Category — Music

Just came across this beautiful performance by the ensemble Arstidir of an old Icelandic hymn. I don’t know how accurate this English translation is, but FWIW:

Heyr, himna smiður (Hear, Heavenly Creator)

Listen, smith of the heavens,
what the poet asks.
May softly come unto me
your mercy.
So I call on thee,
for you have created me.
I am thy slave,
you are my Lord.

Watch over me, mild one,
Most we need thee,
truly every moment
in the world of men.
send us, son of the virgin,
good causes,
all aid is from thee,
in my heart.

- Kolbeinn Tumason (1173–1208)

(Source)

I’m not one of those indie-loving hipsters who has been following the why-aren’t-they-more-famous band Over the Rhine for a long time. But ever since someone introduced me to this husband-wife duo about 1.5 years ago, I’ve known that OTR would plant themselves firmly into my regular listening rotation. Their music is deeply personal, yet timeless. Mostly, it is honest.

One of my favorite OTR songs is “Latter Days,” from their 1996 album, “Good Dog, Bad Dog.” It’s a heartbreaker, but not in an depressingly emo kind of way. There’s an acceptance of broken dreams — of difficulties and uncertainties that are part of every life. But even as the song captures the pain of an ending, you also get the feeling that it means now something new and better can come.

Songwriter Linford Detweiler comments on this song:
“[Latter Days has] become an important song for me. It was written in my bedroom, I was just scratching some things down. When it’s happening, you never know at the time that something is going to be that essential to your work. It’s just very informal. And that’s just one of the purest things I’ve ever written.

I was questioning another one of those periods where I felt like I was done with music, that I didn’t have what it took. So the whole bit about “dancing without me” is to other musicians . . . “You go on ahead and do it. I’ll get there eventually and I’ll be okay.” The lines about, “I just don’t have much left to say”… that’s very literal. “I’m supposed to be writing these songs, but I’ve been dashed on the rocks and I’ve got nothing left.” . . . To me, there’s something about that sadness that is ultimately joyful.

You try to tell a story on a record. “Latter Days” is the first song on “Good Dog Bad Dog”, but by the second song ["All I Need is Everything"] this person is already starting to realize that this place of brokenness is one of immense strength and renewal. Now that I realize that I’m completely shattered, I’m at a place where good things can happen.” (source)

Latter Days

What a beautiful piece of heartache this has all turned out to be.
Lord knows we’ve learned the hard way all about healthy apathy.
And I use these words pretty loosely.
There’s so much more to life than words.

There is a me you would not recognize, dear. Call it the shadow of myself.
And if the music starts before I get there dance without me. You dance so gracefully.
I really think I’ll be o.k. They’ve taken their toll these latter days.

Nothin’ like sleepin’ on a bed of nails. Nothin’ much here but our broken dreams.
Ah, but baby if all else fails, nothin’ is ever quite what it seems.
And I’m dyin’ inside to leave you with more than just cliches.

There is a me you would not recognize, dear. Call it the shadow of myself.
And if the music starts before I get there dance without me. You dance so gracefully.
I really think I’ll be o.k. They’ve taken their toll these latter days.

But tell them it’s real. Tell them it’s really real.
I just don’t have much left to say.
They’ve taken their toll these latter days.
They’ve taken their toll these latter days.

(Words & Music by Linford Detweiler)

So my brothers and I were talking about that Tumblr of Asians taking pictures of food. I don’t do this (3 of my siblings do, so that would just be redundant), but I do have another quirky photo obsession.

I take pictures of harps.

(Or I make someone take a picture for me.)

Cleaning out my phone camera, I realized that the majority of my photos involve a harp in some random place. It’s pretty ridiculous and nerdy. Anyways, thought I’d share a portion of the collection here.

(Click on the images for captions.)

[Show as slideshow]

In honor of the joint birthday festivities for The Bard (born April 23, 1564) and Prokofiev (born April 23, 1891), enjoy the In-Temporalis piano & percussion interpretation of Prokofiev’s Montagues & Capulets from Romeo & Juliet.

One of my all-time favorite hymns is the American Appalachian folk song What Wondrous Love is This. This simple, haunting tune simultaneously captures both the yearning and hope of the Christian life; and its timeless melody perfectly matches the lyrics.

I’ve been thinking on this hymn a lot this past week in preparation for Good Friday and Easter, and thought I’d share a few favorite renditions (lyrics are at the bottom). (Note: I’m still searching for the perfect harp arrangement, if anyone out there has any leads.)

Mountain Blue

Gorgeous harmonies in this acapella version.

Fernando Ortega

Meditative version for solo voice and simple instrumentals.

Chanticleer

A more unusual acapella version that includes an extra verse.

Blue Highway

Love this bluegrass rendition.

Random Acapella Quartet

The video quality is not great on this one, but I wanted to include it because (a) this is the version (Paul Christensen arrangement) I’ve heard most often live in concert and (b) I just like that some random guys sang this in the middle of the day in a public space.

