A Net in Time

Curriculum and book reviews, faith, homeschooling and more!

Music

The Girl Who Heard the Music

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Disclosure: I received this complimentary product for The Girl Who Heard the Music through Raincoast Books. Affiliate Links will be used, thank you for your support of my blog, costs you nothing to do so, and is so much appreciated. 🙂

Looking for a story of hope and of one that sees the possibilities for change?  Look no further than The Girl Who Heard the Music.  One pianist, one person who firmly believed in her, one home fully longed for, one firm desire to an aid to people…. and so hope was born.  Read this with your children and perhaps they might be inspired to be part of change as well. 

The girl who heard the music

The Details for The Girl Who Heard the Music

Title: The Girl Who Heard the Music
Words by: Marni Fogelson with Mahani Teave
Pictures by: Marta Alvarez Miguens
Publisher: Soucebooks, Explore
Pages: 40
Intended Audience: Ages 4-8
Genre: musical biographies, picturebook, Art and Music, Environment, Performing arts, juvenile non-fiction, biography,
Reviewed for: Raincoast Books
Received: international edition, softcover picturebook

About the book and author

The Author:

Marni Fogetson worked with Mahani Teave to tell this story. Ms Teave is an award winning concert pianist and a environmental activist. 

Marni Fogelson is a children’s book author, lifestyle writer, and nonprofit professional. With a huge love of reading, she loves how books have the potential to make us better humans. Together with an affections hound, Marni shares a home with her family in Philadelphia.  

The Girl who Heard the music

Looking Deeper

Imagine if you would having a deep love for music and then discovering the piano.  But you live on a small island where pianos, and those that love them, are few and far between!  Fostering her love and ability to play the piano was a bit of a challenge…. but her talent was recognized!

She had to leave the island in order to play. 

As you can see, the text is easy to read. The beauty of the illustrations show how much Mahini is drawn back to her island.  Hear the music.  Feel the music course through your body.   See how Mahini becomes inspired to give back to her community. 

And so she does.   Finding a way to help her community help themselves through the waste they see around them.   You’ll find yourself enjoying Mahini’s love for her people and her willingness to consider unconventional methods to help them to help themselves. 

My Recommendation?

I hope my review of The Girl Who Heard the Music makes you as curious to read it as it did my cat! 

He, being a curious young cat that he is, saw me flipping through the pages of this lovely read and thought he should come join me.  🙂   He’s a fantastic cat for sitting on the couch with and reading a book together.  Perhaps one of your youngsters would love to join him over Mahini’s story?  or better yet, with your own cat!   It makes me curious if other cats might be as drawn to the pictures as my cat is!  🙂 

Tap! Tap! Tap!: Dance! Dance! Dance! 

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Disclosure: I received this complimentary product for Tap! Tap! Tap!: Dance! Dance! Dance!  through Raincoast Books. Affiliate Links will be used, thank you for your support of my blog, costs you nothing to do so, and is so much appreciated. 🙂

Do you have a need to keep your body moving?  Do your fingers like to move to a beat? Perhaps your children are the same?   Then you MUST take a look at Tap! Tap! Tap!: Dance! Dance! Dance!  A dance for your hands and fingers that just might get your whole body moving too! 

Tap! Tap! Tap! Dance! Dance! Dance!

The Basic Details

Title: Tap! Tap! Tap! Dance! Dance! Dance!
Author: Herve Tullet
Publisher: Chronicle Kids
Pages: 64
Intended Audience: Preschool – Kindergarten, 3-5 years
Formats Available: Hardcover
Received: Hardcover
Reviewed For: Raincoast Books

About the Author

Herve Tullet is a New York Times bestselling author.  He has written a fair number of books in both English and French.  Running creative workshops worldwide, this artist/creator/performer lived in New York for a couple of years.   As an artist, he aims to « encourage audiences to become cultural producers of their own » and to bring communities together.

About Tap! Tap! Tap!

Harnessing his love of dance, the passion of his illustrations, and the great big format of this book, Herve invites you to a very special dance: your hand becoming the dancer and the book the dance floor.  Take your time sweeping, swirling, and tapping your way through this bright, engaging dance! 

Tap! Tap! Tap!

Looking Deeper into Tap! Tap! Tap!

