In Performance: Gentri and Lexi Walker Christmas Concert

I was looking for Lexi Walker music on You Tube and come across this Christmas concert I missed on BYUTV.  (This link should work for a time, but I notice BYUTV sometimes takes them down.)  This is really terrific.  It features Gentri, a Mormon oriented trio, and Lexi Walker.  There is also the American HeritageYouth Chorus.  Lexi Walker's voice is crisp and pure as ever, and Gentri sings melody intermingled with great harmony.  They go back and forth flawlessly.  It was presented at Snow College with the chamber orchestra and chorus from Snow College.  They sing mostly old favorites, sometimes with a new twist.  Such as Gentri combining "I Wonder as I Wander" and "What Child Is This."  "The guitar work for "I Saw Three Ships" is truly marvelous as the guitar provided percussion as well as cords.  Lexi Walker sing "Le Divin Enfant" a French Christmas song.  It has plenty of energy and catchy melody.  Lexi Walker looks like a Christmas ornament throughout this concert.  She has many costume changes.  Gentri does "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" which is their signature song for this concert, Gentri equals Gentlemen's trio.  There is a nice interlude of children's songs which Walker sings with the youth choir.  Gentri provides a haunting version of "O Come, O Come Emmanuel."  The music is peppered with comments and discussion between Walker and Gentri.  "Still, Still, Still" is Walker's turn to sing a haunting, powerful song.  Walker also sings a new song to me, "A Merry Christmas to Me."  The final number is "Joy to the World." It is a combined number, and very moving.

A New Day for the Book of Mormon

The BYUTV documentary has me very excited to read the Book of Mormon, in a different light.  It
contains interviews with many different scholars, and many different aspects of the Book of Mormon. these aspects includes as literature, as theology, and as proof of its authenticity.    It includes the testimony of scholars, apostles, authors, theologians and many more.  It talks about when many people came to know that the book is a true book of revealed scripture from God, which adds its testimony of Jesus Christ to the testimony by the Bible.  It is a companion to the Bible, not a replacement.  I would encourage all to view this presentation, as I think it will strengthen testimony of those who already believe, and encourage all to investigate this book with real intent one more time.  I know it is a true book.  I am looking forward to a year of intense study.

BYUTV In Performance: Take the Mountain Down

This is a retelling blue grass musical retelling of the Prodigal Son.  It is subtitled :"A Finger-pickin' Parable of the Prodigal Son."  The bluegrass music is very catching, and presents a great way to retell this story.  Janice Kapp Perry and Marvin Pane wrote the lyrics, music and book.  Marvin Pane also was one of the performers.
This production is more than just a musical.  It is a musical performance as well, and requires musicians.  They play violin, bass, banjo, ukulele, harmonica, wash board and guitar.  They make a very good sound.
http://www.byutv.org/watch/2b12784b-6de4-47fe-bdd2-bea049140a90/in-performance-take-the-mountain-down
I find that links to BYUTV as good for a limited time.  This link will lead to In Performance if not to this particular performance.

TV review: Granite Flats (to mmboe)

I really connected with this series.  I guess that is part of growing up during the cold war, and that is the story of this series.  This is a town in rural Colorado, with a small Air Force Base.  We are not sure what the purpose of the base is, but it does include a military hospital.  We learn that part of the goings on at the hospital is some nefarious experimentation or forced forgetting used on some air men.  You top this off with a Russian spy satellite falling out of the sky, and causing an explosion on the base that kills a mechanic.  A soldier, who feels guilty about his involvement, confesses to the death of the soldier,  setting up the series.  The show focuses on four young people, one the son of the soldier mentioned, the sheriff's son, a nurse's son and the daughter of two research doctors from the base.  The first is somewhat of a bully, and their is a conflict between he and the three others.  The last three like to solve mysteries.  The first mystery is to figure out what the nurse's son saw falling from the sky the night they arrived in town.  This was a great ride, I hope this continues.

Is Anyone Else Watching Granite Flats?

I am just wondering if anyone else has caught the BYUTV Series "Granite Flats" and what you think.  I have watched the first couple episodes, and the characters are intriguing, and the plot mysterious enough to keep my interest.  This is the first foray by BYUTV into a scripted story this way.
http://www.byutv.org/show/0aea4804-47dc-470f-b80a-35c8f23d0f27/granite-flats
I think I am going to continue watching.  There is some sinister plot going on and I haven't gotten to the bottom of it yet, but there are three young people, probably sixth graders, who are investigating.  The series is set in rural 1950s Colorado, where there is a military base for no good reason.