe
is out on DVD as of April 26, 2006, and the wait was worth every second! There
are so many levels of viewing this film from the story by C.S. Lewis.
Set in the time period of WWII during the London bombing we first see the 4
children - Lucy, Edmund, Susan, and Peter Pevensie being sent to the large home
of an elderly professor in rural England.
And that is where reality as we know it steps into the world of imagination.
Lucy, at first, (and who plays the foremost role of the children) literally
falls into the land of Narnia through the upstairs wardrobe while playing hide
and seek in the big house with her siblings.
Eventually in Narnia, we and the other siblings meet the main players in this
beautiful and captivating land. Think of the winter and spring scenery you'd
like to see most, and this is how Narnia appears.
The filming was done all over the world and the effort put into the background
and many humanized animals certainly keeps us and the children amazed. My
husband who viewed the DVD with me agreed the animals look real.
Now, I have to tell you a little secret - we were previewing it before giving
it to a nephew for a birthday present, but after the movie my husband said to
me, "Do you think it is suitable for Mike?" I was surprised and said,
"It is one of the best movies I've seen," and then I realized my
husband probably wanted to keep the movie, which is just what he then admitted.
We want to watch it again and again! In fact, on a second viewing I noticed
more of the symbolism bringing the plot together.
The issues coming up in the children's adventures in Narnia, mainly with King
Aslan, and wicked White Witch Jadis, let us follow along to see how values we
hold dear do win out in the end - I don't want to give the specifics away!
The movie has some violence, but because all comes right and just in the end,
I'd recommend it for school age children. I feel the values discussed and
played out make it a teaching tool for all children, regardless of ability,
during their formative years.
I was sorry when the story ended (or did it)!
Highest recommendation! And recommended, too, to view the fun
features of interesting facts about C.S. Lewis, and how he was inspired to
write this adventure.
Details - 134 minutes; Walt Disney Video; April 4, 2006; Director
- Andrew Adamson; starring Georgie Henley, Skandar
Keynes, William Moseley, Anna Popplewell, Tilda Swinton, and the voice of Liam
Neeson as Aslan; ASIN: B00005JO1X
Available from Amazon.com
The
Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe on DVD
|
2. Meetings with Remarkable
Men - G. I. Gurdjieff - VHS and DVD |
Have you heard the name Gurdjieff and wondered what he and his work were all
about?
In the film we follow along the path Gurdjieff took growing into manhood and
ever more intensely into his quest for the Truth.
Overall, I find this video uplifting every time I view it, which is probably 4
times a year.
The music and scenery filmed in the Middle East are just beautiful. They lend
to the feeling of mystery and enchantment, that the search for knowing 'what'
is behind the sounds and scenes in the unseen planes of existence must entail.
At the beginning we witness the portrayal of harmonic singing - high overtones
and low notes from the same voice concurrently. That has to be heard to be
believed and in the film we see the singer doing just that. Apparently the
overtone notes are from high in the throat or nasal cavities above the vocal
chords - truly remarkable.
After many scenes on unexplained phenomena and guidance in meditation leading
into Gurdjieff's young adulthood, the film culminates with the very grand
'movements' which have grown to be his legacy to us today in movement and dance
meditation.
I have enjoyed many forms of movement and dance over the years; watching the
meditative Gurdjieff movement in the film brings upliftment to my soul that is
elsewhere unequaled.
Highest recommendation!
Details - Studio is Parabola; VHS 1997; Leading actors - Grégoire Aslan,
Martin Benson, Colin Blakely, Mikica Dimitrijevic, Cimenli
Fahrettin; ASIN: 0930407377
To order from Amazon.com:
DVD - G. I.
Gurdjieff - Meetings with Remarkable Men
VHS - G. I.
Gurdjieff - Meetings with Remarkable Men
Related link:
Susan Kramer reviews a performance of Gurdjieff meditative movements in
Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Gurdjieff Meditative
Movements - Commentary on a Performance
Based on the novel by E. Nesbit, The Railway Children takes us on a
journey back in time to 1905 Edwardian England.
