This is not so much advice as it is just a story….my personal story regarding choosing a special song.
Growing up our family watched “The Sound of Music” so many times that I practically know every scene and every song by heart. That movie has some history, incredible scenery, fabulous dance scenes, life lessons, and of course the famous music. I’m now singing in my head…”The hills are alive with the sound of music, with the songs that they have sung for a thousand years…“. If I had to choose ONE movie that reminded me of my childhood, this would be it – hands down.
“Maria, the love of a man and a woman is holy, too. You have a great capacity to love. What you must find out is how God wants you to spend your love.” ~ Mother Abbess
If you are not familiar with the movie, here is a short summary. It is about a young, free-spirited woman who takes a governess job to seven children at the von Trapp villa while their widowed father is away. During this time she softens the discipline in the household and introduces them to singing. Captain Georg von Trapp returns from Vienna a month later and realizes that the home is happy again. They fall in love and get married. The movie begins with some great life lessons by Maria to the children and then becomes a beautiful love story. However, it is also a true story about a man devoted to his country that is being taken over by a communist military.
Throughout the movie, it is clear that the retired World War I Austrian Navy Captain is devoted to his country. It bothered him at great lengths to see his homeland being taken over by the German Nazis. Him and Maria cut their honeymoon short as they learned of the annexation. Upon their arrival home, the Captain is summoned to immediately report to his German Navy post. This is very unsettling news, so they quickly devise a plan to flee the country. Since the family was already scheduled to sing in the Salzburg Festival, the Captain and Maria used that as a means of defect to Switzerland after their performance. The last song from the now Von Trapp Family Singers was a solo from the Captain himself. He stepped forward from the darkness into the spotlight, strummed his guitar and very emotionally sang “Edelweiss” which was his way of declaring loyalty to his country as it is Austria’s national flower. This song choice also slid under the radar from the Germans running the show. It was so meaningful and heartfelt that midway though he got teary eyed and couldn’t continue. Maria stepped forward and they sung the remainder of it together with the children. The audience began singing along and the German Army and diplomats were not happy. After that performance, the family seeks shelter in the Abbey and once clear, escape to the Swiss border. At the end, the family is shown making their way on foot across the mountainous border to “Climb Every Mountain” and they live happily ever after (well, I don’t know about that part, but I do know they opened the Trapp Family Lodge in Vermont – which I just LOVE). Also, I want to mention that the true story does vary from the movie. Just Google it. 🙂
Side note: my sister recently visited the Lodge and took an amazing photo (she has a great eye!). I loved it so much and it was so meaningful that I had it done up onto a large canvas and it is hanging on my dining room wall as I type.
When I needed to choose a song to dance with my father to at our wedding, I wanted something that had significant personal meaning to me. I chose “Edelweiss” since it reminded me so vividly of my childhood. I also read the lyrics which had a whole new meaning to me. Although I already knew them in my head, this was a big decision so I needed to make sure the words were appropriate for this purpose. The lyrics fit perfectly with the father/daughter dance tradition. Originally, this tradition was more of a transition. The father would lead his daughter to the dance floor, have a beautiful dance then hand over his daughter to finish the dance with her new husband as they took their first “steps” into a new life together. In many cultures, this dance was considered the “final dance” after which the father presented his daughter to the husband’s parents and demanded the dowry.
I also chose the instrumental version of Edelweiss to walk down the aisle to. This song was becoming more symbolic to me than ever. My father adopted me when I was five, so when I first entered the room, I walked by myself down the aisle and met my Dad half way. He took my arm then walked me down the remainder of the aisle. The beautiful medley ended just as I got to the end and my Dad “gave me away”. It was so unbelievably emotional for me and still warms my heart today. I don’t think a lot of guests knew the significance of the song to me, but it didn’t matter….I DID, my husband did and my Dad sure did. In this rendition, the song starts out slow, then slowly picks up speed and momentum and keeps building as the entire orchestra joins in. For me, the beginning symbolized when it was just me and my Mom, then mid-point when my Dad adopted me (when I met him half way), and the increasing intensity of the music mimicked how our family became fuller over the years. Two hours later, I danced with my Dad to the lyrical version of “Edelweiss” which was just as emotional for me and a moment that will be with me forever.
Edelweiss, edelweiss
Ev’ry morning you greet me
Small and white
Clean and bright
You look happy to meet me
Blossom of snow
May you bloom and grow
Bloom and grow forever
Edelweiss, edelweiss
Bless my homeland forever
Small and white
Clean and bright
You look happy to meet me
Blossom of snow
May you bloom and grow
Bloom and grow forever
Edelweiss, edelweiss
Bless my homeland forever
Well said my Dear 😘
Thank you!