I heard this on the radio this morning. It's one of my favourite songs as it simply expresses so much.
Enjoy.
Showing posts with label music. Show all posts
Showing posts with label music. Show all posts
Sunday, 23 October 2011
Sunday, 16 October 2011
Stop and listen
A couple of years ago, spotthegerbil and I were in York. Sitting having a cuppa watching the world go by and this guy walked past with a trolley containing an amp and various other electronic music-related items. I commented something along the lines of "He looks like he's the roadie from hell who's just making his way him from last night's gig". How wrong was I. Ed Alleyne-Johnson is AMAZING!
We sat and listened to him for ages - maybe an hour or so. As we listened, many, many people just stopped and listened. No matter what he was playing and there was a great variety of musical styles. Which goes to prove two things. Don't judge a book by its cover and no matter what someone is doing, if they are good and passionate about it, people will stop and listen. I hope I can be as a good a Christian as this guy is a violinist!
And here's one for the guitarists.
We sat and listened to him for ages - maybe an hour or so. As we listened, many, many people just stopped and listened. No matter what he was playing and there was a great variety of musical styles. Which goes to prove two things. Don't judge a book by its cover and no matter what someone is doing, if they are good and passionate about it, people will stop and listen. I hope I can be as a good a Christian as this guy is a violinist!
And here's one for the guitarists.
Sunday, 11 September 2011
Worship music and singing
Another church, another Sunday. As I look towards beginning placements and uni, I have to admit I have been avoiding my home church. I'm aware I need to let go and move on, but in the knowledge there will always be welcome there and spotthegerbil and I are in their prayers.
So, the church I was visiting today had a praise band. Now, I'm sure they all are reasonable players of their respective instruments, IF I COULD HEAR THEM! Rather, they played, or should I say jammed to, a recording of a Christian singer's recording of the song. So not only could I not hear the band, I felt more as though I was listening to a gig or might as well had a CD (oh, how old-fashioned) on in the car. The way the praise music was used did not lend itself to leading worship and some of the words of the songs did not make sense, but as I can't remember the titles, I can't specifically comment!
But there was some hymns not "led" by the praise band and they worked better. I know I was the visitor, but I very much didn't feel the congregation were into the praise band-led music either.
Once again, I was complemented on my singing voice. This time is was "beautiful". Maybe I have improved over time as that's not the first (or second or third time) that's happened. Only seems to work when I am singing from the heart...
Which reminds me of a story I heard once. There was a monastery in France where the monks would praise God with their singing every morning, noon and night. They sang with all their hearts, but, boy, were they terrible. To say they could not hold a tune in a bucket was being kind.
One day, they heard of a travelling monk in their area, who was renowned for his singing voice. So they invited him to sing for them during their evening service. No one in the monastery had heard a voice so beautiful as that monk's voice. During that service, they thought they were giving God something truly wonderful to hear.
That night, an angel appeared to the Abbot in a dream. "Why were you not singing tonight?" the angel asked.
Terrified out of his wits, and somewhat confused, the Abbot told the angel about the traveling monk who had sung for them that night.
Confused the angel told the Abbot not a word had been heard in heaven "For you make the most wonderful music and all heaven listens".
The Abbot laughed and told the angel "But no one in this monastery can sing. We are all terrible singers".
"Ah" replied the angel, "but you sing with your hearts. That is why it is the most beautiful music in heaven".
Whether this is true or not, I do not know. But that is what I try to do. Otherwise, what else are we not giving over to God in worship? Of course, it depends on the song/hymn and many other factors.
So, the church I was visiting today had a praise band. Now, I'm sure they all are reasonable players of their respective instruments, IF I COULD HEAR THEM! Rather, they played, or should I say jammed to, a recording of a Christian singer's recording of the song. So not only could I not hear the band, I felt more as though I was listening to a gig or might as well had a CD (oh, how old-fashioned) on in the car. The way the praise music was used did not lend itself to leading worship and some of the words of the songs did not make sense, but as I can't remember the titles, I can't specifically comment!
But there was some hymns not "led" by the praise band and they worked better. I know I was the visitor, but I very much didn't feel the congregation were into the praise band-led music either.
