So this particular Christmas song isn't a "real carol," but it is a very good song that really puts me in a decorate-the-whole-house-and-eat-ALL-the-cookies kind of mood. =)
Christmas Eve was written in 1995 for the Dead Winter Dead album as an instrumental mix of God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen and Carol of the Bells, but my favorite version of the song is the one done in 1996 by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. The cool thing about this song (besides the way it sounds) is that it's almost like an instrumental ballad.
According to Christianity Today, Paul O'Neill (one of the composers) explained that the hidden story in the song is a true story about "this cello player born in Sarajevo many years ago who left when he was fairly young to go on to become a well-respected musician, playing with various symphonies throughout Europe. Many decades later, he returned to Sarajevo as an elderly man--at the height of the Bosnian War, only to find his city in complete ruins.
"I [O'Neill] think what most broke this man's heart was that the destruction was not done by some outside invader or natural disaster--it was done by his own people. At the time, Serbs were shelling Sarajevo every night. Rather than head for the bomb shelters like his family and neighbors, this man went to the town square, climbed onto a pile of rubble that had once been the fountain, took out his cello, and played Mozart and Beethoven as the city was bombed.
"He came every night and began playing Christmas carols from that same spot. It was such a powerful image--a white-haired man silhouetted against the cannon fire, playing timeless melodies to both sides of the conflict amid the rubble and devastation of the city he loves. Some time later, a reporter traced him down to ask why he did this insanely stupid thing. The old man said that it was his way of proving that despite all evidence to the contrary, the spirit of humanity was still alive in that place."
If that's not a cool story, then I don't know what is. And if you'd like to find out more about him, the cellist's name was Vedran Smailovic, and he's still alive today.
And on the 3rd Day of Christmas, Columbia gave to me an After Earth trailer.
This is another trailer that I saw at The Hobbit, and it's another father-son film with Will and Jayden Smith.
Anybody else think Hunger Games when you saw the trailer?
- Edessa, signing off
I did not exactly think Hunger Games because someone had already seen the trailer and described it to me.
ReplyDeleteAnd that Trans-Siberian Orchestra song is the best Christmas song ever.
First, that song is now one of my favorites--I love the blend and the story behind it.
ReplyDeleteSecond, After Earth reminds me of Planet of the Apes meets something post apocalyptic. A little Hunger Games, but not that much...
I love Christmas orchestra music! :D After Earth looks like it could be good but I just hope Jayden can actor now. He was terrible in other movies I have seen of him in.
ReplyDeleteHave you posted the Hobbit podcast yet? I just watched it yesterday and looking forward to seeing it. :)
-James