Light the World: December 15th - Music

Yesterday for our Light the World project, instead of singing a favorite primary song we listened to our favorite Christmas hymns.  We also had the opportunity to go to an orchestra concert that my oldest son was in.  It was a wonderful concert and he did a fabulous job playing on the cello!  

AND we found a new favorite Christmas song!

It's called "Somewhere in my Memories", you may recognize it from the movie Home Alone.  Listening to it with only the instruments was really beautiful.  

The last thing we did was learn the meaning behind "Silent Night". It's one of my favorite Christmas stories and I was excited to share it with my kids.

"Legend would have it that on Christmas Eve 1818 the organ in this little church broke down, some say as a result of a hungry dormouse attacking the organ bellows. The quick witted organist penned a tune on the spot to Mohr’s words that could be accompanied easily on the guitar (which the librettist happened to be able to play). And the threat of a truly silent night was averted."

*This story is widely considered false, but it's such a lovely story we'll stick with it.  I especially love the message that out of something negative came something beautiful and enduring. Silent Night has since been translated into 140 languages and remains one of the most recognized and sung Christmas Carols of all time.

The small Parrish where Silent Night was first performed.

Oberndorf bei Salzburg, Austria.