Once again, I was complemented on my singing voice. This time is was "beautiful". Maybe I have improved over time as that's not the first (or second or third time) that's happened. Only seems to work when I am singing from the heart...
Which reminds me of a story I heard once. There was a monastery in France where the monks would praise God with their singing every morning, noon and night. They sang with all their hearts, but, boy, were they terrible. To say they could not hold a tune in a bucket was being kind.
One day, they heard of a travelling monk in their area, who was renowned for his singing voice. So they invited him to sing for them during their evening service. No one in the monastery had heard a voice so beautiful as that monk's voice. During that service, they thought they were giving God something truly wonderful to hear.
That night, an angel appeared to the Abbot in a dream. "Why were you not singing tonight?" the angel asked.
Terrified out of his wits, and somewhat confused, the Abbot told the angel about the traveling monk who had sung for them that night.
Confused the angel told the Abbot not a word had been heard in heaven "For you make the most wonderful music and all heaven listens".
The Abbot laughed and told the angel "But no one in this monastery can sing. We are all terrible singers".
"Ah" replied the angel, "but you sing with your hearts. That is why it is the most beautiful music in heaven".
Whether this is true or not, I do not know. But that is what I try to do. Otherwise, what else are we not giving over to God in worship? Of course, it depends on the song/hymn and many other factors.
Monday, 25 July 2011
Brings back memories
Last night, there I was flipping through radio stations to find some decent tunes (No MP3s for me even though I could listen via my phone. Just can't be bothered. So, it's still t'wireless, but DAB, naturally). I got to a 90s station and on was Jump around by House of Pain. Oh, that brought back memories. It instantly took me back to mid-90s, out clubbing in The Garage with my mates. Happy days. (For the avoidance of doubt, I'm not a fan of this song, but it was a laugh jumping around to it at the time...).
It just shows how evocative music is. I wonder how many people hear a bit of music or a song and it transports them to a time and place, as this did for me last night? I also wonder how important music might be for those in comas? I have heard hearing is suppose to be the last thing to go, but Classic FM or similar is the background music of choice on many an occasion.
Perhaps, in pastoral situations where music may be a way of "breaking the silence", finding out the person's tastes (where it can be done) rather than just using Classic FM would be better. I know a few people who'd probably wake up from their coma if you played that (as much as I like classic music, if that's all I got, I think I would too and be thinking how the devil does have the base tunes...).
Can I have anything but dance, please? I hate dance. What about Johnny Cash? Now you're talking. That brings back memories of growing up in a house where country, Elvis, the Beatles, Simon and Garfunkel and the Wurzels were all played. Very eclectic, but all real music. But please, please, dance music. No. Did I mention I hate it?
It just shows how evocative music is. I wonder how many people hear a bit of music or a song and it transports them to a time and place, as this did for me last night? I also wonder how important music might be for those in comas? I have heard hearing is suppose to be the last thing to go, but Classic FM or similar is the background music of choice on many an occasion.
Perhaps, in pastoral situations where music may be a way of "breaking the silence", finding out the person's tastes (where it can be done) rather than just using Classic FM would be better. I know a few people who'd probably wake up from their coma if you played that (as much as I like classic music, if that's all I got, I think I would too and be thinking how the devil does have the base tunes...).
Can I have anything but dance, please? I hate dance. What about Johnny Cash? Now you're talking. That brings back memories of growing up in a house where country, Elvis, the Beatles, Simon and Garfunkel and the Wurzels were all played. Very eclectic, but all real music. But please, please, dance music. No. Did I mention I hate it?
Sunday, 16 May 2010
Didn't we have a lovely day, the day we went to Glasgow?
On Friday Spot and I took the train to Glasgow. Now I remember why I don't take the train very often!!! Fortunately we had train vouchers due to a delayed train coming back from York in March, which pretty much paid for our travel. Without them, we would have been cheaper taking the car. My rant about the cost of public transport will come one day!!!
Anyway, the reason for the trip was to see the Glasgow Boys exhibition at the Kelvingrove art gallery and museum.
We really enjoyed it, though we were in the strange demographic of not retired nor a student!Given ow popular the exhibition is, I dread to think how busy it would be at a weekend.
