Cantique de Noël

My favourite Christmas carol by far is and always has been O,Holy Night. Even before I could comprehend the depth of the words, the song always gave me chills. I remember hearing it as a child at midnight mass and even when it was the warbly past her prime Lithuanian church soprano singing I'd still be moved. It didn't feel like Christmas eve to me unless I heard that carol.

Now, I am often asked to perform the song, and it still gets me everytime. I find myself getting emotional by the words, words that hold so much truth and are far more personal to me now. Even when I'm just on my own practicing the song I get chills (not because I sound great either, often I sound like a dying chicken:) The words are just so powerful. I've never sung the carol in french eventhough it is the original language. I've starting learning the french version though as I've been asked to sing it en français for a small gig next weekend. . . the English words are similar, but there are a few images that speak that much more powerfully in french - so moving! Looking fwd to sharing the carol in both english and french this season:)

Minuit, chrétiens, c'est l'heure solennelle,
Où l'Homme-Dieu descendit jusqu'à nous
Pour effacer la tache originelle
Et de Son Père arrêter le courroux.
Le monde entier tressaille d'espérance
En cette nuit qui lui donne un Sauveur.
Peuple à genoux, attends ta délivrance.
Noël, Noël, voici le Rédempteur,
Noël, Noël, voici le Rédempteur!

De notre foi que la lumière ardente
Nous guide tous au berceau de l'Enfant,
Comme autrefois une étoile brillante
Y conduisit les chefs de l'Orient.
Le Roi des rois naît dans une humble crèche:
Puissants du jour, fiers de votre grandeur,
A votre orgueil, c'est de là que Dieu prêche.
Courbez vos fronts devant le Rédempteur.
Courbez vos fronts devant le Rédempteur.

Le Rédempteur a brisé toute entrave:
La terre est libre, et le ciel est ouvert.
Il voit un frère où n'était qu'un esclave,
L'amour unit ceux qu'enchaînait le fer.
Qui Lui dira notre reconnaissance,
C'est pour nous tous qu'Il naît, qu'Il souffre et meurt.
Peuple debout! Chante ta délivrance,
Noël, Noël, chantons le Rédempteur,
Noël, Noël, chantons le Rédempteur!

Snack Time!

I'm totally addicted to BNL's children's CD SnackTime! It's been out for a while, but with all of the Steven Page controversy I've avoided downloading it for a while. I really wish that I downloaded it sooner though. . . . I have been playing it during gathering time for all of my classes for the past week and I can't get enough! I love it so much that I even listen to it in the car. . . where there are no children. . . . well except for one child at heart! My job requires me to listen to a lot of children's music , and I do like a lot of the kiddie CD's out there but BNL is by far my fav. It not only appeals to children but to grown-ups too . . . I particularly enjoy all of the Canadiana references:) I highly recommend Snacktime for anyone with children . . . or without .. . who says that you need children to have fun and enjoy some great music:)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MIkqEF2Mvc8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wPh_6_u98tI

Reflection on Michael Jackson's Death

Michael Jackson is dead, and although I'm not one to usually comment on such things, it's hard not to comment on the passing of such an influential artist. I always find it so fascinating to watch how the world reacts to celebrities and more so to their deaths. Even myself, when I heard the news yesterday I was quite shocked - as though I never could have imagined Michael Jackson ever dying. I didn't cry, but I certainly understood how huge his passing would be to the world.

