40 review for My Dancing Day: Reflections of the Incarnation in Art and Music

1. 

   5 out of 5

   Book Preview Review – Jan 16, 2014

   Book Description: “My Dancing Day leads you through a gallery of masterful art and music into the beauty and joy of the Incarnation. For centuries, artists and composers have captured the drama of history’s greatest turning point— the wondrous events leading to the birth of Jesus Christ. This beautiful, full-color volume combines a treasury of great works, chosen to enrich your understanding of artistry surrounding the Nativity… with reflections that will make your spirit leap for joy. Within the Book Description: “My Dancing Day leads you through a gallery of masterful art and music into the beauty and joy of the Incarnation. For centuries, artists and composers have captured the drama of history’s greatest turning point— the wondrous events leading to the birth of Jesus Christ. This beautiful, full-color volume combines a treasury of great works, chosen to enrich your understanding of artistry surrounding the Nativity… with reflections that will make your spirit leap for joy. Within these delightfully decorated pages, you can linger and muse upon such masterpieces as: Annunciation (Fra Angelico); Joseph’s Dream (LaTour); Holy Family (Raphael); Adoration of the Shepherds (Rembrandt); Visitation of the Magi (Fra Filippo Lippi ); Rest on the Flight to Egypt (Caravaggio). To enhance your experience, you will also find directions to a listening guide that includes such inspiring compostions as: Comfort Ye and For Unto Us a Child Is Born (Handel); Ave Maria (Bruckner); Magnificat and Shepherd’s Pipe Carol (Rutter); Christmas Oratorio (Bach); Gloria (Vivaldi); Misa Criolla (Ramirez); Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring (Bach)… and Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day. Jennifer Rundlett, M.M. is founder of God thru the Arts. This book comes from over 10 years of college classroom experience, where she has crafted a lively, storytelling approach to the arts. Now, with great care, she has selected this lovely arrangement of masterpieces and combined them with inspiring thoughts about the God who invites us to join in the greatest “dance” of all time ~ our encounter with Him.” Grab a beverage, pull up a chair, settle in and get cozy. This dynamic and magnificent book is definitely one to savor, reflect and enjoy. Don’t be mistaken by the length of this book. Less than 200 pages, what may at a glance seem like a swift read is much more than that. Replete with further readings (biblical), suggested listening of musical pieces and reflections. This impressive book will not only change the way you view art and listen to music, but it will change you. I feel as if I have completed a college course all within the comforts of my own home. Looking at art, listening to music (reading the verses and biblical texts to feel a deeper meaning of the words) and interpreting the art. Rundlett’s dedication to the arts is obvious with her meticulously and lovingly laid out formatting of the book. She has created a step by step understanding without the need of leaving your home and seeing the works of art in museums. Of course, optimal benefit would be to see each in person but that is unrealistic for most. My Dancing Day is used as a medium for profound understanding and insight of the stories the artists are trying to convey thru their masterpieces. Rundlett’s YouTube videos and website are an excellent resource for further enhancing and understanding. Reflections through the images of these masterpieces in her book are incredibly crisp and clear. Reproductions are of excellent quality. The pages themselves are the most vivid and bright white- to better enhance the masterpieces. Chapters are separated into sections with different formatting and fonts making it especially easy to follow along. Each has their own way and view of interpreting art. Rundlett makes that evidently clear. Thoughts for Mediation, Going Deeper, Journaling and Supplementary Listening---all suggestions in helping to achieve optimal experience of reflection and improved understanding of the Incarnation. This journey thru the arts with Rundlett is meant to be savored and not read in one sitting. Read and enjoy the experience slowly. Perhaps a few pages or chapter each day. Those who have a profound understanding and appreciation of fine art and secular music while also those with very little exposure to these art forms will come away with a better perception of the story of Jesus. She gently guides the reader thru the exploration of art with music to help give an improved perception of the art depicted within the pages and ultimately a renewed focus on God. She explains with brief history lessons on the art and creators as well as biblical explaining, historical background and advice all to give the reader a closer understanding of the heart of God. I personally enjoyed reading about the life of Handel, circumstances and what lead him to create his Messiah masterpiece. How Michelangelo personified God by painting a very human vision of the face of Him in the Sistine Chapel, to identify musical techniques (word painting, polyphonic texture) and music theory. Oh how I would love to sit in on one of Rundlett’s lectures! Lastly, my thoughts are these: Art becomes real. Change how you feel. Get a new perspective. A deeper, more meaningful understanding. Renew your faith. Be willing to open yourself up and renew.