What wondrous love is this, O my soul, O my soul!
What wondrous love is this, O my soul!
What wondrous love is this
That caused the Lord of bliss
To bear the dreadful curse for my soul, for my soul,
To bear the dreadful curse for my soul!

And when from death I’m free, I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on;
And when from death I’m free, I’ll sing on.
And when from death I’m free
I’ll sing His love for me,
And through eternity I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on,
And through eternity I’ll sing on.

(Photo)

The elegantly atmospheric music of Icelandic composer Olafur Arnalds is my soundtrack of choice for these rainy Seattle days. Perfect for daydreaming and / or enjoying alongside a hot drink.

A few months back I wrote about Parnassus Project, a chamber music collective I’m working on with several of my musician friends in the Seattle area.

We JUST released our promo video (at the top of this post), so I guess it’s a good time to give a general Parnassus update.

In short: great. Really great. We had an excellent showing at our last cafe concert at Cafe Cesura, and we’ve got several shows lined up for the months ahead. We’ve got a lot of contacts and ideas — the challenge is figuring out what to tackle first!

This continues to be a huge learning experience for me. Even though I’ve worked in arts administration before, it’s a whole new ballgame trying to get something started started from scratch. I’ve had to do several things that freak me out (i.e. talk on camera, walk into random businesses and introducing myself to people . . . ). A lot of the time, I’m not really sure what I’m doing . . . just asking lots of questions, making my best guess, and seeing what works.

But I’m blessed to have people around me who patiently put up with my random thinking-aloud process. (I’m not a linear thinker, and often I’ll have three distinct thoughts floating around my brain at once. When all three try to emerge at once — well, it’s as weird as it sounds.) The other musicians involved have been extremely generous with their time; and lately we’ve been encouraged to see other people (strangers!) genuinely enthusiastic about what we’re doing and wanting to get involved. And I can’t thank people enough for the many prayers that have gone out on my behalf. Please keep them coming!

Interested in helping out? Three main ways right now:

• Donate: If you’d like to support us financially, we’d be grateful for any amount of help. Right now we’re trying to raise $3000 to present cafe concerts for a year. Our overhead is low (venue space is free!), but we want to establish a fund to pay musicians so that these concerts can happen regularly. Your donations are tax-deductible, and you can give securely online through Fractured Atlas.
• Vote! We’re in the running for a $2500 grant from Good.Is. There are just a few hours left to vote; it’s fast and free and would help us a ton!
• Attend & spread the word: If you’re in the Seattle area, we’d love to see you at an upcoming event. If you’re not in the area — well, you should come visit! But in the meantime, follow us on Facebook and Twitter to stay in the loop. Our website stays up-to-date with event information.

Here are a couple more clips from previous events:

(Photo: Ben Pink)

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For your Monday morning pleasure (and wincing), Portlandia demonstrates unconventional harp moving techniques.

The other day a friend asked me what I look for when listening to new music. I guess I am first affected by a song’s overall atmosphere, not the words. I appreciate a well-written lyric, but generally don’t listen to them too closely unless I like the sound of a song. However, if I do decide I like the flavor of an artist, I’m motivated to dig into the words — which, with the best musicians, enhances the enjoyment.

Doug Burr is an example of an artist whose compelling sound demanded that I pay lyrical attention. This Denton singer-songwriter has several full-length albums to his credit, though I just recently discovered him via his newest offering Trembling Lips and Pale Fingertips. The tracks on this release are “stripped down” remixes from his 2010 album O Ye Devastator (currently on repeat via Spotify). Here’s A Black Wave is Comin’:

A black wave is comin’
A black wave will fall
Touch your tremblin’ lips to your pale fingertips
A black wave doth call

So what do you see my lover
And what do you see my friend
I don’t know, I don’t know at Midnight comes a snow
I can’t see, but I hear a little hymn
I can’t see, but I hear a little hymn

Though I’m still a newcomer to Burr’s music, so far I’ve been impressed with his ability to immediately create this sense of yearning — a dark beauty, if you will. I guess I’ve always been particularly drawn to that flavor of music — the kind that makes you more aware of the beauty around you, but also hints that the best to come is not yet here.

In a 2010 interview with Paste Magazine, Burr — the son of a Southern Baptist preacher — commented, “I do kind of struggle with having a dark outlook. I’m a believer in Christ, but, y’know, there’s a lot of darkness out there. There’s a lot of darkness to come. I say that knowing that one day I get to live in paradise, so there’s a lot of reason for hope and redemption through Christ, so in one sense it’s a very joyful existence, and there are my circumstances.”

You can hear another track from the new release, Chief of Police in Chicago, here. Also worth checking out: The Shawl (all original musical settings of Psalms), and The Sickle and the Sheaves (a gospel album).

(Photo)

I think this is so beautiful, not to mention a rare example of autotune appropriately used. Thanks to my brother Steve for alerting me to this sweet jam.