Podcasts about sacred poems

Jesus lives an increasingly life of truth-telling to civic and religious authorities. All the while he enfolds the marginalized and oppressed into a just and merciful embrace of care and love, calling disciples to do the same. Up to his impending death disciples cannot grasp what this will cost him. A woman enacting honor and love provides Jesus' followers, then and now, with an example of unbridled recognition of who Jesus is. What is imprinted on our being? How can we break alabaster jars to display open and prepared hearts?Sermon begins at minute marker 5:09Mark 12.13-17, 14.3-9ResourcesBibleWorm podcasts: 528 The Parable of the Tenants, and 531 The Triumphal Entry and the Anointing at Bethany  Image by vicky_photographies from PixabayBelievers Church Bible Commentary: Mark, by Timothy J Gaddert, editors Elmer A Martens and Willard M Swartley; Herald Press, Scottdale PA 2001 Women's Bible Commentary, Third Edition: Revised and Updated, editors by Carol A. Newsom, Sharon H. Ringe, Jacqueline E. Lapsley; Westminster John Knox, 2012  Hymn: Voices Together 320, My Song is Love Unknown. Music: John N. Ireland (England), Songs of Praise, 1925 Text: Samuel Crossman (England), The Young Man's Meditations, or some few Sacred Poems..., 1664; rev. Hymns for Today's Church.  Permission to podcast the music in this service obtained from One License with license #A-726929. All rights reserved.

Three favorites, again from my youth. "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" is an English Christmas carol that first appeared in 1739 in the collection Hymns and Sacred Poems. The carol, based on Luke 2:14, tells of an angelic chorus singing praises to God."Away in a Manger" It was long claimed to be the work of German religious reformer Martin Luther, some Germans will not sing it, saying it used to be a beer drinking song. (at least the melody) If you imagine an Umm Pa Pa beat to it, you see their point. But this is a favorite in the English speaking world. "Run Run to the Stable" at least the version I know is an old French Carol. If you have heard it before, please leave a comment.

Welcome to a Wesley Wednesday devotion for the second week of Advent with Linda and David Drinkard. Charles Wesley wrote a number of hymns and poems for the Christmas Season. Eighteen of them are found in “Hymns for the Nativity of Our Lord” and others in “Hymns and Sacred Poems.” Although many of these may not be familiar to us, they clearly express an understanding of the Incarnation. Let's begin with a passage of scripture from Philippians 2:5-11 Philippians 2:5-11 New Revised Standard Version 5 Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited,
7 but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave,
    being born in human likeness.
And being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death— even death on a cross. Paul Chilcote, points out that the vision of “self-emptying” shaped much of Charles Wesley's thinking about the Christology of Jesus. He writes: “The ramifications of this divine self-emptying stagger the mind. God becomes one with us that we might become one with God. Christ emptied himself of glory and eternity of every divine attribute save one, the essence of God, which is love. Fully divine –all love and nothing but love—he enters our world of brokenness and sin, takes on our human nature, and makes it possible for God to be present in Human flesh. “Emptied of all but love he came.” We find several references to Philippians 2:7 in the hymns Charles wrote for the Nativity of our Lord. “Let Earth and Heaven Combine “ Let earth and Heaven combine, Angels and men agree to praise in songs divine the incarnate Deity He laid his glory by, and wrapped him in our clay, Infant of days he here became and bore Immanuel's name. “All-wise, All-good Almighty Lord” The eternal God from heaven came down, The King of glory dropped his crown, and veiled his majesty; Emptied of all but love he came. Jesus I call thee by thy Holy name. “O Thou Who Hast Redeemed from Old” Love, only Love, thy heart inclined, and brought thy savior of mankind down from thy throne above… Although not a Christmas Hymn we find a beautiful reference to Phil 2:7 in the powerful “And Can It Be” #363 in our UMH He left His Fathers throne above (so free, so infinite, his grace) Emptied himself of all but love, and bleed for Adam's helpless race. We close with a reading from the Gospel of John “In the beginning was the word and the word was with God and the word was God. The Word became flesh and lived among us and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father's only son, full of grace and truth. Jesus Christ our Lord.” Prayer: Loving Jesus, you became obedient to death on a cross for all lost sinners. You grace sustains us and empowers us to be your disciples. Amen.