Start with a slow beat.  A simple tap tap tap.  Follow the colours.  Feel the rhythm… tap tap tap. 

As you work through the pages, you’ll find the colours will become more vibrant and busy. 

And before you know it your hands will be in a full crescendo of colour and motion! 

Throughout you’ll see the text is a good size for easy reading, which is important when your hands are in motion following colour, lines, and splash!  It’s like a musician starting a slow lyrical piece and over time blazing into a wave of emotion and sound.   You’ll find dips and pauses just like in any piece of music.  Follow the instructions and learn the rhythm of it all. 

Do I recommend?

Okay, when I first got this book I thought meh.  🙂   

But since then I’ve had cause to relook my “meh” response and go you know what?  It’s a neat idea.  Follow form and colour, and read text to see the sway and jibe of musical form.  And suddenly, this book becomes fun.  Can you image having a class of young music students learning the music isn’t just noise, but it’s motion, and colour, and variance of speed, and…. MORE!  Music engages us, even if we just start with our hands. 

Can’t you just see your children having fun learning to dance with their hands? 

So gather your littles around you and Tap! Tap! Tap! Dance! Dance! Dance!  Follow the easy instructions and watch your  (or your children’s) hands come alive! 

Come Ye Thankful People Come

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Ho, ho, ho!   Thanksgiving is here!  YES, Canadian Thanksgiving!   🙂   Want to know more about it?  Check out Kym’s blog, she does a nice write up!  As I was thinking about what I could do for thanksgiving this song kept popping into my mind so I figured I should just share it.  Come Ye Thankful People come.

Come ye thankful people come

Lyrics to Come ye Thankful People Come

Come, ye thankful people, come,
Raise the song of harvest-home!
All is safely gathered in,
Ere the winter storms begin:
God our Maker doth provide
For our wants to be supplied;
Come to God’s own temple, come,
Raise the song of harvest-home!

We ourselves are God’s own field,
Fruit unto His praise to yield;
Wheat and tares together sown
Unto joy or sorrow grown.
First the blade and then the ear,
Then the full corn shall appear;
Grant, O Harvest Lord, that we
Wholesome grain and pure may be.

For the Lord our God shall come,
And shall take His harvest home;
From His field shall purge away
All that doth offend that day:
Give His angels charge at last
In the fire the tares to cast;
But the fruitful ears to store
In His garner evermore.

Then, thou Church triumphant, come,
Bring the song of harvest-home;
All are safely gathered in,
Free from sorrow, free from sin,
There, for ever purified,
In God’s garner to abide;
Come, ten thousand angels, come,
Raise the glorious harvest-home!

North American Thanksgiving

Canadian thanksgiving happens sooner in the year then it does for Americans.  I always thought it odd that two countries, so very similiar have holidays that are celebrated at different times of the year.  Yet, each celebrate it, despite our different histories, in much the same way. 

Food, families, and conversation.  Turkey/ham/chicken, taters/rice/yams, veggies and other sides.  Everyone does some type of rendition of this if doing a traditional North American celebration. 

Since I work at the local foodbank I’m thankful that at this time of year churches and individuals stop and consider the needs of the less fortunate in our communities.  Reaching out with food or money to give a boost up.  It’s a good thing to do don’t you think?  

Henry Alford, Author

Henry was born the son of a curate in Wiltshire (England).   A curate, if you’re like me and didn’t know, a member of the clergy engaged as assistant to a vicar, rector, or parish priest.  So basically his dad was a minister, and he in turn, also became a minister. He turned down opportunities to become a bishop twice and continued to serve as a curate.  In time he became a dean of Canterbury Chapel. He wrote a good number of songs. Hymntime & Hymnary resources.

I included two youtube videos that I am familiar with two rather different tunes.  I like both, though I am most familiar with the first one I posted. 

Christ will be my Hideaway

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We were listening to Grace Toronto Church this morning and one of the songs they did was Christ will be hideaway. 

I don’t know how old this song is so I’ll just link to the lyrics as I don’t want to violate copyright.  🙂 

Basically, I liked it and thought I’d share it with you.  🙂 

This lovely song is based on Psalm 91.

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
    will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress,
    my God, in whom I trust.”

