Our church ward is bursting with musical talent. That is why each year, around Christmas time, there is absolutely no trouble for our music director to put together an extensive Christmas concert with choir and individual performances. This year was no different. Sister Hubbard asked Robert (because he is her favorite) if our family would prepare something to sing at the Christmas concert on Dec. 20th, preferably as a whole family. I did not have to think long at all about what song we could sing. Of course, "Shchedrik" ("Carol of the Bells")!
To make it more exciting I taught Katya, Alex and Robert to sing it in Ukrainian. We had to keep it simple in terms of how many parts we could handle. The original version, of course, is impressive with four different parts amazingly arranged. We could only do two so it sounds a bit different from what we are used to.
Finally, Mark was originally going to stand and smile next to us, or maybe ring bells, or maybe play the triangle...BUT...two days before the final rehearsal, I showed him the cords he could play to keep us in tune. Since he had been hearing us sing the carol dozens of times and me playing the melody often to "accompany" us, he caught on very quickly to the rhythm and speed. It was amazing! Thus, he became our little star this night accompanying us on the piano.
Have a listen. It's not perfect, but we loved it:)
I can't forget, of course, the fact that Robert and Katya sang with the choir. Alex also was asked to sing a solo "Once in David's Royal City" (first verse) with the choir. Here is a picture from when some of the Primary children joined the choir for "Away In A Manger".
Robert sang a very complicated solo, called "Three Kings". They all did a fantastic job. So grateful for my musically talented family:)
Merry Christmas!
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