The Thurible Swing

 

I enjoyed this archival French video from 1960.  The footage is from Francein, showing a Corpus Christi procession. The best part for me was watching those guys swing thuribles like they just don't care. 

Inovating innovation

Just when you think arts funding couldn't get any lower and when the value of art has fallen below fluff status, then comes this.  Namely, two articles, one from five leading businessmen on creativity and innovation in the workplace.  The other, from a government south of the equator - "Brazil to give $25 monthly culture stipend to workers to go to movies, read books or visit museums".  As for the first article, I've sat in Howard Tullman's office (Howard is one of those five businessmen) and was blown away by the use of technology, art and career planning for students at his academy.   And as for the second, if you want educated and creative people, you need to invest in the arts.  What's interesting here, though, is that rather than giving that $25 directly to artists and arts organizations, Brazil gives it to each citizen for him or her to decide how it be spent.  As someone who works in arts funding, I find that pretty innovative.

On being a Good Chorister

I don't know Chris Rowbury apart from his blog, From the Front of the Choir.  But, I thought his post from 2009 entitled, How to be a Good Choir Member  might benefit my own group. Working with volunteers has a few challenges, though in my experience, they are most often not musical in nature.  Chris compiled some common sense guidelines that I think are worth sharing.   

A Christmas Wedding

This weekend I had the great honor of leading the choir/organ music for the marriage of my former teacher and good friend, Mark Downey.  The wedding mass took place at the Church of the Holy Family in suburban Park Forest.  The organ is a nice Schlicker/Berghaus.  I really enjoy playing a smaller baroque style instrument in an intimate space.  Clean playing is requisite but so rewarding - at least to my ears.  The organ play-list included Daquin's Noel VI, Bach's In Der Ist Freude, Marcello's Psalm 19 and  David Johnson's Trumpet Tune in D.  

Rethinking Baseball, Apple Pie and Chevrolet

I love this story "Why Japan is Obsessed with Kentucky Fried Chicken on Christmas." Why is it that American companies do everything so much better overseas?  Cars sold by Ford in Europe actually have style.    And some of the best yogurt I ever had was purchased at a French McDonald's. Then I read that KFCs in Japan are featuring Champaign and whiskey bars while Wendy's restaurants are advertising American style foie-gras-and-truffle burgers.  Where can I find this America, anyway?  These people really know how to live.

Advent prose

Author of "A Wrinkle in Time", Madeleine L'Engle, wrote this poem I saw in an Anglican musicians' list feed this morning.  I agree, it speaks well to this Advent's tragedies.

First Coming
by Madeleine L'Engle

He did not wait till the world was ready,
till men and nations were at peace.
He came when the Heavens were unsteady,
and prisoners cried out for release.

He did not wait for the perfect time.
He came when the need was deep and great.
He dined with sinners in all their grime,
turned water into wine.

He did not wait till hearts were pure.
In joy he came to a tarnished world of sin and doubt.
To a world like ours, of anguished shame
he came, and his Light would not go out.

He came to a world which did not mesh,
to heal its tangles, shield its scorn.
In the mystery of the Word made Flesh
the Maker of the stars was born.

We cannot wait till the world is sane
to raise our songs with joyful voice,
for to share our grief, to touch our pain,
He came with Love: Rejoice! Rejoice!

25 Ways

After spending the last year as organist at a large Roman Catholic church in north suburban, Park Ridge, Illinois, I'm headed back to All Saints Anglican church in Bolingbrook after the first of the year.  I really miss the creativity of being music director and the friendly atmosphere of this small parish.  As I was browsing through my files, I ran into this great free resource from Selah publishers: 25 Ways to Become a more Successful Church Musician, and was happy to spend my lunch hour reading some great material.