3 For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler
    and from the deadly pestilence.
4 He will cover you with his pinions,
    and under his wings you will find refuge;
    his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.

7 A thousand may fall at your side,
    ten thousand at your right hand,
    but it will not come near you.
8 You will only look with your eyes
    and see the recompense of the wicked.

Christ will be my hideaway

What do you think of Christ will be My Hideaway?   Are you, like the author, called to remember that our trust needs to be in the Lord?  Remembering that he is our safety in a time of storm or uncertainty? 

I love that, through Christ, I can claim victory even when things are looking tough. There’s always a brighter side you know? 

Soon and Very Soon

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Until today I did not know that Soon and Very Soon had actual verses to it!  How could I not have known that?   I suppose that like many, I simply have never sung them.   A call to action though… to see God’s action in our lives.  To realize that one day soon he will be returning to earth and all our sorrows will be finished with. 

soon and very soon

Lyrics to Soon and Very Soon

Soon and very soon we are going to see the king
Hallelujah, hallelujah, we’re going to see the king X3
 
No more crying there, we are going to see the king
Hallelujah, hallelujah, we’re going to see the king X3
 
Should there be any rivers we must cross
Should there be any mountains we must climb
God will supply all the strength that we need
Give us strength till we reach the other side.
 
We have come from every nation,
God has already signed our name.
Jesus took his blood and he washed my sins, he washed them all away.
Yet there are those of us who have laid down our lives
But we all shall meet again on the other side.
 
Back to the chorus
 
Should there be any rivers we must cross
Should there be any mountains we must climb
God will supply all the strength that we need
Give us strength till we reach the other side.
 
Back to the chorus

Author and History

Andraé Crouch is sometimes referred to as the “Father of modern gospel music”.  He recently passed away in 2015.  This American gospel writer was born in California and wrote his first piece of gospel music at age 14.   He helped to bring the gap between black and white music, bringing contemporary music into the church at large. 

He played with various bands throughout his life as well as having a solo career.  Friends with Michael Jackson he and his singers played a role in some of Mr. Jackson’s albums and performances. 

Complications from diabetes and cancer took his life. 

Pondering the Words

Having done Lo! He Comes with Clouds Descending, I suppose this fits nicely into the order the hymnal (affiliate link) I am using doesn’t it?   Another glimpse of glory we see in this song by Andraé Crouch.

God will bring us through to glory is written throughout this song don’t you find?   

I found it interesting how many versions of Soon and Very Soon on youtube only featured the chorus being sung multiple times.  And I have to admit, the chorus is lively and compelling. I think the verses add to the overall song though, don’t you? 

Lo! He Comes with Clouds Descending

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It has been a long time since I have sung this song.  Lo! He Comes with Clouds Descending.  I didn’t recognize the tune in the hymnal I am using, but I immediately started singing the song.  I could not find the tune I was used to, and once I heard the tune on Youtube I completely lost the tune in my head.  So well you know… enjoy?  🙂 

lo he comes with clouds descending
Dramatic god lights passing through clouds and shining on shining on sky.

Lyrics to Lo! He Comes with Clouds Descending

Lo! He comes with clouds descending,
Once for favored sinners slain;
Thousand, thousand saints attending,
Swell the triumph of His train:
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
God appears on earth to reign.

Every eye shall now behold Him
Robed in dreadful majesty;
Those who set at naught and sold Him,
Pierced and nailed Him to the tree,
Deeply wailing, deeply wailing, deeply wailing,
Shall the true Messiah see.

Every island, sea, and mountain,
Heav’n and earth, shall flee away;
All who hate Him must, confounded,
Hear the trump proclaim the day:
Come to judgment! Come to judgment!
Come to judgment! Come to judgment!
Come away!

Now redemption, long expected,
See in solemn pomp appear;
All His saints, by man rejected,
Now shall meet Him in the air:
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
See the day of God appear!

Answer Thine own bride and Spirit,
Hasten, Lord, the general doom!
The new Heav’n and earth t’inherit,
Take Thy pining exiles home:
All creation, all creation, all creation,
Travails! groans! and bids Thee come!

The dear tokens of His passion
Still His dazzling body bears;
Cause of endless exultation
To His ransomed worshippers;
With what rapture, with what rapture,
With what rapture
Gaze we on those glorious scars!