I too am one who would include Michael Jackson as a part of my childhood memories. I recall the day my sister got both the Thriller and Jackson 5 albums for her birthday. For months we would gather around our bright blue Fischer Price record player, slip out the huge round black vinyl records, drop that needle and dance away. We eventually wore out the Thriller record and replaced it with the tape - which would be permanently found in Jen's cool ghetto blaster:) I recall being terrified of the song thriller with Vincent Price's creepy voice and haunting laugh at the end. (I still get creeped out by that part today.) Oh and those times we would attempt to watch the video of dancing Zombie MJ chasing after the girl , without being scared out of our minds were numerous. Then there were my cousins Danny and John who were huge fans. They had the sparkly glove, the doll, the posters, the buttons - I think that Dan even mastered the moon walk :)

With all of those memories in my own small life, no doubt MJ was very influential. He was indeed an incredible artist - pushing the edge with all of his eccentricities. I suppose though that his death really reiterates that he was indeed simply a human being. He made himself appear to be so inhuman, and he became such an icon that he almost seemed immortal. And the reaction of the world yesterday and today and I'm sure over the weeks to come only puts him in the position of idol even more.

I don't know if I'm abnormal or if others think about this when a celebrity dies too, but I can't help but wonder where Michael Jackson is now and what he is experiencing. Being a Christian who often meditates on the after life, it's almost an automatic place where my mind goes. I think it's so interesting that we as men can't help but turn a celebrity into even more of an icon in death. We make them even more inhuman, and forget that they too were fallen men. It's almost ironic to me when I juxtapose all of the earthly images with what I imagine is happening for MJ now. I'm pretty certain that for Michael Jackson all of the fame and idolization has been stripped away. To God, Micheal Jackson is not the "King of Pop". To God, Micheal Jackson is simply a mortal man who met his Maker yesterday. In God's eyes, Michael Jackson has only ever been His child, His creation. Is MJ in heaven? I don't know - that's one of the mysteries of death, not knowing for certain - only God knows. Being the King of Pop with money and celebrity didn't exempt Michael Jackson from death though. I can't help but think that as soon as MJ met God face to face yesterday - that all of the worship, fame, and idolization that he received and even tried to create for himself on earth seemed extremely minute, inconsiderable, frivolous, and even ridiculous compared the reality of the amazing shekhinah glory of the one true God, King of all kings including the king of pop.

Opera

Have I mentioned how much I love opera? Of course it's assumed since I've spent more than half my life training to sing it, but seriously there is just something about it. . . . I've been spending a lot of time lately just listening to as many recordings as I possibly can of amazing singers, mainly because I'm trying to pick a ton of new rep to work on and eventually build into my ongoing list. I do this about once a year and it's at this time when I just listen -when I Listen without analysis, when I listen as an audience member rather than an aspiring opera singer - that I really remember what it was that drew me to the art form in the first place. . . there's just something so beautifully human about it. . . the stories that are told, the emotions that it evokes. . . .
Sometimes as I work at it myself, I lose perspective of what an extremly powerful art form opera can be.

Hiding in Thee

(Painting - The Psalmist- Gwen Meharg)

O safe to the Rock that is higher than I,
My soul in its conflicts and sorrows would fly;
So sinful, so weary, Thine, Thine, would I be;
Blessed be the Rock of Ages, I’m hiding in Thee.

Hiding in Thee, hiding in Thee,Thou blest Rock of Ages,I’m hiding in Thee.

In the calm of the noontide, in sorrow’s lone hour,
In times when temptation casts o’er me its power;
In the tempests of life, on its wide, heaving sea,
Blessed be Rock of Ages, I’m hiding in Thee.

Hiding in Thee, hiding in Thee,Thou blest Rock of Ages, I’m hiding in Thee.

How oft in the conflict, when pressed by the foe,
I have fled to my refuge and breathed out my woe;
How often, when trials like sea billows roll,
Have I hidden in Thee, O Thou Rock of my soul.

Hiding in Thee, hiding in Thee,Thou blest Rock of Ages, I’m hiding in Thee.


Hymn - William O. Cushing

Hiding Place (Hail Sovreign Love)

Hiding Place (Hail Sovreign Love)
- Kondo Simfukwe and Jehoida Brewer

Hail Sovereign Love that first began;
The scheme to rescue fallen man.
Hail matchless free eternal grace,
that gave my soul a hiding place.

