For Valentine’s Day — an eclectic collection of my favorite love and love-inspired songs, in no particular order.

Ben Folds, The Luckiest
I like the imaginative romanticism of the lyrics, particularly in verses 2-3.

Rachmaninoff, Lilacs
Rachmaninoff composed his twelve Romances, Op. 21 (originally for voice and piano) as a wedding present for his wife Nataliya. He later transcribed number 5, Lilacs, for piano solo.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZctDEfyT20

Andrew Peterson, Dancing in the Minefields
I’ve posted about this song before, but it’s so worth re-posting. An honest and touching expression of marriage that acknowledges both its difficulties and joy.

Brahms, Piano Concerto No. 1, Movement 2
The nature of the relationship between Brahms and Clara Schumann is one of classical music’s enduring mysteries; at the very least we know they shared a close lifelong friendship. Whether their love was romantic or not, it inspired some marvelous music. Brahms called this movement from his first piano concerto a “gentle portrait” of Clara.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=voV–MQLBsc

Michael Bublé, Haven’t Met You Yet
This one kind of speaks for itself.

Wagner, Prelude & Liebestod
Wagner’s orchestral arrangement of Tristan and Isolde’s overture and Isolde’s Act 3 aria, “Mild und leise.” Tragic storyline, but glorious music (and a great harp part, too!).

Keith & Kristyn Getty, Ribbon Roads
Sweet and simple.

Bach, Goldberg Aria
This aria, which later became the theme for the famed Goldberg Variations, numbers among the compositions in the notebooks Bach compiled for his second wife, Anna Magdelena.

Stuart Townend, How Deep the Father’s Love For Us
How deep the Father’s love for us,
How vast beyond all measure
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure

(Photo)

Whether you’re a Christmas music junkie or just looking for something besides the latest radio rendition of We Three Kings on a Silent Night in O Little Town of Bethlehem, here are some free, mostly lesser-known tunes for you to enjoy!

• 10 Free MP3′s from worshiptogether.com
• Free Christmas carol sheet music — I use this every year for our string ensemble Christmas Eve music
• Free streaming of Andrew Peterson’s Behold the Lamb of God CD
• Three free songs from Sojourn music: two via Justin Taylor and one via their website
• Tips for hearing free holiday music using Pandora
• History and past service programs of King’s College’s Festival of Lessons and Carols (includes a free mp3 the commissioned Stardust Carol)
• Some holiday cheer from the New York Philharmonic brass quintet:
  
• And I can’t resist posting everyone’s favorite Silent Monk Hallelujah Chorus:
  

One of my all-time favorite songs encapsulates my prayer for this stormy day in Seattle.

I give you praise, O Great Invisible God, for the the moon in the space of the dark night, for the smile on a face in the sunlight. I give you praise, O Great Invisible God, for the sound of the storm on the window, for the morning adorned with a new snow, for the tears on the face of the old man made clean by the grace of the good Lamb.

And oh, I long to see your face, Invisible God. All the works that you have made are clearly seen and plain as day, so mighty and tender. O Lord, let me remember your power eternal, your nature divine. All creation tells the tale that Love is real and so alive. I feel you, I hear you, Great God Unseen I see you in the long, cold death that the winter brings and the sweet resurrection Spring.

(Unfortunately this video abruptly cuts off the end of the song. The whole song is available on the album Resurrection Letters, Vol. II or via iTunes.)

Thanks to some iTunes graduation gifts and summer vacation, I’ve been searching around for some new music to add to my library. One artist that’s been frequenting my playlist the last few weeks is Andrew Peterson, who just released a new album called Counting Stars. The project covers a range of subjects that gives a fuller look at the Christian life than most artists in this genre. Check out his music video for Dancing in the Minefields, a song about the difficult but worthwhile commitment marriage takes:

On his website, Peterson says,

“God gave music the power to carry his light into the darkness. That’s a mighty privilege. It means intentionally telling stories and writing songs that bear truth that outlasts the songs themselves. If I did this in hopes of thunderous applause and piles of cash, I would have quit years ago. But there are moments on the stage when I sense something magical, a connection with the band and the audience, when our stories intersect and suddenly we’re wading in an ancient river. Suddenly the song is secondary to the greater story being told through each of us.”

Amen.