Review: Big Daddy Weave: Every Time I Breathe

Big Daddy Weave has a powerful message to share, and they do it overtly and enthusiastically. This, their fourth album, is a balanced mix of praise and worship songs, hymns and original material. The band definitely sees the album as an outreach, not just a musical product. And their efforts are not mere musicianship, but ministry. "It's not the greatness of our songs, but it is the greatness of the God behind the songs." Admirable sentiments, backed up by a nice full sound. The music is generally middle-of-the-road rock, not as raucous as previous albums, but no less joy-filled and heart-felt. +++

Review: Jessie Daniels: Jessie Daniels

Jessie's self-titled first major release has a really nice, richly orchestrated, sound. Her lyrics have nice depth for someone so young (19 years old). Sure, there are some cliches, but in many places some really meaningful and helpful sentiments. Jessie has worked in print media advertising and has had some early experience on Broadway and with MTV and the Lifetime cable network. So she brings a little bit of life to bear on her song-writing. She made the move to Nashville in 2005. She is the first "faith-based" artist on the roster of Midas Records. There is nothing explicitly religious in her lyrics: no God-talk. But deep, faithful sentiments. For those who want to know more, there is a statement in the lyric sheet, before each song, in which Jessie offers some explanation of the poetry. That's a nice touch. The sound is definitely rock-and-roll, not too pop-py and not too hard. ++++

Blessing and Open House

The Barker family had a short liturgy this afternoon to bless their new home. That was followed with an open house for the whole church family and neighbors. It was tremendous! For the liturgy we walked around the whole house and shared readings and a prayer for various rooms. Bob Ratchford and Kevin Frederick did a fine job leading us in the liturgy and around the home. Once the formalities were out of the way, food and drink flowed for the church family to help celebrate! There was a huge crowd for the open house. It was wonderful to see so many new church friends. So many folks here had been curious about Barker's Folly, we thought it would just be easiest to invite everyone over to see for themselves! Special thanks go to Charlotte S. and Ellen F. who helped with final preparations, and who helped keep food and drink moving; also Alice S. who worked the punch bowl later in the afternoon. And thanks to all the choir singers who brought tons of food! It was a wonderful spread. We are blessed with a wonderfully caring church family, who have outdone themselves in kindness today. One highlight must be mentioned: the impromptu concert by a spontaneously formed youth choir (on their way to youth conference at Montreat) was a truly moving experience. I'm not sure when I have heard a more "stirring" rendition of "Jesus Loves Me!"

Visuals for Pentecost

Black Mountain Presbyterian is blessed with a very talented and committed arts team. They have created some very evocative installations for worship in the past. This year for Pentecost we were challenged with designing for two worship spaces: our sanctuary and our fellowship hall (where FirstLight takes place). Here are some photos of elements in both worship spaces. The visual installation in the sanctuary was incredible. Our arts team drew inspiration from another installation they had seen, and adapted it for our use. The effect was stunning (I didn't tell them the shape reminded me of a bell; it might have just been my imagination!).

Pentecost: The bells, the bells

I am not sure what stirred the idea, but I wanted Pentecost to be characterized musically this year by bells. I used most of the bells sounds I could think of and which were available to me to create an aural metaphor for the presence of the Holy Spirit. We used the Taize "Veni sancte spiritus" as the first song in worship at both services. To begin I employed a mark tree; after several seconds I added several unpitched bells (from India). Kids and choir singers handled those elements. Next came upper handbells, suspended and rung with a mallet; then we added the lower bells in a random ring; these were all rung by our adult handbell ringers. Slowly the bells settled into the rhythm and notes of the Taize piece. Finally, the choir and song leaders joined the refrain, inviting the congregation to do the same. Superimposed over that were the verses, sung by a soloist. All the while, the bells kept up their various patterns. I think it was fairly effective. For the organ prelude, I did several of the variations on "Veni Creator Spiritus" by Joseph Ahrens. For the last variation, you guessed it, I turned on the zimbelstern on the organ. The bell sonority was complete!

New Music

I (Mike Barker) do a bit of composing on the side. Nothing comes easy, and it's a long time between projects. But every now and then the effort pays off. I am having a set of Christmas carol arrangements for flute and organ published by MorningStar Music. I had the proofs in January, and just got my complimentary copies last week. The book is available now, and will be promoted heavily late this summer for the 2007 Advent-Christmas season. I wrote these three pieces to be part of a concert at Crestwood Church a few years ago. After the season, I did some serious editing and sent them off. I didn't hear anything for a long time. Then I had a letter last fall asking if they were still available, i.e. not yet published by another firm. I hope there are plenty of church musicians who will find these useful. I had fun writing them, and our performance (my wife, Libby, did the flute for the premier) was well received. Visiting the link you can see images of several pages from the score, and hear clips from two of the three arrangements. Tell your friends!

Handbell Festival

The adult ringers recently participated in the Blue Ridge Area Handbell Festival. The event was held at First UMC in Hendersonville, and the clinician was Hart Morris from Asbury UMC in Tulsa, OK. The ringers had a blast, and did a nice job at the event. We had already rung two of the pieces for worship at home, so we felt really good about our grasp of the music. Hart Morris was his usual ebullient self, and worked effectively with the ringers. Here is a clip of the rehearsal of one of the pieces. In the photos you can see Lucy D. and Charlotte S. putting up our banner. On the bottom is a group shot. I tried to catch Lucy and her cushy slippers; this shot of her and Sylvia B. is the closest I could get! Here is a small gallery of photos from the event. Also present for the event and in the group photo were Carla S., Mary V. A., Anita B. and Charles M. Missing the fun were Angie U., Margaret N., and our regular-sub Danny S.