Against the God who ruled the sky,
I fought with hand uplifted high,
Despised the mention of His grace,
Too proud to seek a hiding place.

Then you came and saved me
Your love made me alive. Alive!
It's Your blood that shades me
Grace awakes me to life. Alive!
You are my hiding place.

Enwrapped in thick Egyptian night,
and fond of darkness more than light,

Madly I ran the sinful race,

Secure without a hiding place.

But then th'eternal counsel ran,

"Almighty Love, arrest that man!"

I felt that arrows of distress,

And found I had no hiding place.

Then you came and saved me

Your love made me alive. Alive!

It's Your blood that shades me

Grace awakes me to life. Alive!

You are my hiding place.

Indignant justice stood in view,
To Sinai's fiery mount I flew,
But justice cried with frowning face,
"This Mountain is no hiding place!"

But then a heavenly voice I heard,
And Mercy's angel for appeared.
Who led on with gentle pace
To Jesus Christ, my hiding place.

Then you came and saved me
Your love made me alive. Alive!
It's Your blood that shades me
Grace awakes me to life. Alive!
You are my hiding place

I will hide in You.

http://www.digstation.com/FTPFiles/ALB000009908/SONG%20CLIPS/05%20-%20All%20We%20Have-%20Songs%20From%20Christ%27s%20Covenant%20Church%20-%20Hiding%20Place.mp3

Never Let Go

(Photo: MasterWorks Festival '06)

NEVER LET GO
- David Crowder Band
from Remedy

When clouds veil sun
And disaster comes
Oh, my soul
Oh, my soul

When waters rise
and hope takes flight
Oh, my soul
Oh, my soul

Ever faithful
Ever true
You I know
You never let go
You never let go
You never let go
You never let go

When clouds brought rain
And disaster came
Oh, my soul
Oh, my soul

When waters rose
And hope had flown
Oh, my soul
Oh, my soul

Ever faithful

Ever true

You I know

You never let go
You never let go

You never let go

You never let go

Oh, my soul
overflows
Oh, what love,
oh, what love
Oh, my soul
Fills with hope
Perfect love that never lets go

You never let go
You never let go

You never let go

You never let go

Oh, what love,
Oh what love,
In joy and pain
In sun and rain
You're the same
Oh, You never let go

All We Have

One thing that I really really miss about Winona Lake is the musical worship at the church I was attending while living there. I was always so astounded by the amount of talented musicians that played on the wide variety of worship teams there. It was such a small town, yet there was an amazing abundance of truly gifted musicians. And the music was chosen with such a sensitivity and leading of the spirit. When worshipping there, I would usually experience such a depth and intimacy in the musical worship, nothing like I've experienced before. Compared to other worship experiences I've had, I felt as though there was a rare maturity about it all. A lot of the songs were written by the worship pastor, Kondo Simfukwe, who in my mind stands equivalent to the great hymn writers of the old days. A modern day psalmist for sure. His worship songs are clearly soaked in a tremendous understanding of God's word, the music has a beautiful way of highlighting the lyrics, and simply turns the heart toward the God of the universe. In his songs there is generally very little focus on self, and the focus is directed on the character of God. All of the songs chosen for Sunday carried the same characteristics. I purchased a CD from the church before I left and it has been a great reminder of how my understanding of deep meaningful worship changed during my season in Indiana.

A new CD called All We Have has just been released. It contains many of Kondo's songs and was recorded in Nashville. It's being distributed to local Christian radio in the US as we speak. The music is truly a unique gift to contemporary worship, I pray that it becomes well known throughout the world. It's the kind of music that definitely inspires growth and contemplation. It guides us into the awe and wonder that turns the focus from ourselves and points our hearts towards the God of the universe. http://www.hisfameministries.org/

Where the past meets today

I tend to go through phases where I'll listen to one CD in my car over and over for an extended period of time. This month my "theme CD" is Sarah Kelly's new release Where the Past Meets Today. At first I found the CD to be extremely raw and a little more rocked out than her last release, Take me Away. I wasn't sure if I liked it, but now I find myself listening to it over and over. Even when I try to put another CD in for a change, I'll end up pulling out Sarah Kelly and putting it back in.