2. 

   4 out of 5

   Abby – May 24, 2015

   This Christian devotional book uses art to focus the mind and spirit on the true meaning of Christmas. The art featured takes a variety of forms: poems, songs, paintings, etchings, etc., and is accompanied by meditation questions, prayers, and historical context. The book's layout is strange and seemingly disorganized at first glance, and I struggled at first to figure out how it worked. It would have benefited from smaller and more condensed chapters. Additionally, the author includes stories o This Christian devotional book uses art to focus the mind and spirit on the true meaning of Christmas. The art featured takes a variety of forms: poems, songs, paintings, etchings, etc., and is accompanied by meditation questions, prayers, and historical context. The book's layout is strange and seemingly disorganized at first glance, and I struggled at first to figure out how it worked. It would have benefited from smaller and more condensed chapters. Additionally, the author includes stories of her personal experiences with the songs and the art which I thought distracted from the rest of the book. Still, I enjoyed listening to the music and studying the visual pieces and learning the history of the artists. It's a nice book. It has a rather small target audience (which doesn't, I think, include me), but to the right person, this book will be a treasure.

3. 

   4 out of 5

   Beverly – Nov 21, 2014

   I won "My Dancing Day: Reflections Of The Incarnation In Art And Music" on Goodreads First Reads. Jennifer Rundlett's book is amazing. The art, the music and her writing all blend together to create the most beautiful experience. At times, she brought me to tears with her presentation of the Incarnation of Jesus. I wish that everyone could experience her book. I won "My Dancing Day: Reflections Of The Incarnation In Art And Music" on Goodreads First Reads. Jennifer Rundlett's book is amazing. The art, the music and her writing all blend together to create the most beautiful experience. At times, she brought me to tears with her presentation of the Incarnation of Jesus. I wish that everyone could experience her book.

4. 

   5 out of 5

   Karen Ball – Oct 26, 2013

   This was my Advent devotional for 2014. Like me, the author grew up in a Christian faith tradition that did not utilize the liturgal calendar and did not focus on Advent/Christmas much. I enjoyed and was moved by the music and art that she used to convey the power of the birth of Christ.

5. 

   4 out of 5

   Melody Vig – Nov 21, 2014

   I won this book and was happy to be a first reader to such a unique look at art appreciation!

6. 

   4 out of 5

   Helena –

7. 

   5 out of 5

   Lisa –

8. 

   5 out of 5

   Adam Nettesheim –

9. 

   5 out of 5

   Jennifer Rundlett – Mar 07, 2014

10. 

    5 out of 5

    Owldaughter –

11. 

    4 out of 5

    Cecilia Dunbar Hernandez –

12. 

    4 out of 5

    Melissa –

13. 

    4 out of 5

    Kim Coomey –

14. 

    5 out of 5

    Haven Gordon –

15. 

    4 out of 5

    Yusuf Nasrullah –

16. 

    5 out of 5

    Frederick Rotzien –

17. 

    4 out of 5

    Sheila –

18. 

    5 out of 5

    Sue –

19. 

    4 out of 5

    Kathy Lavoie –

20. 

    5 out of 5

    Cindy Gates –

21. 

    5 out of 5

    Jaded –

22. 

    5 out of 5

    Barbara Zitsch –

23. 

    5 out of 5

    Laurie Bok –

24. 

    4 out of 5

    David Holtzclaw –

25. 

    4 out of 5

    Katharine Adams –

26. 

    5 out of 5

    Mrs. –

27. 

    5 out of 5

    Teresa Lavender –

28. 

    4 out of 5

    Larry –

29. 

    4 out of 5

    Rhonda –

30. 

    5 out of 5

    Crystal –

31. 

    5 out of 5

    Debbie White –

32. 

    4 out of 5

    Joyce Yanney –

33. 

    4 out of 5

    Rosanna –

34. 

    4 out of 5

    Mary Brauneis –

35. 

    5 out of 5

    Amy –

36. 

    5 out of 5

    Judi –

37. 

    4 out of 5

    Marvelknight –

38. 

    4 out of 5

    Idahosnow –

39. 

    5 out of 5

    Kaitlin Inman –

40. 

    4 out of 5

    Rachel –