Gym at the Shire. Treadmill. Core work.
Themes from Harvest Home – James Galway
St. Louis Blues – Bessie Smith
Hoochie Coochie Man – Eric Clapton
Laganside – Smailovic & Sands
Stand by Me – John Lennon
Prince of Darkness – Indigo Girls
I Found a Love – Wilson Pickett
All That Heaven Will Allow – Bruce Springsteen
Buck – Nina Simone
Country Road – James Taylor
Joy (Pt. 1) – Isaac Hayes
Raglan Road – The Chieftains and Roger Daltry
When We Collide – k.d. lang
Ice Cream – Coalishun
Jet Lag Chase – Debi Graham
Tag Archives: music
Workout 23 February 2018
Workout 22 February 2018
Gym at the Shire. Treadmill. Strength work.
Songbird – Eva Cassidy
F Troop – Archie Roach
All I Left Behind – Linda Ronstadt & Emmylou Harris
Cat’s in the Cradle – Harry Chapin
Barn Dance – Jack Gladstone
It’s My Way – Buffy Sainte-Marie
Trick Bag – Earl King
Hope You’re Feeling Better – Santana
Change It – Stevie Ray Vaughan
Subcity – Tracy Chapman
Sock in It – Fairport Convention
Cry for Me Baby – Elmore James
Dark Streets of London – The Pogues
Step by Step – John McCutcheon
Say It – Jennifer Hudson
Remembering Clancy
Because of Clancy, I had the privilege to sing songs by Johann Sebastian Bach in the Thomaskirche (St. Thomas Church) in Leipzig where Bach had served as a cantor. This happened in January, 1974, when Leipzig was part of the German Democratic Republic.
Clarence Martin died on April 5. Of course, I have to say that I know of no one who called him Clarence. I knew him as Clancy. Everyone I knew did too.
Clancy taught in the music department at Westminster College for over forty years. He directed the choirs and served as the department chair. He started before I was born and he was there when I arrived and he remained there long after I graduated.
I freely acknowledge that I have limited musical skills. I enjoy singing and can carry a bit of a tune. I can’t hold my own when singing with strong singers. I end up on their parts.
During the time when I was there, Westminster had multiple choirs. I sang with one of the lower level choirs. Clancy was a warm, kind gracious man who always had time for students – no matter what one’s musical ability might be. He and Ray Ocock, the college organist and professor of organ, made a wonderful team. I have fond memories of talking with each of them – not only about music but about all dimensions of life – not only in the music department but anywhere we met on campus.
Clancy and Ray announced a choir tour of Europe for January, 1974. A few spots were available based, not only on musical ability, but on ability to pay. I applied and they chose me. Clancy spent some significant time working with some of the weaker singers. I was among them. We visited several countries, stayed with families, met great people, built and nurtured friendships, consumed massive quantities of alcohol, and sang in some amazing places.
His obituary notes that tours to Europe were among his fondest memories. Those tours, it says included performances in Westminster Abbey in London, Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris and St. Peter’s Cathedral in Rome.
I have many fond memories of my tour with Clancy. I did not sing in St. Peter’s, we did not go to Rome. We may have sung in Westminster Abbey or Notre Dame Cathedral.
What I remember most about the musical part of the tour is spontaneously forming rows and singing Bach in Leipzig. A truly holy moment.
Thanks, Clancy! Thank you God for Clancy.
See you along the Trail.
Filed under Friends
Love songs – silly or not
What song lyrics would you suggest for a wedding sermon on love?
Tonight I had the privilege and joy to preach at the wedding of two friends. For the sermon I went with a reflection on love that used lyrics from a number of songs. Some I identified myself. Others were suggested by mutual friends: David Bowie, Laura Mariko Cheifetz, Noelle Tennis Gulden, DeLaina Gumbs, Irene Pak, Valerie Small, and Laura VanDale. For the little help that I needed to get by, I thank them.
Here’s the “playlist”:
- With a Little Help from My Friends – The Beatles
- What’s Love Got to Do with It? – Tina Turner
- Can’t Buy Me Love – The Beatles
- Free in You – Indigo Girls
- Do You Love me? – Fiddler on the Roof
- September – Earth, Wind, and Fire
- Unforgettable – Nat King Cole
- Home Is Where the Heart Is – Mary Travers and Holly Near
- Respect – Aretha Franklin
- Till the End of Time – Perry Como
- Treasure Island – Mary Black
- Bridge over Troubled Water – Simon and Garfunkel
- You Can’t Hurry Love – Diana Ross and the Supremes
- Love You ‘Till the End – The Pogues
- Power of Two – Indigo Girls
- Sometimes You Can’t Make It on Your Own – U2
- Let the Circle Be Wide – Tommy Sands
- How Can I Keep from Singing? – Eva Cassidy
What would you add?
See you along the Trail.
G is for Guitars
Inside and outside,
music plays a central role
in life on the ranch.
Courses focus on music.
Music fills the air when the community gathers
to worship,
to play.
The sounds
of strumming guitars
echo gently off red rock.
2 August 2009
Filed under Ghost Ranch People, Photo
Giving thanks for song
Originally written for my work blog:
I give thanks today for those who cannot keep from singing.
Song sustains us, guides us.
Song expresses our deepest fears and our most profound hopes.
Song challenges the powers and proclaims an alternative vision.
Song leads us into living that alternative.
The January Term Doctor of Ministry class meeting at the Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations attended chapel at the Church Center for the United Nations today. Chaplain Kathleen Stone reminded us of the power and roles of song. And I thought of:
Victor Jara
Odetta
Pete Seeger
Paul Robeson
Sweet Honey in the Rock
Vedran Smailović
Tommy Sands
and musicians through the age whose names I cannot remember, whose names I do not know, will never know,
but whose songs touch and inspire and bless people,
cause tyrants to tremble,
shape and support struggles for justice.
For each, for all I give thanks.
And it seems to me that since I believe Love is Lord of heaven and earth, it might be time to get out my guitar.
See you along the Trail.
Along the Graybeard Trail 