Mo' Music: a positive spin
To follow on from the previous post on the lack of good Mormon music, and to steal an idea from headlife, let's hear some favourite hymns and/or spiritual music that have had an impact on you. I really like the music from 'The Passion of the Christ' Soundtrack. It complimented the film superbly. My favourite piece is 'Mary goes to Jesus', which accompanies a scene where Mary sees Jesus fall on the way to Calvary and has a flashback memory of Jesus falling as a child. She then runs (in both the flashback and present time) to lift him up. Even listening to this piece in the car, I well up thinking of that scene and the suffering of the Saviour. In a similar vain, I also love the Kurt Bestor soundtrack to 'The Lamb of God'. It is wonderfully emotive in portraying the 'Passion' and resurrection of the Saviour. |
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As the Passion soundtrack is not strictly "'Mo", let me mention two pieces that get the tear glands itching:
Vaughn Williams - Thomas Tallis (recently heard in Master and Commander)
Elgar - Nimrod.
Apart from certain hymns, I've not yet discovered Mormon "classical" that really moves me.
Posted by Ronan
I am a big fan of medieval a cappella church music like that done by the Anonymous 4.
Posted by John C
Kurt Bestor is about the only LDS composer, besides Gladys Night, that I can even bother to listen to.
The reason is that Kurt is renouned for writing Themes for the Olympic games, and has some really well written things. Nothing that seems to try and capitalize on the fact that he is LDS. I have had occasion to listen Peter Brienholt and his group, as well as Ryan Shupe, all have some great contributions, again all based on skill, and not just the novelty of being LDS. Sharleen Wells-Hawks, the one time Miss America, is a great example of someone with little skill that seems to think that because she is LDS, somehow everyone should have her Album.
It is a dangerous bandwagon. The wrestler Hulk Hogan has a daughter that has an album out now... Man, anyone with some money and blonde hair can get airplay.
If I had to be honest about the whole "music the relaxes me" thing, I would have to say, the things that would be in my collection are the "Empire of the Sun" Album, and Lionel Richies greatest hits.
If I really feel like slowing down, I would just as soon listen to the vienna boys Choir as MOTAB.but mostly, the radio gets switched over to the classical or Jazz station
Posted by Jake
Well, I'm a rocker at heart, so I have real troubles finding stuff that I like, and that touches me from within the LDS music world. Even still, there is some.
I really like Greg Simpson's stuff, as well as Julie De Azevedo's "Dive Deep" and "Hello Sky". Those aren't really rock, per se, but they're still very deep and inspiring for me.
I also like Alex Boye's first CD, even though his second one got a bit schmaltzy for me.
MRKH
Posted by Mark Hansen
Alex Boye? He was a missionary in my home Ward! He used to "sing" his testimony. I believe he gave a BoM to Prince Charles!!
Posted by Ronan
I like Kris Kross.
Oh. Right. Mormon. Hmmm...
Posted by Kim Siever