From the moment the story began I fell in love with the setting and faithful artifacts
in the rooms of the family's city house and later in their country cottage.
The 3 siblings face challenges and struggles children in each generation go
through in the process of growing up. Learning begins at home, it is said, and
in practicality this was the case for these 2 sisters and brother homeschooled
children.
In each situation the children faced, they ended up going up the higher road -
even when it meant extra work for themselves.
This great DVD is a teaching in itself on how to overcome obstacles in growing
up and life in general - a role model for kids of all abilities to strive to do
their best and be their best!
I've watched this story several times and can't recommend it enough for all the
family! Finding good family entertainment is sometimes a challenge and this
story is so much more than just a film to take up a rainy afternoon. I learn
more about the time and culture everytime I watch it.
And, I appreciate that I live in a modern age where the conveniences we take
for granted now were not always available to the average worker - like indoor
commodes, for instance, or a separate bedroom for the kids from the parents.
Highest recommendation!
Details: DVD wide screen in color; closed-captioned; Anchor Bay
Entertainment Studio; 109 minutes; formatted for viewing in the United States
and Canada; ASIN: B00008G8LC
To order from Amazon.com go to
The
Railway Children - DVD
Be prepared to be spellbound by the gorgeous photography and splendid acting in
The Secret Garden DVD based on the novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett!
There is only good to say about this wonderful heartwarming family picture!
The story opens in early 1900s India, where we see the 10 year old child Mary
Lenox, of British parents, being raised with monetary luxuries, but without the
loving attention of her parents, who are mostly concerned with their own
privileged class amusements.
After a misfortune kills Mary's parents she is sent back to Britain to the home
of her Uncle, Lord Craven - who we find has also lost his wife, the twin sister
of Mary's mother.
Now the plot thickens and we find Mary has a bedridden cousin Colin, also 10
like Mary, the son of Lord Craven, who is hidden away in a darkened chamber,
because of his supposed disabilities and not allowed to go outdoors.
Feeling lonely living at the large estate of Misselthwaite
Manor Mary finds a locked garden behind a wall of ivy, fortuitously led there
by a red-breasted robin. Here Mary and Dickons, the
brother of the housemaid Martha, restore the garden to its former beauty
through the planting of bulbs, flowers and tending the many climbing roses. It
is an uplifting sight to behold!
While the housekeeper on the estate in charge of the children knows nothing of
the youngsters' use of the "secret garden" we see the very magical
properties it contains in the wild animals who live there as if they are tame
house pets.
The magic of the story extends to a healing in spirit for Mary, bodily healing
of Colin's supposed disabilities, and emotional healing for Lord Craven.
The inspiring ending line is uplifting and will stay with you a long time. It
is for children and adults alike to enjoy and draw inspiration. And, there is so much fine detail, it is a film to be
watched time and again!
My highest recommendation!
Details - 101 minutes; Warner Home Video; 1993; Director -Agnieszka
Holland; starring Kate Maberly as Mary, and Maggie Smith as the manor
housekeeper; ASIN: 6304698690
Available from Amazon.com
The
Secret Garden on DVD
The ballet, "The Tales of Beatrix Potter" is with dancers of the
Royal Ballet of London. As soon as you hear that this company is performing
this delightful and exquisitely costumed ballet you are right in suspecting you
are in for a treat. And with the choreography by Sir Frederick Ashton a more
intricate and inspired interpretation could not have been devised.
From the beginning the dancers in elaborate costumes so resembling their animal
characters nearly took my breath away. And I was especially impressed with the
large pink pigs dancing on pointe. Only a 1st rate company could have pulled
this off.
In fact, all the Beatrix Potter characters were performed with technical
brilliance and interpretation. I remember my own days long ago as a dancer in
opera ballets at the Lyric Theater in Baltimore and I know how the weight of a
costume can hold you down.