Order of Service: - Prelude - The Confession of Sin (p. 120) - The Versicles (pp. 120-121) - Isaiah 40: 6-10: The voice said, “Cry out!” and he said, “What shall I cry?” “All flesh is grass, and all its loveliness is like the flower of the field. The grass withers, the flower fades, Because the breath of the LORD blows upon it; surely the people are grass. The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever.” O Zion, You who bring good tidings, get up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, You who bring good tidings, lift up your voice with strength, Lift it up, be not afraid; Say to the cities of Judah, “Behold your God!” Behold, the Lord GOD shall come with a strong hand, and His arm shall rule for Him; Behold, His reward is with Him, and His work before Him. - Choir anthem: 'O Day Full of Grace' arr. Christiansen: O day, full of grace, which we behold, Now gently to view ascending; Thou over the earth thy reign unfold, Good cheer to all mortals lending, That children of light in every clime May prove that the night is ending. How blest was that gracious midnight hour, When God in our flesh was given; Then broke forth the dawn with light and power, That spread o'er the darkened heaven; Then rose o'er the world that Sun divine Which gloom from our hearts hath driven. Yea, were every tree endowed with speech, And every leaflet singing, They never with praise His worth could reach, Though earth with their praise be ringing. Who fully could praise the Light of life, Who light to our souls is bringing? With joy we depart for our fatherland, And there we shall walk in endless light. (Danish folk hymn, fifteenth century. C.E.F. Weyse, 1774-1842, arr. F.M. Christiansen, 1871-1955) - Homily - Choir anthem: 'My Soul, There is a Country' Parry: My soul, there is a country, far beyond the stars, Where stands a wingèd sentry, All skillful in the wars. There, above noise and danger, Sweet peace sits crowned with smiles, And One born in a manger Commands the beauteous files. He is thy gracious Friend, And (O my soul, awake!) Did in pure love descend, To die here for thy sake. If thou canst get but thither, There grows the flower of peace, The Rose that cannot wither, Thy Fortress, and thy Ease. Leave, then, thy foolish ranges; For none can thee secure But One, who never changes, Thy God, thy Life, thy Cure. (H. Vaughan, Silex Scintillans, or Sacred Poems, 1650) - The Kyrie (p. 124) - The Lord's Prayer (p. 125) - Hymn 584 - Grant Peace, We Pray, in Mercy, Lord - The Collect (pp. 125-127) - The Benedicamus (p. 127) - The Benediction (p. 127) - Postlude Service Participants: Chaplain Don Moldstad (Preacher), Rev. Prof. Mark DeGarmeaux (Organist), BLC Concert Choir (Choral Group), Rev. Prof. Dennis Marzolf (Choir Director)

From Pastor Dave: Over the past few weeks, I have been reading some of Charles Wesley's Hymns and Poems on select passages of Holy Scripture. The collection includes over 2,300 short poems which were first published in 1762, and hundred's more published either in Hymns and Sacred Poems or only discovered after Charles' death. . .

This hymn was originally titled “The name of Jesus” in its first printing. I was included in Sacred Poems and Prose (1861), by its author, Frederick Whitfield (1829-1904). The earliest evidence of the lyrics are claimed to be in Goodman's Village Hymn Book (1864). There are different tunes that became associated with these lyrics, Dwight Moody used a different tune in his Gospel Hymns (1896), so it is unclear when the lyrics and music for this hymn were originally combined. This arrangement by Fred Bock is very nice. I hope you enjoy it.

Petitionary Hymns, #4, For the Morning; From Hymns and Sacred Poems on a Variety of Divine Subjects, by Augustus Toplady, English Anglican cleric and hymn writer, (1740 – 1778) The music for this reading is “Being Together” by Borrtex and was adapted for length under a Creative Commons License (CC BY-NC 4.0). JESUS, by whose... The post The Unsung Hymns Podcast: “For the Morning” by Augustus Toplady appeared first on RonnieBrown.net.

