Song from
the Little House
| Song from the Little House is
an enthralling presentation that combines music and literature.
Through singing, storytelling and selected readings Suzanne
and Jim give voice to the ballads, tunes, and ditties from
the printed words of Laura Ingalls Wilder. From the first
book to the last in the "Little House on the Prairie" series,
Laura’s detailed descriptions of her family histories list
a literal "Hit Parade" of 19th century popular songs. From
these sources Suzanne and Jim have created a program - Song
from the Little House - filled with music and tales
that convey the joys of everyday life: the visits with
friends and relations; the satisfaction from a difficult
task, well done; and especially the bond of shared music
in the family and frontier community. |
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For over a decade Suzanne and Jim have specialized
in researching, discovering, and recreating the music
from this "Golden Era" of Americana which they delight
in presenting to you. A parody of "Oh! Susannah" composed
from the perspective of a California gold rusher reflects
the spirit of westward expansion. "Old Grimes"- whose
wife made skim milk cheese- is a humorous sketch set within
the framework of a description of cheese making.On Sundays,
of course, only sacred music was allowed, so a song like
in the "Sweet Bye and Bye" offers a humble
and moving reflection on the spiritual side of pioneer
life. In her later years, Laura wrote …"It is
the sweet, simple things of life which are the real ones
after all." Nothing illustrates these sweet, simple things
like Song from the Little House by Suzanne and
Jim.
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" Our family saw your "Song
from the Little House" presentation October 18 in O’Fallon
MO. As we are reading thru the series again as a family,
we have referenced your presentation several times and
the children’s eyes light up with understanding! …Laura
wrote that those days 'could never be forgotten… It can
never be a long ago.' And it wasn’t, when we slipped back
to them with you."
- from a
letter written by an audience member, O’Fallon MO, November
2003 |
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