SKU: HL.48024961
UPC: 840126950366.
Composer's note: My approach to arranging this carol, as well as the other carols in Nordic Christmas, was to look at the text (originally in Danish by Nikolai Grundtvig, 1783-1872) and its background to see if there are new meanings hidden in the material. Perhaps there are circumstances around its creation or messages the original authors were trying to say that somehow get lost in the way they are interpreted today. Lovely is the dark blue sky is usually performed as a lustrous up-tempo carol, but thinking of Grundtvig's story and life, writing this text between episodes of severe mental illness, and his vision of a child looking at the dark blue sky at night, I made the atmosphere of this arrangement more dreamy, still and full of wonder. I still wanted to keep it childlike, with the choir singing tenderly and the soprano solo is ideally sung by a child. The melody was written 'by an old man who had never before composed any music', as stated in the 1853 hymnbook in which this melody first appeared. It is the only known composition of its writer, the Norwegian-Danish Jacob Gerhard Meidell (1778-1857), who was a captain in the Danish Army and later a customs inspector in Copenhagen. The text was written by one of the great Danish hymn writers, N F S Grundtvig in 1810. It was written between a manic and a depressive episode. During a time of being well, he wanted to write about Christmas through the eyes of a child. The message is simple, as a children's song with storybook elements.
SKU: GI.G-8093
ISBN 9781579998509. English.
A young boy and his faithful dog face a big decision. Dale Kingston isn’t your average boy. He saved the Conn musical instrument factory from burning to the ground in Book One of the Adventures with Music series. In Dog Tags, Book Two in the Adventures with Music series, Dale faces a big decision: World War II is in full swing, and he wants to do his patriotic duty. But Dale is only twelve years old. How can he help America? His dog, Scout, provides the answer when his master hears about the U.S. Army’s Dogs for Defense program. Dale loves his pet, but he knows Scout would do his country proud by serving as an animal courier for American troops at war. Should he enroll Scout in the program? Along the way, Dale begins trumpet lessons as his school forms a band for the first time. He loves the Andrews Sisters and their hot new song, Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy. His dream is to play that solo for the popular trio. Could that dream come true? Dog Tags, the second volume in the Adventures with Music series, answers these questions and more in a story told from the heart that will inspire young readers everywhere. Excerpt from the book... The instruments arrive and the students have their first band rehearsal, but Dale has his mind on other things.... Grandpa knelt down and looked directly into Dale's eyes. This is a very brave thing you're doing for your country son. You're making the biggest sacrifice any boy can make by volunteering your dog for the military. Breaking free from his grandfather, Dale ran to Scout and gave him one last deep hug. He whispered, Do your best, Scout. I love you!  Paul Kimpton grew up in a musical family and was a band director in Illinois for 34 years. His father Dale was a band director and professor at the University of Illinois, and his mother Barbara was a vocalist. When Paul is not writing, he is reading or enjoying the outdoors. Ann Kimpton played French horn through college and went on to be a mother, teacher, and high school administrator. Her parents, Henry and Maryalyce Kaczkowski, both educators, instilled an appreciation for the fine arts and the outdoors in all of their children. .