A special diversion from the normal stories this week, we have a journey into the woods for you to read two brilliant poems by Tom Hirons. “Sometimes a Wild God” and “The Worship of Place” both speak to our relationship with nature both in a feral and wild sense as we have, many of us, become domesticated things and also to the awe of the sacred beauty of the world around us. It was an absolute delight to read and perform these poems, and a special thanks again to Tom for giving us permission to read his works! Tom Hirons was born and raised on the Suffolk-Norfolk border in East Anglia, but lived in Scotland for almost twenty years before gravitating to Dartmoor in the Southwest of England. Tom has been storytelling publicly for over 15 years and writing for much longer. He now teaches storytelling for Hedgespoken and has been known to mentor a writer or two. Tom hopes his work provokes you into a deeper relationship with this marvellous world, or sings a remembering song to you, or inspires some kind of cathartic fit that takes you home via the stars… There's much to lament and grieve, and much to be angry about and take action against, but to be alive is an incredible thing. We do not know when death or disaster will take us, so let us live fully while we may and nourish the web of life around us as much as we possibly can. To learn more about Tom you can visit his website at www.tomhirons.com or Hedgespoken Press to pick up some of his works at www.hedgespokenpress.com If you've been enjoying our tales, give us a review on Apple Podcasts and follow along on Spotify! To learn more about Widdershins, please visit: www.widdershinsstories.com Support us on Ko-Fi to help us keep the podcast running! www.ko-fi.com/widdershinsstories For more information on Ashley, please visit: www.oldgrowthalchemy.com www.patreon.com/oldgrowthalchemy For more information on Joe, please visit: www.joesabourin.com

The Best Life Cafe welcomes Chara Rodriguera, Author of her new release "LOVE". This conversation just tips the iceberg of the beauty in this book of sacred poems and Self Images. Self Love, Romantic Love, Parental Love, and Friendship all wrapped up in one of the most breathtaking books I have seen to date! The perfect Christmas gift! A wonderful conversation.

Sacred poems and songs from G. Van der Leeuw’s “Religion in Essence and Manifestation”

15:52: "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" is a Christmas carol that first appeared in 1739 in the collection Hymns and Sacred Poems. Its lyrics had been written by Charles Wesley. Wesley had requested and received slow and solemn music for his lyrics, not the joyful tune expected today. Moreover, Wesley's original opening couplet is "Hark! how all the welkin rings / Glory to the King of Kings". (WikiPedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hark!_The_Herald_Angels_Sing)

Chara is a Wife and Mother, the Creator of Sol Path Yoga and The Optimal and Dream Life Programs, inspirational Author, Actress and Sol Whisperer and, “Self As Art-ist” for awakening Avatars. Since 1995, Chara has been a student a teacher of Yoga, Meditation, Mindfulness and Inspired Living. She specializes in sharing empowering messages and practices that support the process of illumination, transformation and celebration. Known for her intuitive, poetic and loving style, Chara's intention is to inspire people all over the world to live their own kind of magic. She has just released a brand new book of Sacred Poems and Self Images entitled BREATHE which is now available on Amazon. It explores awakening to your creative power, seeing yourself as sacred, and reflecting on life, love, and the Divine. To complement her new book, Chara created an amazing guided meditation called Breathe...and let the magic begin! this will change your life! It's available for free on the home page of her website at www.Chara.tv.   On this episode:  - When that first conscious breath that I invited into my body and my heart came in, it was like a ray of light came into my being. - I thought wow, now I have permission to do a photo shoot the way I want to do a photo shoot, I have permission! - Breathe is the most vulnerable thing I have ever done, which is very exciting but a bit frightening. - Even in the darkest times, there is a possibility of transforming that darkness into something of value.   You can check out her website and YouTube channel. Also, check out her Instagram and Twitter on Chara_inspire and Facebook on chara.tv   Her number one goal is to support you to “LIVE YOUR MAGIC”     

