Soul Food With No Calories
December 24th, 2008Take by Ear, Twice Daily
I listened to Brooke Fraser today. I have to say I enjoyed the experience.
As much as I love music, I have neglected it in connection with my faith. Music is not a luxury or a distraction for Christians. It’s a must, like prayer or Bible reading. The Bible makes it very clear that we are obligated to support our faith with music.
Perry Stone says that when he stays in a strange place, he likes to play Christian music, even when he’s not in the room. For example, he might leave a recording on in his hotel room while he’s off teaching. The belief is that it exerts a purifying influence, which is probably a good idea, considering what people do in hotels. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, Google “ultraviolet light” and “hotel bedspreads.”
Don’t do that. You really don’t want to know. I’ll tell you what you need to know. You should always take your own pillow and blanket when you sleep in a hotel.
When good, effective Christian music plays, even in the background, it changes the atmosphere of a room. And it doesn’t seem to matter all that much what the music sounds like. Even fairly noisy music which resembles rock to some degree seems to work, when the people behind it have the right spirit. So I don’t think it’s a matter of emotion, leading people to think God is among them. I think it’s a supernatural thing. If it were just emotion, you would expect it to happen only when certain types of music were played.
I wanted to get some music to listen to in the mornings, when I study and pray. Music has power. It helps connect us with God. I want that edge.
Sadly, this is nearly the only thing I have. I have come to the reluctant conclusion that Mahalia Jackson is not for me. I have the Stanley Brothers, but they seem to miss the mark a little bit. That leaves Brooke Fraser, until I can find more for my collection. I better get on Itunes, before I hear this music 92 times and it drives me insane.
December 24th, 2008 at 10:04 PM
I am not a HUGELY religious person, really, but there are some pieces like Ava Maria that are insanely moving.
So too for Anuna’s version of Maria Matrem Virginem. You might have to download it but it is gorgeous…unless you don’t like that sorta thing. LOL In that case I suppose it could be considered very unoffensive.
Merry Christmas!!
December 24th, 2008 at 10:59 PM
Here’s some oldie(s) back to when I was young(er). here’s an old one from Amy Grant:
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DuXB1a3NBCw
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Ever hear of Keith Green?
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ik-XOVZcwow
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My batteries are running a bit low. Time for bed. Its been fun haunting your website this fine Christmas Eve!
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God Bless and Good Night….
December 25th, 2008 at 8:30 AM
Try the real stuff: http://www.amazon.com/Russian-Chant-Millenium-Chants-Hymns/dp/B000001SIB/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1230211505&sr=1-2
You want YouTube? I got your YouTube, right here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ggTa1olMQc&feature=PlayList&p=50F75F8799328237&index=5
December 25th, 2008 at 11:39 AM
Merry Malkovich to you too, Steve!
December 25th, 2008 at 11:56 AM
Steve:
These are representative of the artists.
And some of my favorite albums.
Chris Rice: Deep Enough To Dream
Jars of Clay: Redemption Songs
Keith Green: So You Want to Go Back to Egypt?
Kim Hill: Arms of Mercy
Mercyme: Spoken For
Newsboys: Go!
Sierra: Story of Life
Third Day: Offerings- A Worship Album
dcTalk: Jesus Freak
Brian Duncan: The Last Time I Was Here
Paul Baloche: God Of Wonders
Phillips, Craig & Dean: Where Strength Begins
Was listening to Phillips, Craig & Dean: Where Strength Begins and thought you might like it for it’s southern harmonies.
December 25th, 2008 at 3:17 PM
Sometimes connecting is made clearer by pangs of loss.
Part of the Jewish mourning process is no music (30 days following the death of a spouse, sibling or child, 11 months following the death of a parent). No question that the loss of music, which we take for granted as an emotional catalyst for being uplifted, magnifies and properly frames the actual loss. When my wife lost her brother, father and mother within the span of five years, it took a while for her to recover the desire for music.
Minor detail, for those who might have questions, is that the Jewish proscription is about music for music’s sake, like listening to the radio, a CD or going to a concert. It doesn’t include “background music” such as might be played in a movie, an elevator, at a baseball game, or a store. Musical movies, however, where the critical component of the movie is the music (Ray, Hairspray, Annie, et al) would fall under the proscription.
One of the hardest times of the year for me is during the “Three Weeks” leading up to Tisha B’Av, the anniversary of the destruction of both Temples and many other historic catastrophes, where music is forbidden, among the other acts of mourning.
Sadly, while Jews have penned great Christian music (Irving Berlin, Mendelssohn, Johnny Marks, Sammy Cahn, Livingston & Evans), we’ve got nothing to get Dreidel, Dreidel, Dreidel and Adam Sandler moved down the playlist of Jewish spiritual music. I guess I could program Pandora to start playing Matisyahu.
Wikipedia: “…it should be noted that the origin of Gregorian chant, which was the earliest manifestation of European classical music, was Jewish choral music of the Temple and synagogue, according to large number of analytical liturgists and music historians.” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secular_Jewish_music#Not_Jewish_in_Form
See also http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/10490
December 25th, 2008 at 3:57 PM
Thanks Aaron, it’s ALWAYS a pleasure to read what you have to say.
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I’m not surprised about the origins of the Gregorian Chant either as it seems that many of the components of the foundation of Western Civilization is built off of Judaism (and as you read this I am sure you’re just about saying ‘Well…. Duh!’)
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Maybe someday when my life slows down, it’d be nice to sit and ‘discuss the holy books with the learned men seven hours everyday… ah…. that would be the sweet thing of all (*sigh*)…’ 😉
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But would they do that with a Christian? I wonder…
December 28th, 2008 at 6:50 PM
Baroque oratorio, anyone?
Handel wrote a lot with biblical themes: Samson, Esther, Solomon, Joshua, Joseph and his Bretheren, Saul, Belshazzar, Judas Maccabeus, Israel in Egypt, and don’t forget Messiah.
Mendelssohn wrote some too: Elijah, St.Paul
How about J.S.Bach? St.Matthew Passion, St.John Passion, Mass in B minor.