Composer: George Frideric Handel
We spent some time with Handel last December, but we’ve added a few things to our studies this year.
Watching: Handel’s Last Chance
(We recently added this 6 DVD set to our collection. We’ve watched and loved the artists and inventors sets.)
Reading: Handel, Who Knew What He Liked by M. T. Anderson
We are still enjoying all our other books and CDs (at the link above), especially our Handel’s Messiah Family Advent Reader.
Artist: Norman Rockwell
Reading: Norman Rockwell: Storyteller With a Brush by Beverly Gherman (Have I ever mentioned how much I adore really great picture book biographies? Put this one on the list!)
(We also have a couple great over-sized books of Norman Rockwell illustrations to pour over.)
Watching:
And the perfect blend of art and poetry for this December:
Norman Rockwell’s Christmas Book–filled with Christmas poetry by Robert Frost, Langston Hughes, Hans Christian Andersen, Lewis Carroll, and more. Synchronicity!
Christmas Poetry
Memorizing:
Christmas Bells
By Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
I heard the bells on Christmas Day Their old, familiar carols play, And wild and sweet The words repeat Of peace on earth, good-will to men! And thought how, as the day had come, The belfries of all Christendom Had rolled along The unbroken song Of peace on earth, good-will to men! Till ringing, singing on its way, The world revolved from night to day, A voice, a chime, A chant sublime Of peace on earth, good-will to men! Then from each black, accursed mouth The cannon thundered in the South, And with the sound The carols drowned Of peace on earth, good-will to men! It was as if an earthquake rent The hearth-stones of a continent, And made forlorn The households born Of peace on earth, good-will to men! And in despair I bowed my head; “There is no peace on earth,” I said; “For hate is strong, And mocks the song Of peace on earth, good-will to men!” Then pealed the bells more loud and deep: “God is not dead, nor doth He sleep; The Wrong shall fail, The Right prevail,
With peace on earth, good-will to men.”