I've always been a fan of the Glasgow Boys style.It's the way the showed ordinary people (at least to begin with) and their brilliant use for light. Them and the wider group of the Scottish colourists are among my favourite painters. Something which amuses me is the knowledge I've picked up about art. Looks like I listened to my Mum more than I realised. My appreciation of art definitely came from her and viewing the collections at the Kirkcaldy museum and art gallery.
After seeing the exhibition, we nipped out for lunch. Spot nipped back in, to answer the call to nature and I took a quick snap of the Kelvingrove for there.
While taking the shot, I heard someone calling. Spot couldn't possibly have been that quick! No, there was a recital on this:
Wow. Now, I love organ music. There's something about a good organ played well. Probably it's the love of sound which you feel as well as heard. My head sometimes tells me it's out-of-date, but my heart wins out every time. Besides, the children in the Kelvingrove seemed to be enjoying it as much, if not more than the grown-ups, so maybe it's not that out-of-date at all.
The organist was brilliant and seemed generally surprised when he received a round of applause! He deserved it. I wonder where he plays on Sundays?!
Later on in the day, we ventured into the Gallery of modern art. As the title suggests, this houses the cities collection of modern art. I've always wondered when it'll stop being modern?
It's a great collection and is one of 5 museums throughout Britain to be awarded £1 million each from the Art Fund towards the acquisition of international artworks. That's pretty cool and quite a coup over the Scottish National Modern Art Gallery, but it does get national funding, whereas Glasgow museums don't.
Strangely, though, it wasn't the exhibits which really struck me, but the building. So I took some pics and these are my favourites:
Sometimes, it's amazing what can be seen when we look beyond what's on display. The second photo from the inside of the gallery was only possible because it was a beautiful sunny day in Glasgow. How much more do people change when light and love and hope pour out of them? Or we see them in new ways, in different circumstances and they appear different somehow. Maybe, we weren't looking properly all along. Just like many looking around the art gallery would have been paying so much attention to the art hanging on the walls, they would never have seen the light dancing off them.
Anyway, the reason for the trip was to see the Glasgow Boys exhibition at the Kelvingrove art gallery and museum.
We really enjoyed it, though we were in the strange demographic of not retired nor a student!Given ow popular the exhibition is, I dread to think how busy it would be at a weekend.
I've always been a fan of the Glasgow Boys style.It's the way the showed ordinary people (at least to begin with) and their brilliant use for light. Them and the wider group of the Scottish colourists are among my favourite painters. Something which amuses me is the knowledge I've picked up about art. Looks like I listened to my Mum more than I realised. My appreciation of art definitely came from her and viewing the collections at the Kirkcaldy museum and art gallery.
After seeing the exhibition, we nipped out for lunch. Spot nipped back in, to answer the call to nature and I took a quick snap of the Kelvingrove for there.
While taking the shot, I heard someone calling. Spot couldn't possibly have been that quick! No, there was a recital on this:
Wow. Now, I love organ music. There's something about a good organ played well. Probably it's the love of sound which you feel as well as heard. My head sometimes tells me it's out-of-date, but my heart wins out every time. Besides, the children in the Kelvingrove seemed to be enjoying it as much, if not more than the grown-ups, so maybe it's not that out-of-date at all.
The organist was brilliant and seemed generally surprised when he received a round of applause! He deserved it. I wonder where he plays on Sundays?!
Later on in the day, we ventured into the Gallery of modern art. As the title suggests, this houses the cities collection of modern art. I've always wondered when it'll stop being modern?
It's a great collection and is one of 5 museums throughout Britain to be awarded £1 million each from the Art Fund towards the acquisition of international artworks. That's pretty cool and quite a coup over the Scottish National Modern Art Gallery, but it does get national funding, whereas Glasgow museums don't.
Strangely, though, it wasn't the exhibits which really struck me, but the building. So I took some pics and these are my favourites:
Sometimes, it's amazing what can be seen when we look beyond what's on display. The second photo from the inside of the gallery was only possible because it was a beautiful sunny day in Glasgow. How much more do people change when light and love and hope pour out of them? Or we see them in new ways, in different circumstances and they appear different somehow. Maybe, we weren't looking properly all along. Just like many looking around the art gallery would have been paying so much attention to the art hanging on the walls, they would never have seen the light dancing off them.
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