Our Version Of the Well-Loved Christmas Classic: Hark! The Herald Angels Sing Lyrics BelowCheck out our Christmas Carols, Hymns and Songs Free at the iTunes Store for you to enjoy during the Christmas Season from Shiloh Worship Music as we remember that "Jesus Is The Reason For The Season". https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/hark-the-herald-angels-sing!/id478047965?i=104723730&mt=2Many different styles of Music from Traditional to Contemporary. May you have a Blessed Christmas Season as you contemplate and celebrate the birth of our Savior the Lord Jesus! Although our music is copyrighted ©2000-2012 Shiloh Worship Music, to prevent misuse, feel free to pass this music around for any and all non-commercial use. Jesus said, "freely you have received, freely give!"Hark! The Herald Angels SingFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia"Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" is a Christmas carol that first appeared in 1739 in the collection Hymns and Sacred Poems, having been written by Charles Wesley. The popular version is the result of alterations by various hands, notably George Whitefield, Wesley's co-worker, who changed the opening couplet to the familiar one, and Felix Mendelssohn. A hundred years after the publication of Hymns and Sacred Poems, in 1840, Mendelssohn composed a cantata to commemorate Johann Gutenberg's invention of the printing press, and it is music from this cantata, adapted by the English musician William H. Cummings to fit the lyrics of "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing", that propels the carol we know today.[1] [2]TuneIn 1855, English musician William H. Cummings adapted Felix Mendelssohn's secular music from Festgesang to fit the lyrics of "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" written by Charles Wesley.[3] Wesley envisioned the song being sung to the same tune as his song Christ the Lord Is Risen Today,[4] and in some hymnals, is included along with the more popular version.This hymn was regarded as one of the Great Four Anglican Hymns and published as number 403 in "The Church Hymn Book" (New York and Chicago, USA, 1872). [5]In the UK, Hark! The Herald Angels Sing has popularly been performed in an arrangement that maintains the basic original William H. Cummings harmonisation of the Mendelssohn tune for the first two verses but adds a soprano descant and a last verse harmonisation for the organ in verse 3 by Sir David Willcocks. This arrangement was first published in 1961 by Oxford University Press in the first book of the Carols for Choirs series. For many years it has served as the recessional hymn of the annual Service of Nine Lessons and Carols in King's College Chapel, Cambridge.[6]1. Hark! the herald angels sing, "Glory to the new born King, peace on earth, and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled!" Joyful, all ye nations rise, join the triumph of the skies; with th' angelic host proclaim, "Christ is born in Bethlehem!" Hark! the herald angels sing, "Glory to the new born King!" 2. Christ, by highest heaven adored; Christ, the everlasting Lord; late in time behold him come, offspring of a virgin's womb. Veiled in flesh the Godhead see; hail th' incarnate Deity, pleased with us in flesh to dwell, Jesus, our Emmanuel. Hark! the herald angels sing, "Glory to the new born King!" 3. Hail the heaven-born Prince of Peace! Hail the Sun of Righteousness! Light and life to all he brings, risen with healing in his wings. Mild he lays his glory by, born that we no more may die, born to raise us from the earth, born to give us second birth. Hark! the herald angels sing, "Glory to the new born King!" COPY FREELY ©2012 Shiloh Worship Music-This Music is copyrighted to prevent misuse, however,permission is granted for non-commercial copying only. www.shilohworshipmusic.comThese videos are works of Video Artwork created to accompany our original music as an educational and research vehicle to teach others about Jesus Christ and Christianity.COPYRIGHT NOTICE: images used for nonprofit, educational purposes only under the "fair use" provision of U.S. Code, Title 17, section 107.