Sarah Kelly's lyrics have always been the main reason why I listen, that and I think her voice is intensely expressive. The lyrics on this CD are all about change and moving into new seasons of life. I've read that many of them are referring to her own personal dealings with abuse as a child. In my opinion the sign of a true artist is being able to write lyrics that could apply to more than just one's own personal experiences. I'm finding a lot of her lyrics to be superbly relevant for what I'm going through lately. I'm standing on the edge of a huge change and I'm finding it difficult at times to keep myself composed and focused on my Provider rather than on what I'm hoping for Him to provide. Transitioning out without actually being gone is not easy either. Do I live as though I'm staying? Do I withdraw a bit? Do I phase out all together? I'm learning a lot about what happens when one chooses what seems to be massive change. Several things have strangely been put into perspective for me this past month, particularly when it comes to the many relationships in my life.

Songs have always helped me to sort out my emotions or to put things into perspective. That's why I believe music to be so important. This week there were several lyrics from the CD that just jumped out at me and honestly had me in tears, because I knew that I needed to hear them. Song lyrics are never powerful without the music that strengthens them, I believe Sarah Kelly's soulful voice just makes her honest lyrics all that more powerful. Where the past meets today is yet another staple in my CD collection. It's a CD that will be played over and over and will no doubt mean different things at different seasons in my life.

'Don't close your eyes, cause the best part is coming. The strength of tomorrow meets the power of now.' - Still Breathing

'Hold on Love, it's all on the line, but you'll be alright. Lift your head, you must be strong now, must sing out your song.' - Hold on Love

'Hello to new life, means hello to Goodbyes. Welcome to change rearranging the inside.'
-Hold on Love

'Time stand still in this moment. Dawn arise from nights keeping. All my love. Stored up treasure, heart awake from your keeping. And all I really want to say is I love You. And all I really want to do is be next to You. Here on the edge of what lies ahead, Ready to fall into You. . .fall into You. I'm not afraid of change or pain. Ready to fall into You . . . fall into You. Searching heart, Search is over. Peace has proven You real. Guarded heart, Guard this love now as faithfulness is revealed. '- Fall into You



'

Spring Chicken!!

"BAWK, BAWK, BAWK!"

Only 6 months old and Julia already has exquisite taste in music. She has taken an immediate liking to Bach . . . . . Okay she likes Bawk, as in chicken not Bach as in Johann Sebastian (one can dream though:). She has this Baby Einstein DVD where a little chicken puppet dances across the screen and sings Bach compositions, chicken style. I don't get it, but Julia laughs when she sees it. So Jen and I have taken it upon ourselves to cluck like chickens to make Julia smile. (It really is amazing what we will do to get a smile or a laugh from our little diva.)

I've been trying out some early childhood music techniques with Julia. It's so great to be able to apply the stuff to an actual baby. There's a lot of clapping, and moving and singing. If I were using proper early childhood methods I should be teaching easy sol fege songs like Mary had a little lamb but I've chosen to modify the methodology a little and teach Julia opera arias instead. For some reason she has really taken a liking to Carmen's Habenera (now that's great taste, even though it is a mezzo soprano aria:) Julia usually smiles when I sing it, but I can't really get a big huge giggle out of her. Last month after another viewing of Baby Bach, I started singing Carmen like a chicken, and Julia just couldn't stop laughing and giggling. It's sooo heart meltingly cute to watch her laugh like that!!! Even on my way out the door when I wasn't being a chicken she'd look at me and laugh. I know she's probably thinking, 'Auntie Diva you're a crazy lady, but your funny hee hee!!'.