I was doubly amazed to see the dancers looking like animals bounding around the
stage with such apparent ease. This shows the strength and determination of the
dancers to give a lively performance and interpretation of Beatrix Potter's
characters in her stories.
I grew up loving these tales and I know all your children will sit back and
relax while listening to the stories, and then enjoy seeing them come to life
on the stage as the characters in this most unusual ballet.
And let's remember that ballet is a blend of movement and music but no words
are spoken; the success of communication is through the ability of the dancers'
pantomime to express the story line and emotional feelings of the characters
portrayed.
I highly recommend this frolicking ballet treat for you and your family!
Details: DVD; paperback; Starz / Anchor Bay (February 10, 2004); ASIN:
B0000844JM
Disclosure: I am an Amazon.com Associate and a friend and I watched this ballet
together at his house.
Here is the link at Amazon.com
The
Tales of Beatrix Potter Ballet on DVD
Review by Susan Kramer
This
is a 64 page book of very easy piano music to songs and traditional
nursery rhymes that I've used more than any other while teaching basic rhythms
and kinesthetic movement to preschool through K-3 students!
I am an intermediate player and easily sight read this music. As I am able to
play these pieces on the piano, and watch children move to the music at the
same time, it eliminates having a separate accompanist.
The Nursery Rhyme Book contains 64 rhymes in song to the piano music,
plus an additional 50 rhymes without music, included on the lower half of the
pages.
Some of the songs included are: Baa, Baa, Black Sheep; Bobby Shaftoe; Ding Dong
Bell; The Farmer in the Dell; Frère Jacques; Georgie Porgie,
Goosey, Goosey Gander; Here we Go Round the Mulberry Bush; Hey Diddle Diddle; Hickory, Dickory Dock; Humpty Dumpty; Hush, Little
Baby; I Saw Three Ships; Jack and Jill; Jingle Bells, Little Bo-Peep; Little
Boy Blue; Little Jack Horner; London Bridge is Falling Down; Mary Had a Little
Lamb; Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep; Old King Cole; Pop Goes the Weasel;
Rock-a-bye-Baby; Row, Row, Row Your Boat; Three Blind Mice; Twinkle, Twinkle
Little Star; Yankee Doodle. And, piano music for the entire song and poem 'Twas the Night Before Christmas'.
And, here are some of the rhymes: Bye, Baby Bunting; Christmas Is Coming; Diddlety, Diddlety, Dumpty; Early
to Bed, Early to Rise; Hark, Hark, the Dogs Do Bark; Hickety,
Pickety, My Black Hen; Hot Cross Buns; The House That
Jack Built; I had a Little Pony; I Saw a Ship A-Sailing; It's Raining, It's
Pouring; Old Mother Goose; The Queen of Hearts; Solomon Grundy; Star Light,
Star Bright; There Was an Old Woman; Thirty Days Hath September.
This is the one piano book and resource of nursery rhymes all-in-one
that I wouldn’t be without! And a great bonus is it's a very reasonable price
for piano music.
It can be ordered from Amazon.com at this link
The
Nursery Rhyme Book - Piano Music
Whether you're looking for music to accompany ballet or dance classes, or just
enjoy playing ballet music yourself, here is an inspiring collection from the
great ballets.
Denes Agay has once again selected and arranged
pieces in "The Joy of Ballet Music" so an intermediate player as
myself can sit down, and with a little practice play the ballet melodies I so
love.
Selections include: Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy from The Nutcracker;
Russian Dance from The Nutcracker; Waltz of the Flowers from The Nutcracker;
Sheherazade from The Young Prince and The Young Princess; Mazurka from Coppelia; Czardas from Coppelia;
Valse Lente from Coppelia; The Sleeping Beauty Waltz
from Aurora's Wedding; The Rose Adagio from The Sleeping Beauty; Scene from
Swan Lake; Dance of the Little Swans from Swan Lake; Pas de Deux from Giselle;
Grand Valse excerpt from Giselle; Pas de Fleurs from Naila; Scene from Bluebeard;
Russian Sailor's Dance from The Red Poppy; Hesitation Waltz from The Red Poppy.
