Libera │ The Extraordinary Choir From England

The music of Libera helped to sustain me during a very dark period of my life.  In the year 2000, I was undergoing an intense personal crisis and quite serendipitously, I discovered Libera on the Hearts Of Space radio show that is featured weekly on National Public Radio.  This particular program was called "Ascension".  One of the songs that was played was "Jubilate" by Libera.  Mind you I had not heard of Libera before, but when I heard that song, it was as if a warm beam of light came upon me and lit up my soul.  For the first time in a year, I felt like a "real" person again.  From then on I listened religiously to the Hearts of Space program hoping to hear more music from Libera.  In this edition of Carfax Abbey we are featuring a triple-header, a troika, if you will, of Libera's music from their "Peace (Luxury Edition)" album.  The songs are:  "Time", "Deep Peace (Gaelic Blessing)", and "Lullabye (Goodnight My Angel)".  The "Peace (Luxury Edition)" MP3 album can be purchased from this Amazon.com link: Peace (Luxury Edition) [+Digital Booklet]  The official Libera website can be found at this link: Libera - Official Website  May The Music Of Libera Bring Peace And Joy Into Your Life.

 Time

 
Deep Peace (Gaelic Blessing)

 
Lullabye (Goodnight My Angel)

Smile

 Smile
 
 Smile though your heart is aching

Smile even though it's breaking

When there are clouds in the sky, you'll get by.

If you smile through your fear and sorrow

Smile and maybe tomorrow

You'll see the sun come shinning through for you.

Light up your face with gladness

Hide every trace of sadness

Although a tear may be ever so near

That's the time  you must keep on trying

Smile what's the use of crying?

You'll find that life is still worthwhile

if you just smile.
 

~ Charlie Chaplin ~

Faces of Children (Visages d'enfants) │ Jean Forest

Jean Forest

"Faces Of Children (Visages d'enfants) 1925" is a haunting film about a troubled child.  Even though it was released eighty-six years, it is still very powerful and moving.  Jean Forest plays the part of Jean Amsler, who is mourning the death of his mother, and is not quite able to come to terms with his personal loss.  In this edition of Carfax Abbey we are featuring a very beautiful edit of "Faces Of Children" that was put together by MikeLesMiserables.  He was able to distill the essence of the movie from two hours down to seven minutes.  Please click on the video widget below for a very emotional experience.

Enigma

In this edition of Carfax Abbey we are featuring "Sadness" by Enigma.

Porcelain Unicorn │ Trevor Teichmann

"Porcelain Unicorn" is that one-of-a-kind film short, that manages to break the heart in the least amount of time.  It won a first place prize in the "Philips’ Tell It Your Way", film-making contest, for American director Keegan Wilcox.  The plot of "Porcelain Unicorn" was inspired by the real-life, traumatic World War II experiences of Wilcox's grandfather.  It is a true story, and an extremely moving one at that.  Trevor Teichmann is completely stunning, and captivating as the Hitler Youth who discovers a young Jewish girl who is hiding from the Gestapo.  His face tells complete stories of its own.  He is now involved in the filming, and production, of the theatrical version of "Porcelain Unicorn".  Trevor, who is a model, has a wonderful career as a movie actor ahead of him.  I can watch "Porcelain Unicorn" over and over again with complete enjoyment.  The conclusion of this film is completely magical, and wonderful.

Carfax Abbey │ Children Of The Night

 Bela Lugosi as Count Dracula

Carfax Abbey was the home that Dracula purchased through Jonathan Harker, his real estate agent.  It was located near London, England.  It was here that Dracula would come to meet the lovely Wilhelmina (Mina) Murray, and spread his reign of terror far beyond Transylvania.  Movie adaptations of the book combined the Asylum and  Carfax Abbey.  This provided a much richer environment in which to stalk the Count. The most obvious example of this is in "Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992)", where the vampire hunters, led by Professor Abraham Van Helsing, enter Carfax Abbey to destroy the crates of native soil that Dracula had brought over with him by boat from Transylvania.