Horslips - Loudest

Horslips are one of the loudest bands I heard back in the early 1970s. They are an Irish rock band with electric mandolin and Uilleann pipes and prove that fusion worlds with tradtional instruments are viable rather than just guitars and drums.

I will lift my eyes

I lift up my eyes to the hills— where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. Psalm 121

This psalm is very precious to me as it was a commissioning Psalm as I left my home churches to move continents.Two churches unknown to each other used the same verse. Last sunday I had to learn this song by Bebo Norman for a service.



I will lift my eyes to the Maker - Of the mountains I can’t climb
I will lift my eyes to the Calmer - Of the oceans raging wild
I will lift my eyes to the Healer - Of the hurt I hold inside
I will lift my eyes, lift my eyes to You

Carrie doesn't live here

Cliff's 1980 hit Carrie is one of my favourite of his many years in the music business. It's in this era that fell in love more than once. All were musicians which didn't help.

Wonder

We all need a bit of wonder in our lives. Wonder has at least two meanings. "I wonder what will happen" has a sense of thinking about and hoping for something. The second meaning is seeing something often in a new way or for the first time. Little children look at something and are amazed. Adults look at the same thing and see nothing important. Things have not gone how I hoped for this school year and I have been disappointed. Yet I cannot say that there were no moments of wonder because there was wonder. The Electric Light Orchestra ELO a band with 2 cellos and a very unique sound and pictures form the Hubble Telescope in space. Twilight is the openning song for Densha Otoko - literally Trainman a romantic Japanese drama.

wishes

A few years ago Koji left me a few Japanese Cd's which got me into J-Pop and the first group were Le Couple. Such a sentimental person that I am this is probably my favourite song sung by Emi Fujita.

Let Go

I am a romantic and very sentimental guy. Cleaning in my apartment has been tough and difficult determining what to get rid of. Tuesday I laboured hard and removed a portable dishwasher which I was given 5 years ago. To do this I had to remove a hand rail and a door and hauled this heavy machine down the stairs and out of the front door. Frou Frou were unknown to me even though they are from the UK until I saw this music video taken from Nodame Cantabile. The strange thing is I'm more like Nodame the female character a bit sloppy, a bit untidy, don't like practicing, like to play music out of my emotions and searching for love. Chiaki is orderly taking all things very seriously. And yet I'm still really looking for my Nodame. I'm still a romantic but is it time to let go?.

The blessing

A few months ago I received a dream gift. My late honorary god-father left me money in his will. I was able to at last buy this exact instrument though I play it with a harness so I can walk around more like Marston Smith. This Frenchman demonstrates a wide range of possibilities.

Enchantment

For years now I have watched from a distance this cellist Marston Smith. Some months ago I heard someone use what I used to say when I was a choir conductor. The importance ot knowing "how to milk a melody" - how to squeeze everyounce of goodness out of a tune. From my favourite Japanese drama Nodame Cantabile how to enchant a listener. It is the movement of body and looking right,it is having passion and soul. Marston is what what you need to be an enchanter of audiences.

At the end of August I spoke at a conference and very much prayed that what I had to say would move people. I was wondering about everything this last week with disappointments and now I remember something important. I got feedback one evening from a couple talked to me and it was thrilling even now to see them move closer to God in a short time. Thank God.

My Past

I've listening to music from my teens recently and Caravan forms part of that era. This is Caravan a progressive folk Rock band that my freind Pete Matthews introduced me to. This is probably my favourite track and I love the melody lines. I am a sentimental guy and remember the special times and friends of the past. The crushes and loves of a teensager when life was complicated and awkward.

some more strange cello

I've been playing my cello with a guitar distortion pedal. I'm not as good as this guy but I've been having a little fun and realizing the pleasure of playing again. This incredible musician shows that actually it is much more soul than technique. He has both. Life has its ups and downs but I keep going and trying to enjoy the moments.

too long away

I haven't posted anything here for a while because I now have virtually only dialup connect at home. Here's an interesting cello group Break of Reality. They reflect a new encounter with music, I want more music in my life. In fact I need more music in my life so I'm trying to make time to play and practice cello. To do this I have to clean up and I am also trying to remove layers of things I have collected so my space at home will give me space in my life.