Monday, December 05, 2005

The Power of Music / Christmas Recommendations

I get a daily email from "All Pro Dads"...today's underscores the POWER of music to minister to people, to help them connect with their grief (in this instance).

"The composer Ludwig von Beethoven was not known for his social graces. Because of his deafness, he found conversation difficult. When a close friend’s son died, Beethoven, overcome with sorrow, rushed to his friend’s house. While he couldn’t say how he felt, he did see a piano...and for the next half-hour, poured out his grief through the keyboard. No one else’s support meant so much."

Isn't that awesome!

A few recommendations about Christmas CDs...Steven Curtis Chapman's 2005 release is great, even though the duet with Vince Gill is a little like leftover casserole. Chapman's daughter's influence / involvement on the CD are priceless. Neat story. Try Andrew Peterson's"Behold the Lamb of God" (www.independentmusic.com) for a great CD telling the story of the birth of Christ...starts with the Passover, so it's quite comprehensive. He's a great writer. The song about the birth "Labor of Love" is especially poignant to us this year. And for the MOST INCREDIBLE VERSION OF "O Holy Night", try Selah's Christmas CD from a few years back. Their rendition begins & ends with chords of mystery & tension, which is truly what surrounded Christ's birth. Why Selah is not the best selling Christian group is beyond me, except that I'm 37 years old, and have no clue about what really sells.

We had the most fantastic baby shower from the Fairfax Church of Christ yesterday. Pictures & review tomorrow...a good place to start is THANK YOU. YOU HAVE BLESSED OUR LIVES SO MUCH. WE LOVE OUR CHURCH FAMILY.

It's snowing like crazy right now, we're expecting 3 to 5 inches...AWESOME! Let's just hope I listened really well in our childbirth classes, as I may be getting the sheets/towels/hot water ready for a home birth if we're snowed in & the baby decides it's time.

3 comments:

My Daily Struggles said...

Beethoven's birthday is December 16th. Don't forget it.

Sam said...

this is random, but a new study that came out today used modern forensics to examine pieces of Beethhoven's hair and skull and determined that he prolonged degradation and eventual daeth were brought on my lead poisening.

I just thought that it was interesting that I would hear two things about Beethoven in one day when i normally never hear anything about him. Funny how things come in streaks (see the first chapter of the book Cannery Row)

Anonymous said...

Murray:

Congratulations and thanks for the blog. We really miss the FFX family.

My favorite christmas music comes from David Lanz. His album Christmas Eve is full of unique piano instrumentals of Christmas faves, as well as some new songs that really can endear themselves quickly.

Give it a listen at www.davidlanz.com.

Good luck with the baby.

CJ