Music

The goal: beneficial contemplation through creative expression.

All Things

Beautiful day for church outdoors. The sermon ends. The pastor starts the closing hymn, "All Things Bright and Beautiful." Suddenly the audience becomes more energetic. Never before has this hymn had such energy.

Mosquitoes. All things bright and beautiful.

Modern Carousel

At the carnival, see the children running to and fro with parents scurrying to keep up, weaving in harmony through the crowds. Sound is commonplace. We hear it throughout different environments of our daily lives. What if we create the sound of an exciting environment to flood the mind with reflections of an exhilarating day? What if we build upon memories of past happy experiences seeking personal resonance? What more cheery a place than a carousel bringing you back to your youth with friends and family all around? Imagining what this might be like through song, a modern take on a machine designed long ago.

Opening with an older, more traditional sounding carnival or fairground organ starting up in the morning, it slowly builds into a slightly more electronic, modern feel as we explore the grounds until returning to the traditional sound in the cafeteria for a lunch break. We then set out again, taking in how much has changed since last we visited such an event. We realize carnivals still provide days full of exciting twists and turns.

Glorify

Some people say that the words are all that matter, others that they don't listen to the words so they don't matter. What is worship? Is resorting to only hymns as the music of worship required? There are so many possibilities in the world of sound. Does God want to be worshiped through just choirs, harps, maybe pianos? What do you do when divided upon such issues?

"May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ." ~ Romans 15:5-6 ESV

Starting out traditionally, introducing basically the entire melodic concept of the song until we are swung into an electronic piece. The bass and baritones come in with the alto and sopranos banging out their notes tirelessly. Now we're joined by the rest of the congregation. But oh, that solo, sung so beautifully... and that piano. Ending quietly, contemplatively. What is really needed? What, really, is good? Ought we fill space like so? More questions.

Wilderness Wilberdoo

Peaceful, serene. In a world full of excitement, hurrying, hustling and bustling, can we find time to sit back and enjoy some part of life with those we love? In contemplation on what is music worthy of being written, I wrote this piece in hopes to calm the listener, giving back a desire to remember the joy of the simple things in life such as communing in nature. Not walking, riding, studying. Just siting, looking, listening.

In a magical forest or in heaven, either will suffice, a musician gets up to play. He begins and is shortly thereafter joined by an orchestra echoing the thoughts of relaxation. We go back and forth until we end being interrupted by crows. But, who am I to say what is music? Maybe that is music to the Lord's ears.

Jubilance

How do you express joy? What is joy? How much of your life should be spent looking at the positive? How much being happy? When asked how you are doing, is the ideal that your answer always be "I'm doing AMAZING!"? There are certainly times to be joyful. One once said,

". . . So I concluded there is nothing better than to be happy and enjoy ourselves as long as we can." ~ Ecclesiastes 3:12 NLT

Don't be afraid to get up and jubilance from time to time! (Whatever "jubilance" so means to you.) Show your joy to others through engaging in life, through not withholding your excitement, through voicing your praise. Or dancing, that works too.

I Saw Three Ships

Sometimes you just got to sing. You can't hold it in. Look around. You're not alone.

"Shout praises to the Lord, everyone on this earth. Be joyful and sing as you come in to worship the Lord!" ~ Psalm 100:1-2 CEV

A traditional Christmas carol. Celebration through the familiar, through gathering to remember and share. Rejoicing for what God has done. Yet all the while looking forward. God's not done yet.

Beautiful

How often do you reflect on how God is beautiful?

"Our Lord, let your worshipers rejoice and be glad. They love you for saving them, so let them always say, 'The Lord is wonderful!'" ~ Psalm 40:16 CEV

Shift in focus from perpetually remembering the things of this world toward continually thinking of a God who loves us each abundantly. An attitude of worship may help in living a life of love.

More experiments on Bandcamp.