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
| 3. The Railway Children - DVD |
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
| 4. The Secret Garden - 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
| 5. Nursery Rhyme Book - Piano Music |
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
| 6. Joy of Ballet Music - 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
7. Joy of Beethoven - 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
| 8. Joy of Christmas - 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
| 9. Joy of Mozart - 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
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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page created July 8, 2009