Christmas and Holiday Music from Karen Mal & Will TaylorRead about,  listen to and support our music below.You listened to it free, but it wasn't free to make this music...so in this new world of the "free music, want to help out, do your part to support our continued creation of great acoustic music?Read below or just signup to get all of our music as a patron of Strings AttachedSee more about it here...."Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" is a Christmas carol that first appeared in 1739 in the collection Hymns and Sacred Poems. Its lyrics had been written by Charles Wesley. Wesley had requested and received slow and solemn music for his lyrics, not the joyful tune expected today. Moreover, Wesley's original opening couplet is "Hark! how all the welkin rings / Glory to the King of Kings". - From Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaBuy the CD with any credit cardITUNESMP3'S or WAV files direct from the artistCall 512-589-8749 to order by phone.Call me and I'll write a note and send it to them personally!​SPOTIFY - Coming soFree Pick of the WeekOr buy it in AUSTIN texas at Waterloo RecordsBuy the CD with any credit cardITUNESMP3'S or WAV files direct from the artistCall 512-589-8749 to order by phone.Call me and I'll write a note and send it to them personally! ​SPOTIFYAMAZONThe story behind Austin for ChristmasAll of the songs in this collection were favorites of my mother.  She loved filling the house with Christmas decorations, smells of  many varieties of cookies baking, which she'd arrange in spectacular colorful gift trays, and of course Christmas music draped over the top of everything. She'd play the vinyl records on our massive stereo which was as long as our dining room table,.and she'd be as happy as we'd ever see her all year. Her happiness in itself was the best part of the season. It was contagious and it was fleeting. In our household, Christmas music represented the hope of another year, maybe a better year, and a momentary suspension of all things worrisome or sorrowful.    "Yuletide by the fireside and joyful memories there." We chose the songs with an underlying theme of togetherness. No matter where you fall on the religious/ spiritual spectrum, holidays are a time of connection.  Of reunion and reflectionand gratitude. And being together as the bustling world mercifully grinds to a halt, creating a glow in the darkness of the long nights of winter.  - KAREN MALThe story behind A Mandolin ChristmasA jazz musician, a folk artist, 20 fingers pulling 14 strings & 19 ancient melodies that time has polished.A Mandolin Christmas       Deep in the throes of the hottest summer on record in Austin,  TX, Karen Mal and Will Taylor decided to make a Christmas album. It was a 112-degree "Silent Night" in their un-airconditioned recording studio in August. Even the cat was sweating.      The couple had collaborated on many musical projects; his, hers, and their ensemble's, but a "Mandolin Christmas" is purely a duet in every sense of the word.  It's a dance between two partners: the mandolin and the classical guitar.  And that's it.  Karen and Will are perhaps better-known as vocalist and violinist, respectively, but as the tracks blossomed, the two instruments just didn't seem to want any company. There's a simple elegance in the combination that makes for a classic record.      "A Mandolin Christmas" is also a duet between traditional folk music and jazz.  The music includes pristine old-style classical arrangements, and also subtle and playful jazz harmonizations, weaving around familiar melodies that sound like home.   You can practically smell the sugar cookies coming out of the oven, see the kitchen windows steaming up.       Even the packaging is a duet. Karen staged the shots in their vegetable garden. That's a real Calabacita squash with the bow on it. (we ate it for Thanksgiving) Will took the photos and fit everything into the artwork templates.      If you like Christmas music even a little, you're going to love this album. You're going to love it again when you dig it out next year, and again and again, every holiday season.Violinist, composer and Austin Music Award winner Will Taylor has performed with Pearl Jam, Grammy winner Shawn Colvin, P-Diddy, Willie Nelson, Ronny Cox (Deliverance) and many more.Will and his musical friends from Austin, Texas light up your house with inspiring acoustic music.WASHINGTON POST–“Imaginatively orchestrated… multi-faceted… darting lyricism, and occasionally pensive moods, Taylor makes the grade with his deft touch and improvisatory skills.”ESQUIRE MAGAZINE–”As to the quality of the music and the professionalism, this production is far superior over the numerous recordings issued by the major record companies.”Learn how you can have Karen Mal & Will Taylor in your home here.~!Anywhere, not just where we live.More fan comments...

