A lovely evening out

[pegkerr]

My sister Cindy, bless her heart, invited the girls over for an overnight so that they could play with their cousins and Rob and I could get an evening alone. I hit upon the idea of going to see a concert/variety show being put on at the Fitzgerald Theater by the hosts of the public radio program I listen to in the morning, the Morning Show with Dale Connolly and Jim Ed Poole (you may recognize their voices from Prairie Home Companion). Their guests included John Gorka, Peter Mayer, Neal and Leandra, and Kate Campbell. The concert was great, the Gift of the Magi skit was amusing. But one part of the concert brought me to tears, when John Gorka sang with simple poignance the song "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day." Such a simple powerful song of hope, in a time of war.

Comments

[primroseburrows.livejournal.com]

I love John Gorka. I heard him play with Cheryl Wheeler a few years ago. I've never heard any of his Christmas songs, though.

When I wonder how you Minnesota folks stand the winters (which is often, as I have trouble dealing with the (relatively) mild winters in Rhode Island), I have to remember that you have lovely things like Prairie Home and such to keep you warm. Lovely stuff.

[satakieli.livejournal.com]

So many times that song is stopped after the first verse, removing every ounce of intended bite and poignancy.

There are many irksome things about the use and abuse of Christmas music in modern American culture, but the gutting of I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day is one of my strongest personal peeves.

[dichroic.livejournal.com]

I think his version of that song is on one of the Windham Hills Winter Solstice albums. I love it too.

[haniaw.livejournal.com]

I thought you might appreciate Amazing Peace, a new poem by Dr. Maya Angelou. I saw her recite it on Oprah last week and it brought me to tears. There is also a video clip available (link is at the bottom of the page).