Crossover

NPR had an article this morning on cross sounds in country music. Big names like Eric Church and Blake Shelton were mentioned as was this song by Jason Aldean:



Yeah, he breaks into rap after about a minute! Of course what comes to my mind is Charlie Daniels and "The Devil went down to Georgia" and what amounted to rap for each verse (he did sing the refrain).

Several years ago when I was putting together bluegrass events at church as bridge events, I had a note by post after one event. "I don't know what you would call it, " referring to Old School Freight Train's set, "but it certainly wasn't bluegrass music." It was definitely bluegrass, but just not your grandfather's bluegrass. OSFT opened shortly thereafter for a major, major act in Nashville, their big breakout performance.



I heard of Mumford and Sons right after they were in Asheville on tour back in spring. Rock + Celtic. This version leaves out (it's just a dead gap) the "dirty word." It's easy enough to find versions of the video that include the complete lyric.



Then the youth used this song by Ben Harper in their photo montage for Summer Mission Sunday last week. African percussion, vocal harmonies, and a little bit of plinky piano, that screamed section about 3/4 way through, a little bit of Delta blues guitar work. Of course, he kind of gives it away in the opening of the video when he walks into a world musical instrument store!



I think one of the best things happening in music these days is the cross-fertilization, or synthesis, or fusion or whatever you want to call it. There's plenty of room for "pure" examples of a genre, but I think growth is happening where the edges blur together. It's been said that JS Bach himself didn't "create" anything new in the baroque sound, he merely synthesized (incredibly) strands that were in the air so to speak. Enjoy!

New piano

I've put a short recording of two Chopin preludes in the Music sidebar. Nick Murphy was one of three performers who helped us break in the new Yamaha piano on the day we dedicated it. The performance is first-rate, and the new piano sounds wonderful!

Music for 080711

FirstLight
Gathering Song(s)
Blessed be your name
Mighty to save

Opening Song
Prince of Peace (You are holy)

Confession
Celtic Alleluia

Offertory
All creatures of our God and king (M Barker, keyboard)

Doxology
Give thanks

Prayers
Cambodian Lord’s Prayer

Closing Song
Here I am, Lord

11 AM
Hymns
465, Here, O Lord, your servants gather (TOKYO)
Lonely the boat (BAI)
525, Here I am, Lord (HERE I AM)

Confession
2043, Celtic Alleluia (CELTIC ALLELUIA)

Anthem
Gounod, Sanctus (from St. Cecelia Mass)
Dr. Kenneth M. Scott, piano

Doxology
592, OLD HUNDREDTH

Prayers
Cambodian Lord’s Prayer

Instrumental/Organ Music
Prelude: Arr. Donald Wrytzen, All creatures of our God and king
Offertory: Chopin, Prelude in E Minor
Chopin, Prelude in C Minor
Nick Murphy, piano
Postlude: Pachelbel, Toccata in E Minor

Review: A sacred place (CD)

Rufino Zaragoza has written a very nice set of music that makes for a deeply contemplative album, "A sacred place" published by Oregon Catholic Press. The pieces feature primarily piano and flute, with 'cello, guitar and percussion (including handbells) on various of the songs. Most of the pieces are idiomatic, but one set is based on "historic melodies." With titles in Spanish, one assumes they are Hispanic in origin, though the liner notes don't provide details. The music doesn't range too far in it's harmonic language nor its technical demands of the performers. As such it is well-suited as contemplative music. + + +

Worship music 073111

FirstLight
Gathering Song(s)
Great is thy faithfulness
Great is the Lord

Opening Song
Your grace is enough

Confession
Your mercy flows

Offertory
TBA title (M Barker, keyboard)

Doxology
Give thanks

Prayers
Amazing grace (Alleluia)

Closing Song
Christ be our light

11 AM
Hymns
483, Sing praise to God, who reigns above (MIT FREUDEN ZART)
329, Break thou the bread of life (BREAD OF LIFE)
441, I love thy kingdom, Lord (ST. THOMAS)

Confession
579, Glory be to the Father (GREATOREX)

Doxology
592, OLD HUNDREDTH

Instrumental/Organ Music
Prelude: David Lasky, Pastorale
Offertory: Cesar Franck, Fantasy in C
Postlude: Arr. Herman Schroeder, Mit Freuden Zart

Music for worship 071011

FirstLight
Gathering Song(s)
Open our eyes, Lord
I will call upon the Lord

Opening Song
Open the eyes of my heart, Lord

Peace
Shalom, chaverim

Scripture/Proclamation
Thy word

Doxology
Give thanks (STF 2036)

Closing Song
You are the seed

11 AM
Hymns
473, For the beauty of the earth (DIX)
Once a farmer went out sowing (AR HYD Y NOS)
327, O Word of God incarnate (MUNICH)

Confession
576, Glory be to the Father (GREATOREX)

Doxology
592, OLD HUNDREDTH

Instrumental/Organ Music
Prelude: Carlo Domeniconi, Koyunbaba, Gordie Murphy, guitar
Offertory: JS Bach, Prelude in C, Gordie Murphy, guitar
Postlude: German, Festive Trumpet Tune

New art installation

A couple of years ago we installed these praise figures (above) in our fellowship hall. There are four in total. Our FirstLight worship service had been taking place in there for some time and we felt the need to make the room feel more like a worship space. Fred Barkley designed the figures and with the arts team fabricated them out of foam core board and textured paint. They have become an important if understated part of the room.

Late last year the idea surfaced of replicating the figures somehow for the exterior of our facility. Gene Schimpf had the materials and the equipment to fashion them in stainless steel. Kent Patton recently installed them outside our rear door, where a great number of FirstLight worshipers enter. We are thankful for those named here who have brought about this project, and all who prayed this most recent installation into being.