Christmas and Holiday Music from Karen Mal & Will TaylorRead about,  listen to and support our music below.You listened to it free, but it wasn't free to make this music...so in this new world of the "free music, want to help out, do your part to support our continued creation of great acoustic music?Read below or just signup to get all of our music as a patron of Strings AttachedSee more about it here...."Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" is a Christmas carol that first appeared in 1739 in the collection Hymns and Sacred Poems. Its lyrics had been written by Charles Wesley. Wesley had requested and received slow and solemn music for his lyrics, not the joyful tune expected today. Moreover, Wesley's original opening couplet is "Hark! how all the welkin rings / Glory to the King of Kings". - From Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaBuy the CD with any credit cardITUNESMP3'S or WAV files direct from the artistCall 512-589-8749 to order by phone.Call me and I'll write a note and send it to them personally!​SPOTIFY - Coming soFree Pick of the WeekOr buy it in AUSTIN texas at Waterloo RecordsBuy the CD with any credit cardITUNESMP3'S or WAV files direct from the artistCall 512-589-8749 to order by phone.Call me and I'll write a note and send it to them personally! ​SPOTIFYAMAZONThe story behind Austin for ChristmasAll of the songs in this collection were favorites of my mother.  She loved filling the house with Christmas decorations, smells of  many varieties of cookies baking, which she'd arrange in spectacular colorful gift trays, and of course Christmas music draped over the top of everything. She'd play the vinyl records on our massive stereo which was as long as our dining room table,.and she'd be as happy as we'd ever see her all year. Her happiness in itself was the best part of the season. It was contagious and it was fleeting. In our household, Christmas music represented the hope of another year, maybe a better year, and a momentary suspension of all things worrisome or sorrowful.    "Yuletide by the fireside and joyful memories there." We chose the songs with an underlying theme of togetherness. No matter where you fall on the religious/ spiritual spectrum, holidays are a time of connection.  Of reunion and reflectionand gratitude. And being together as the bustling world mercifully grinds to a halt, creating a glow in the darkness of the long nights of winter.  - KAREN MALThe story behind A Mandolin ChristmasA jazz musician, a folk artist, 20 fingers pulling 14 strings & 19 ancient melodies that time has polished.A Mandolin Christmas       Deep in the throes of the hottest summer on record in Austin,  TX, Karen Mal and Will Taylor decided to make a Christmas album. It was a 112-degree "Silent Night" in their un-airconditioned recording studio in August. Even the cat was sweating.      The couple had collaborated on many musical projects; his, hers, and their ensemble's, but a "Mandolin Christmas" is purely a duet in every sense of the word.  It's a dance between two partners: the mandolin and the classical guitar.  And that's it.  Karen and Will are perhaps better-known as vocalist and violinist, respectively, but as the tracks blossomed, the two instruments just didn't seem to want any company. There's a simple elegance in the combination that makes for a classic record.      "A Mandolin Christmas" is also a duet between traditional folk music and jazz.  The music includes pristine old-style classical arrangements, and also subtle and playful jazz harmonizations, weaving around familiar melodies that sound like home.   You can practically smell the sugar cookies coming out of the oven, see the kitchen windows steaming up.       Even the packaging is a duet. Karen staged the shots in their vegetable garden. That's a real Calabacita squash with the bow on it. (we ate it for Thanksgiving) Will took the photos and fit everything into the artwork templates.      If you like Christmas music even a little, you're going to love this album. You're going to love it again when you dig it out next year, and again and again, every holiday season.Violinist, composer and Austin Music Award winner Will Taylor has performed with Pearl Jam, Grammy winner Shawn Colvin, P-Diddy, Willie Nelson, Ronny Cox (Deliverance) and many more.Will and his musical friends from Austin, Texas light up your house with inspiring acoustic music.WASHINGTON POST–“Imaginatively orchestrated… multi-faceted… darting lyricism, and occasionally pensive moods, Taylor makes the grade with his deft touch and improvisatory skills.”ESQUIRE MAGAZINE–”As to the quality of the music and the professionalism, this production is far superior over the numerous recordings issued by the major record companies.”Learn how you can have Karen Mal & Will Taylor in your home here.~!Anywhere, not just where we live.More fan comments...

