I'm still standing

This is one of those pop anthems which lingers in my ears after difficult times. Elton John regardless whether you like him or not, writes memorable songs. Notice the change in keys where the verses as declaration of survival are in major keys but the chorus remains in a minor key. "I'm still standing." After some real ups and downs I'm still standing.

Gospel, gospel

There is something special about gospel music. Somehow it never really feels like performance because we're drawn to it and into it. I have to often contrast that with some church situations where everything seems to be like watching a concert. What can I say about Mahalia Jackson? Except listen.

I can sing in the troubled times

I can sing in the troubled times, Sing when I win - I can sing when I lose my step, And fall down again - I can sing 'cause You pick me up - Sing 'cause You're there. Chris Tomlin

My emotions do go up and down. perhaps more frequently than others but I have a problem the old hymn is darker more a struggle than Chris Tomlin?Matt Redman. However neither should be sung as a happy sweet song. I want songs that reflect how real sadness can be. Listen to Enya's original haunting song with its depth.




What though my joys and comforts die? The Lord my Savior liveth;What though the darkness gather round! Songs in the night He giveth: No storm can shake my inmost calm While to that refuge clinging; Since Christ is Lord of Heav’n and earth, How can I keep from singing? Robert Lowry

Home

Our house - This is one of those songs from my youth that I remember well. Though much has changed over the years, going or coming home is more about people than place, whatever country I'm in.

Henri Nouwen writes "A mosaic consists of thousands of little stones. Some are blue, some are green, some are yellow, some are gold. When we bring our faces close to the mosaic, we can admire the beauty of each stone. But as we step back from it, we can see that all these little stones reveal to us a beautiful picture, telling a story none of these stones can tell by itself....That is what our life in community is about. Each of us is like a little stone,"

The old hymns

I'm glad to be home. That seems like a strange statement given that I went home but the paradoxes of my life are exposed. The UK isn't home anymore. It feel distantly familiar and meeting family and friends was good but it isn't home. But here isn't really home either because there is much which isn't familiar and I still don't understand. This perhaps is a new understanding for me of being in and not of the world.

Matt years ago introduced me to Rachel Lampa's voice. Such an intense beautiful tone with good breath control. I hate the loss of old hymns and their deep messages about God. They also lasted for a long time. Modern songs have a very short life span and go missing very fast.

Terry Waite was the Archbishop of Canterbury's representative negotiating the release of hostages around the world until at least he was taken hostage for over 1763 day. I remember hearing his interviews afterwards . He talked about the importance of being able to remember prayers, songs and parts of church services. These helped him survive, they gave him a sense of home.

Ave Verum Corpus

We used to sing this for services etc. I miss those days of a sight-singing choir. Often we would simply rehearse on Friday and sing for real on Sunday. I think this is Mozart at his best. the words mean

Hail the true body, - Born of the Virgin Mary, - Truly suffered, sacrificed - On the Cross for mankind, - Whose pierced side - Flowed with water and blood, Let it be for us, in consideration, - A foretaste of death.

As I head back to the UK for a rest and I can still hear this anthem reminding me of Easter and why I do what I do.

No greater love

I discovered that some of my ex-internationals read this blog. So I'm going to post a little more content about my ministry here in simpler English. Recently in our bible studies we've been thinking about heaven and earth and what heaven is all about. It is not really about place but God's presence. I quite like this Rachel Lampa song - "The beauty of heaven is here in my heart".

The heavens are telling

I realized a few weeks ago I was suffering from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). I was quite depressed and then it was as the dark cloud lifted. I love this movement from Haydn's Creation. I sung this too many years ago.



The Heavens are telling the glory of God,
The wonder of his work displays the firmament.
Today that is coming speaks it the day,
The night that is gone to following night.
The Heavens are telling the glory of God,
The wonder of his work displays the firmament.
In all the lands resounds the word,
Never unperceived, ever understood.
The Heavens are telling the glory of God,
The wonder of his work displays the firmament.

Van Gogh

Van Gogh is a favorite artist of mine, and over the years I've come to appreciate the spiritual content intrinsic in many of his pictures. Like music,art requires understanding and background. This song by Don McLean I first heard live at a free concert in Hyde Park in the centre of London.

if you had a vineyard

Oh that my eyes were a fountain of tears That I might weep for my poor people

I suppose this year's unfortunately blandness the emotions of Sinead's songs from her album Theology still touches me. One of my International students said recently Music is universal (it doesn't require language.)

Kosheen - Catch

Out of my way, I'm running. I'm going to catch you if I can...



Well I'm pretty eclectic in my taste and Kosheen do their thing well. The Cellist I only found by accident and he's not a permanent member of the group.

After The Fire

Greenbelt was a Christian rock arts festival which I went almost every summer for 10 years. I saw U2 there and many great bands. After The Fire was one of those great 1980's bands. This clip (click here) is classic ATF and perhaps a demonstration of the great use of the instrumental break.

Don't talk to me about love

I, as a younger guy, was an Altered Images fan for a while mainly because of Claire Grogan. She appeared in Gregory's Girl, an low budget obscure movie made in Scotland, with young locals some without acting experience. The director Bill Forsyth went on to make Local Hero. Claire went on to become lead singer with Altered Images a 1980's New Wave band that fused many different influences including Siouxsie and the Banshees, and Dexy's Midnight Runners. This is real nostalgia for me.

Early U2 memories

In 1981, I was standing in a field with 20,000 other Christians. Close to sunset, at the end of the harvest, the fields around us were burning as the farmers cleared the old straw away. Suddenly this band I had never heard of played Fire!! That incredible apocalyptic experience is burned into the ears and eyes of my memory. We were listening to U2 perform on borrowed equipment.

nothing stays the same

Rushad Eggleston was the cellist with Crooked Still and an exceptional alternative cellist able to play the chop and groove style of playing. He's since moved on but with talent like that he'll be active.

Sweet side of protest

Ralph McTell's Streets of London is a poignant cutting and gentle protest about the darker side of cities. It's a song that I learned to play back in the 1970's. Actually McTell was a good ragtime guitarist and it shows.

Mozart Sonata in D major K488

As a teenager my mother introduced me to two piano pieces and all her students eventually played two piano pieces in competition. (My mom was shrewd as my teacher and all my partners were girls!) Watching the Japanese drama Nodame Cantabile has reminded me so much of the fun and pleasure now deep in my past. This is the first duo that Chiaki and Nodame played together in the series. Later they play a Rachmaninov piano concerto together.

Iceland

Iceland is known for Bjork. I came across another musical export Sigur Ros about 4 years ago and this "Untitled #1"and the video won the 2003 MTV Europe Music Awards for Best Video. The music is eerie and the images disturbing.

similar accent

Janice is a Hong Kong singer, whose accent in Cantonese has similar strange tones to mine. I was taken by a couple of songs which were streaming on a J-pop internet site. There is also an English version of the song but I think she sings better in Cantonese even with her slightly odd pronunciation.

acoustic groove

As a kid there was a tv show called "Take Three Girls" and the title music was by this group Pentangle. They were quite phenomenal musicians Jacqui McShee, vocals; John Renbourn, guitar; Bert Jansch, guitar; Danny Thompson, double bass. Thompson and both guitarists became successful solo or group artists. Check out their solo instrumentals in these two songs.They show you don't need a lot of equipment or technology to make a great groove and song.