And, Prelude from Les Sylphides; Nocturne from
Les Sylphides; Saber Dance from Gayne; Theme from
Prince Igor; Polovetzian Dance from Prince Igor;
Can-Can from La Vie Parisienne; Pizzicato Polka from Sylvia; Aragonaise from Le Cid; Dance of the Hours from la
Gioconda; Mirror Dance from Faust; Danse Antique from Faust; Dance of the
Priestesses from Aida; Dance of the Princess from The Firebird; Finale from The
Firebird; Pas de Six from William Tell; Polka from the Golden Age; Folk Dance
from Romeo and Juliet; Bacchanale from Samson and Delilah; Valse Grotesque from
Petroushka and Dance of the Ballerina from Petroushka.
I highly recommend this collection of ballet music that will never go out of
style!
Details - 80 pages by Yorktown Press (January, 1997); 11.9 x 9.0 inches;
ISBN: 0825680352
Available from Amazon.com
The
Joy of Ballet Music - Piano Music
I
have to admit that Beethoven is my favorite composer so I may be prejudiced in
my review of this set of his works selected and edited by Denes Agay. But, I don't think so.
The good news is that though I am at an intermediate level I can sit down and
play most of the scores from sight. And, that is very important in playing the
music in this book while teaching movement, rhythms and ballet.
The features of The Joy of Beethoven piano book are excellent for sight
reading and using in the classroom. The notes are comfortably large and the
pages turn without too much trouble. The book is perfect bound so what I do
with a new copy is thumb through each page and press it open with my palm. This
is almost like breaking in a new pair of dance shoes.
The selections included are: Tyrolean Air Op.107, No.1; Six German
Dances; Sonata in G; La Marmotte Op.52, No.7; Walzer
(1824); Happy and Sad Wo054; Rondo in C Wo048; Six Ecossaies
(1823); Für Elise Klaverstück; Bagatelle in F Op.33,
No.3; Sonata (quasi una Fantasia) Op.27, No.2 - First
Movement; Minuet in G; Bagatelle in A Op.119, No.4; Adagio from Easy Sonata in
C (1791); Andante Espressivo from Sonata Op.79. - Second Movement; Bagatelle in
C Op.119, No.2; Andante (con Variazioni) from Sonata
Op.14, No.2 - Second Movement; Variations On A Russian Song Op.107, No.3; Piano
Piece (1821); Sonata Op.49, No.1.
Also included are themes from Concertos and Symphonies arranged by Denes Agay: Themes from - Symphony No.2, Op.36 - Second
Movement; - Symphony No.7, Op.92 - Second Movement; Symphony No.8, Op.93 -
Second Movement; - Piano Concerto No.3, Op. 37 - First Movement; - Piano
Concerto No.1, Op. 15 - Third Movement; Violin Concerto Op.61 - First Movement;
Symphony No.5, Op.67 - First Movement (Exposition).
I think it is enriching to introduce your students to the classical composers.
Using this music for accompaniment and instruction is an opportunity that is
easy to include in your classroom when a piano is already sitting ready.
Yes, I highly recommend this book of piano selections for your own enjoyment
and use in teaching dance and movements.
Details - 80 pages by Yorktown Music Press, Inc.; December 31, 1998;
11.6 x 8.8 inches; ISBN-10: 0825680263; ISBN-13: 978-0825680267
Available from Amazon.com
The
Joy of Beethoven - Piano Music
Once again Denes Agay has put together in The Joy
of Christmas an inspiring collection of holiday piano music that can be
played, sung or used as accompaniment for dances.
As an intermediate player I can sight-read most of the selections. I have used
this collection of carols and music with children while teaching dance, and
with my own family and holiday gatherings.
One of the pieces that inspires me most is the original version of "Silent
Night" by Franz Gruber. The melodic 6/8 time just rolls along.
