Baker, “My Home Can Be a Holy Place” (CD reviewed by Elizabeth W. Roach)

Review
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Title: My Home Can Be a Holy Place
Artist: Jenny Oaks Baker
Publisher: Shadow Mountain
Genre: Christian Children’s Music
Year Published: 2015
1 Compact Disc
ASIN: B00YJ1GZF0
Price: $8.97

Reviewed by Elizabeth W. Roach for the Association for Mormon Letters

“My Home Can Be a Holy Place” is the newest Jenny Oaks Baker audio CD from Shadow Mountain. Baker’s violin performances are moving, peaceful and uplifting which provides her music with quiet steady faith and reassurance. The cover paintings by Dan Burr also highlight the companion book of the same name by Kristen M. Oaks. The illustrations depict a young girl reading scriptures at home, praying with her mother at her bedside, and on a family outing to the Salt Lake temple. I only have heard the music and seen these illustrations, but it has made me want to find the book and read it as well. Burr’s paintings use bright, clear colors and depict home life in a positive, peaceful way. These three illustrations send the message that we can seek God wherever we are and He will speak to us in quiet moments when we reach out to Him.

The seven songs on this CD are beautifully simple and simply beautiful. Baker’s renditions are superlative. Children will find these songs familiar and may start singing along. I found myself benefiting from having it play in the car while running late on the carpool circuit. It helped bring peace in an otherwise stress-inducing situation, to me and the others in the car. I noticed that when I play it with my teenagers in the car, after a few moments of silence, they have started opening up and talking about difficult challenges they are facing as we have quiet time in the car together. I would definitely listen to it on the way to worship on Sunday or at the temple. I caught myself humming the songs in stores as I did my errands. I don’t find the music makes me drowsy, even though one of the songs is Brahm’s “Cradle Song”; I would say it leaves me feeling calm but focused. Perfect for Sunday mornings or afternoons; I haven’t tried it for background study music but that may be a good application for it.

Years ago, I heard Baker tell a group about when she made her decision to put her career as the mother of her young family ahead of her career as a violinist. She related how difficult it was for her to put her beloved violin in its case and put it away, thinking that her days playing and performing were over, but being committed to family time first. I am so glad she has found ways to use her artistic musical skills in ways that underline how important her family is to her. Several children join her on this CD, singing so sweetly and innocently, “Jesus Once Was a Little Child” with the chorus of “try to be like Him (Jesus), try, try try.” This CD has been a work of love from her family to all those who have the great pleasure of hearing her play and feeling of her love for her family and for God.

Though I have not read the companion book, “My Home Can Be a Holy Place,” I would consider looking at it to decide whether to buy the book and CD together for gifts or for my own family. The music is wonderful and I feel peace each time I listen to any of the selections. Highly recommended and I will be listening to it often.

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