Christmas and Holiday Music from Karen Mal & Will TaylorRead about,  listen to and support our music below.You listened to it free, but it wasn't free to make this music...so in this new world of the "free music, want to help out, do your part to support our continued creation of great acoustic music?Read below or just signup to get all of our music as a patron of Strings AttachedSee more about it here...."Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" is a Christmas carol that first appeared in 1739 in the collection Hymns and Sacred Poems. Its lyrics had been written by Charles Wesley. Wesley had requested and received slow and solemn music for his lyrics, not the joyful tune expected today. Moreover, Wesley's original opening couplet is "Hark! how all the welkin rings / Glory to the King of Kings". - From Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaBuy the CD with any credit cardITUNESMP3'S or WAV files direct from the artistCall 512-589-8749 to order by phone.Call me and I'll write a note and send it to them personally!​SPOTIFY - Coming soFree Pick of the WeekOr buy it in AUSTIN texas at Waterloo RecordsBuy the CD with any credit cardITUNESMP3'S or WAV files direct from the artistCall 512-589-8749 to order by phone.Call me and I'll write a note and send it to them personally! ​SPOTIFYAMAZONThe story behind Austin for ChristmasAll of the songs in this collection were favorites of my mother.  She loved filling the house with Christmas decorations, smells of  many varieties of cookies baking, which she'd arrange in spectacular colorful gift trays, and of course Christmas music draped over the top of everything. She'd play the vinyl records on our massive stereo which was as long as our dining room table,.and she'd be as happy as we'd ever see her all year. Her happiness in itself was the best part of the season. It was contagious and it was fleeting. In our household, Christmas music represented the hope of another year, maybe a better year, and a momentary suspension of all things worrisome or sorrowful.    "Yuletide by the fireside and joyful memories there." We chose the songs with an underlying theme of togetherness. No matter where you fall on the religious/ spiritual spectrum, holidays are a time of connection.  Of reunion and reflectionand gratitude. And being together as the bustling world mercifully grinds to a halt, creating a glow in the darkness of the long nights of winter.  - KAREN MALThe story behind A Mandolin ChristmasA jazz musician, a folk artist, 20 fingers pulling 14 strings & 19 ancient melodies that time has polished.A Mandolin Christmas       Deep in the throes of the hottest summer on record in Austin,  TX, Karen Mal and Will Taylor decided to make a Christmas album. It was a 112-degree "Silent Night" in their un-airconditioned recording studio in August. Even the cat was sweating.      The couple had collaborated on many musical projects; his, hers, and their ensemble's, but a "Mandolin Christmas" is purely a duet in every sense of the word.  It's a dance between two partners: the mandolin and the classical guitar.  And that's it.  Karen and Will are perhaps better-known as vocalist and violinist, respectively, but as the tracks blossomed, the two instruments just didn't seem to want any company. There's a simple elegance in the combination that makes for a classic record.      "A Mandolin Christmas" is also a duet between traditional folk music and jazz.  The music includes pristine old-style classical arrangements, and also subtle and playful jazz harmonizations, weaving around familiar melodies that sound like home.   You can practically smell the sugar cookies coming out of the oven, see the kitchen windows steaming up.       Even the packaging is a duet. Karen staged the shots in their vegetable garden. That's a real Calabacita squash with the bow on it. (we ate it for Thanksgiving) Will took the photos and fit everything into the artwork templates.      If you like Christmas music even a little, you're going to love this album. You're going to love it again when you dig it out next year, and again and again, every holiday season.Violinist, composer and Austin Music Award winner Will Taylor has performed with Pearl Jam, Grammy winner Shawn Colvin, P-Diddy, Willie Nelson, Ronny Cox (Deliverance) and many more.Will and his musical friends from Austin, Texas light up your house with inspiring acoustic music.WASHINGTON POST–“Imaginatively orchestrated… multi-faceted… darting lyricism, and occasionally pensive moods, Taylor makes the grade with his deft touch and improvisatory skills.”ESQUIRE MAGAZINE–”As to the quality of the music and the professionalism, this production is far superior over the numerous recordings issued by the major record companies.”Learn how you can have Karen Mal & Will Taylor in your home here.~!Anywhere, not just where we live.More fan comments...