Do the Chickens have large talons? :)

Coincidentally the other day I was doing a serious search on i-Tunes for a recording of Caro Nome when I accidentally came across the most amusing recording ever. I found a recording of the aria by a soprano named Orielle Smith. I opened up the file and listened to the sample expecting a lovely rendition of Verdi's classic aria from Rigoletto. I couldn't believe my ears! It appears as though Orielle Smith is a chicken. I died laughing. She has an entire CD called The World's Favorite Cluckoratura Arias. She does all the famous coloratura arias as a chicken. She even does Der Holle Rache (The Queen of the Night aria) chicken style!! It's absolutely Hilarious, especially since I can say from first hand experience that most coloratura sopranos tend to sound like chickens a lot of the time!!!

I just couldn't resist downloading that Queen of the Night aria, since it is my favorite diva role! Achilles can't believe that I paid 0.99 for the chicken version of it. Little does he know that I plan on downloading the entire CD for $6.75 as an Easter gift for Julia. I know she'll love it. It'll be Bawk all the time for Jen, Achilles & Julia. How cultured our little diva will be, tee hee!! :)

I have to be honest, I'm just relieved that I'm not the only diva who has resorted to singing opera "bawk style" to get a laugh. All I have to say is never underestimate the power of an opera singing chicken, cause not only do we have the vocal agility required to sing clukoratura soprano arias, but we also make great eggs :)

http://www.orrielsmith.com/index.htm

An Die Musik

An die Musik

Du holde Kunst, in wieviel grauen Stunden,

Wo mich des Lebens wilder Kreis umstrickt,

Hast du mein Herz zu warmer Lieb entzunden,

Hast mich in eine beßre Welt entrückt!
Oft hat ein Seufzer, deiner Harf' entflossen,

Ein süßer, heiliger Akkord von dir

Den Himmel beßrer Zeiten mir erschlossen,

Du holde Kunst, ich danke dir dafür!

To Music

Oh sacred art, how oft in hours blighted,

While into life's untamed cycle hurled,

Hast thou my heart to warm love reignited

To transport me into a better world!

So often has a sigh from thy harp drifted,

A sweeter chord from thee, holy and full of bliss,

A glimpse of better times from heaven lifted

Thou sacred art, my thanks to thee for this.

3 hrs of sitting at the piano, going through the dreadfully slow process of learning new arias. As frustration began to settle in I noticed my Schubert Lieder book sitting off in the corner on the shelf. I haven't touched that book in years. I decided to flip through the book for fun and began to sing through some of the lieder that I had sung in my early singing days. I soon came across the very first art song that I ever learned, An die Musik. Singing through the piece brought back so many memories. I remember trying at the naive age of 15 to desperately learn the German, listening to my teacher speak the words on a tape and repeating after her over and over. And then there were the technical voice issues, always listening to myself and trying my hardest to sound "pretty". It was so important that I did justice to this song because it seemed like an opportunity to prove myself. The poetry was moving but expressing the true meaning behind it didn't concern me all that much.

12 years later as I sang through the piece last night, this time it was the poetry that caught my attention. The poetry used in the lied expresses in many ways how music has so often changed me. Music has really permeated my life to a degree where it has transformed me into the person that I am. How many times have I been shaped by not only the music I'm studying or performing but by the music I listen to - on the radio, on a Cd, at a concert, at church?

Music is indeed a "sacred" art - a gift given from God, and although An Die Musik poetically thanks "music" itself, I can do nothing but thank the One who created music. I thank the one who gave it to the world. I thank the One who has used music to abundantly bless my life. My God has used the language of music to speak to me; to teach me about Himself, myself and others; to lift me up when I am down; to show me my weaknesses; to challenge me; to ultimately provide a means of self expression. Who would I be if He hadn't used the art of music to profoundly change me? I just can't imagine my life without music, it is an incessant part of who I am.

Funny how singing through a simple Schubert lied about music can even cause change, somehow three hours of tedious note bashing doesn't seem as frustrating anymore.