Yea, Amen! let all adore Thee,
High on Thine eternal throne;
Savior, take the power and glory,
Claim the kingdom for Thine own;
O come quickly! O come quickly!
O come quickly!
Everlasting God, come down!

Author and History

This song has a bit of a convoluted history.  Originally written by John Cennnick in 1752, it was later altered by Charles Wesley in 1758, and Martin Madan in 1760.   It makes me curious about what changes they might have made.  So I found an original version on the Cyber Hymnal.  It’s quite different!

Born into the Quaker tradition, John Cennick joined the Methodist movement with the Wesley’s and Whitefield.  When they parted ways, Cennick followed Whitefield and later joined the Moravians.   He became a pastor in the Moravian church.  A successful hymn writer he published two hymnals.   He left a number of hymns unpublished at the time of his death which his Son-in-law saw published. 

So I’m pretty sure that the pastors of the church I was part of growing up changed the tune of this song to a more familiar one. Why?  I don’t know this tune, though when I saw the words I started singing the hymn.   Go figure eh? 

Pondering The Words

Do you know this song?  As you sing it do you ponder Christ’s Return? How do it make you feel?

I read these words and all I see is the joy they hymnist has at Christ’s eventual return.  How he will take this kingdom for his very own, and his reign is one to celebrate. 

And so I’m convicted.  I am… I so rarely think of Christ’s return and think of it so joyfully.  Do I long for Christ to return?  Yes.  I see it as an ending to the suffering in the world and things being made right…but I often don’t go beyond that to the total joy of Christ being able to reign supreme. No longer will I have to look through a glass dimly.  I’ll be able to see him face to face in a world again made right.  This is something to celebrate don’t you think?

Swing Low, Sweet Chariot

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Swing Low, Sweet Chariot is a song that I have known for such a long time.  I have recollections of it being on the records my mom used to play. I think… Johnny Cash did a version of it?   At least that’s what my vague memories tell me.  ANYWAYS, it often pops into my mind and I’ll find myself singing.  I do not know all the verses by heart. 

swing low sweet chariot

Lyrics to Swing Low, Sweet Chariot

Refrain

Swing low, sweet chariot,
Coming for to carry me home,
Swing low, sweet chariot,
Coming for to carry me home.

I looked over Jordan, and what did I see?
Coming for to carry me home,
A band of angels coming after me,
Coming for to carry me home.

Refrain

If you get there before I do,
Coming for to carry me home,
Tell all my friends I’m coming, too.
Coming for to carry me home.

Refrain

I’m sometimes up and sometimes down,
Coming for to carry me home,
But still my soul feels heavenly bound,
Coming for to carry me home.

Refrain

The brightest day that I can say,
Coming for to carry me home,
When Jesus washed my sins away,
Coming for to carry me home.

Refrain

I’m sometimes up and sometimes down,
Coming for to carry me home.
But still my soul feels heavenly bound,
Coming for to carry me home. 

Author and History

We don’t know for sure who wrote Swing Low, Sweet Chariot.  It might have been Wallace Willis, a Negro slave born in Mississippi and owned by Britt Willis, a Choctaw.   It is thought he was inspired by the Red River which reminded him of the River Jordan and the prophet Elijah. Alexander Reid, a minister at a Choctaw school Willis was at, heard him singing and transcribed the music sending it The Jubilee Singers.  Learn more at Songwriters.

Or if it was created by Sarah Hannah Sheppard a slave.  Apparently, she learned her master was going to sell her daughter and in her fear, she ran away intent on suicide for herself and her daughter.  You can read the rest of this story at the Library of Congress.   The daughter Ella was part of The Jubilee Singers.

Either way, it’s an old African Spiritual regardless of who wrote it. 

Thinking More

Swing Low, Sweet Chariot is a song that has a rhythm to it.  It’s no wonder to me that when I’m doing a repetitive task that this tune will pop into my brain.  

I like this line “I”m sometimes up and sometimes down, But still my soul feels heavenly bound”.  It’s that just so true?  We don’t always feel like we’re doing well in our faith journey but still… our goal is the same.  Heaven is our ultimate stopping place.