Category: Music

A little Christmas magnificence

Boyd

Thank you to my friend Roz in the UK for tuning me into this rendition of one of my very favorite Christmas hymns. For some reason, it makes me cry a little (but not out of sadness!) each time I hear it. This version is from the Choir of King’s College, Cambridge, ca. 1993. It’s truly beautiful. I’ve posted lyrics below for those unfamiliar with it.

Jesus Christ The Apple Tree

From Divine Hymns or Spiritual Songs,
compiled by Joshua Smith, New Hampshire, 1784

Tune by Elizabeth Poston, 1905-1987

1. The tree of life my soul hath seen,
Laden with fruit and always green:
The trees of nature fruitless be
Compared with Christ the apple tree.

2. His beauty doth all things excel:
By faith I know, but ne’er can tell
The glory which I now can see
In Jesus Christ the apple tree.

3. For happiness I long have sought,
And pleasure dearly I have bought:
I missed of all; but now I see
‘Tis found in Christ the apple tree.

4. I’m weary with my former toil,
Here I will sit and rest awhile:
Under the shadow I will be,
Of Jesus Christ the apple tree.

5. This fruit doth make my soul to thrive,
It keeps my dying faith alive;
Which makes my soul in haste to be
With Jesus Christ the apple tree.

There is a Balm in Gilead

Boyd

Over the past few days, I have been rediscovering some music I grew up with. Mahalia Jackson, who I think was the greatest gospel singer of all time, played on my mom’s LP player until I thought I would wear it out. Here is one of her classics. My iPod is gospel-happy now.

Groovin’ new favorite

Boyd

Once you get hooked on satellite radio, it’s hard to go back to broadcast.  I’ve gotten spoiled.  Last night, on the way to Target, I was listening to Chill on Sirius (channel 35) and found myself loving what I was listening to.  Turns out it’s a group called Streetlife Originals.  They hail from north east England and you can find out more here.  I gotta get that ‘Sidewalk Stories” album, even though it costs a small fortune as an import.  The song below is a good example of their style.  The song I was listening to last night was The Assassin, Act 1 and appears on the album “Costes La Suite” from Stephane Pompougnac and is described as a “Deep House” style of Electronica. Who knew?  In the process of trying to find all this information, I came across the Discogs site, a wealth of information.  As it turns out, this particular CD is part of a compilation of lounge music put out by the Hotel Costes in Paris and you can get them all at Amazon.  It is the second CD in the series you want for the Streetlife Originals song I was listening to last night.

Susan Boyle’s Debut CD & Singing Tonight!

Boyd

You can preorder now at Amazon.  I just found out.  Some of you probably already knew.

http://www.amazon.com/I-Dreamed-Dream-Susan-Boyle/dp/B0026P3G12/ref=pd_ts_m_13?ie=UTF8&s=music

Have you heard her cover of The Stones’ “Wild Horses”?  Go to:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yb3XAP0c8WU&feature=player_embedded

She’s apparently going to be singing the song on America’s Got Talent TONIGHT, which airs at 8PM EDT, 7PM CDT.

Guess who is going to be planted in front of the big screen TV tonight at 7?