In addition to 6/8, there are songs and carols in 2/4, 3/4, and 4/4 time. This
is a great opportunity to clap along to the different rhythms - a kinesthetic
approach to learning about pauses in spoken language, and for older kids the
written language. Singing more than one verse is even a math lesson in
sequencing - remembering which verse comes next. For a child having difficulty
learning academics - song, music and dance are fun opportunities to teach these
math and language concepts.
Extra verses of many selections are written out following the song or carol -
very handy for learning more than the traditionally well
known first verse.
I'm not going to list every piece in this handy music book, but here are
some of the selections: Angels We Have Heard On High; Away In A Manger;
Christ Was Born On Christmas Day; Christmas Is Coming Three-Voice Round;
Come All Ye Shepherds; Deck The Halls; The First Noel; Fum,
Fum, Fum; Go Tell It On The
Mountain; Hark! The Herald Angels Sing; The Holly And The Ivy; I Saw Three
Ships; It Came Upon The Midnight Clear; Jingle Bells; Jolly Old Saint Nicholas;
Masters In This Hall; O Christmas Tree; O Come All Ye Faithful; O Holy Night; O
Little Town Of Bethlehem; O Tannenbaum; Rise Up, Shepherd, And Follow; Silent
Night; The Twelve Days Of Christmas; Up On The Housetop; We Three Kings Of
Orient Are: We Wish You A Merry Christmas; While Shepherds Watched Their
Flocks.
I highly recommend this "joyful" book of holiday piano music for
playing, singing and dancing!
Details - 80 pages by Yorktown Press (December, 1972); 11.9 x 9.1
inches; ISBN: 0825680018
Available from Amazon.com
The
Joy of Christmas - Piano Music
Denes Agay has selected and edited a great collection
of piano pieces that I, as an intermediate player can mostly sight-read. I have
used these pieces in teaching dance by playing right along with my classes
while teaching. I do this by sitting at the classroom piano placed on a
diagonal slant from the front corner so I can glance at the kids while reading
the music.
I think it is invaluable to have live music in the classroom while the students
are moving. You can start and stop as needed; put emphasis where needed;
combine phrases and pieces spontaneously; play softer or with more emphasis or
gusto - whatever the class is needing at the time.
These pieces by the Mozart are unsurpassed for quality listening. The melodies
are uplifting and full of phrases that are akin to the students' language
lessons. Even being able to play the pieces for your students is more than
listening pleasure - it opens their ears to the nuances great music provides.
One of my favorite pieces to accompany the students while they skip in patterns
is Spring Song K.596.
Here are the selections for the keyboard: Menuett
K.7; Allegro K.3g; Air K.16kk; Menuetto K.15qq; Andante K.15mm; Spring Song
K.596; Contredance in A K.151; Minuet and Trio
K.315a; Burleska Composed in 1766; Rondino K.15d;
Sonatina; Andante Cantabile from Sonata K.330; Rondo K.15hh; Alla Turca from Sonata K. 331;
Viennese Sonatina No.2 in A; Variations on an Allegretto K.54; Sonata
K.0Anh.135-547a; and Rondo K.511.
And, favorite themes from: Marriage of Figaro; The Magic Flute; Don
Giovanni; Piano Concerto No.24; Piano Concerto No. 21; Piano Concerto No. 15;
Piano Concerto No. 17; Symphony No.40; and A Little Night Music.
I highly recommend this piano music book for your own playing pleasure and
for helping teach movement and dance to your students!
Details - 80 pages by Yorktown Music Press, Inc.; 1983; 11.6 x 8.8
inches; ISBN-10: 0825680255; ISBN-13: 978-0825680250
Available from Amazon.com
The
Joy of Mozart - Piano Music
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All reviews,
summaries and content on this site are copyright Susan Kramer
and may not be used in any manner without express written permission.
Email: susan@susankramer.com
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please visit again soon! ~
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DISCLOSURE: I am an Associate
of Amazon.com and bought my own products.
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created July 8, 2009; updated July 26, 2014