Coil Binding! The Musician’s Friend
I’ve written about this in a previous post, but I think it bears repeating. Why do music publishers publish a book that will be put on a music rack that will not stay open on its own? It seems ridiculous to have to rebind the books before you can even use them.
The Other Essential Lutheran Library – Musician Edition
As I was browsing at the music store in Portland on Saturday, a quote from Luther came to mind:
Many books does not make one learned, nor much reading either; rather to read a good thing and to read it often, regardless of how little it is, that makes one learned in the Scriptures.
I think something similar could be said for church musicians in relation to their musical repertoire and libraries. Publishing companies continue to entice us with their latest offerings; yet we still have existing music waiting to be learned or looked at. To buy or not to buy? The related and potentially better question is: What is the Lutheran musician’s core repertoire (besides the hymnal)?
New Music from CPH
This is just a heads up that CPH recently released their new choral, handbell, and organ books/pieces for 2009. As always, CPH has MP3s and PDF samples of the pieces to view before purchasing. On the organ side, at least, there were a few items that got my attention early on and I have since purchased.
If you’re in the market for some sacred music, give the folks at CPH a try. They have an abundance of resources — especially for the Lutheran musician. But if you want Paul Manz, Michael Burkhardt, or some of Robert Hobby’s pieces, you’ll need to head over to MorningStar Music.
Paul Manz at 90
Paul Manz is turning 90 in May and MorningStar Music is having a 20% off sale during April and May 2009 on ALL Paul Manz items – choral & organ music, CDs, and the recent biography “The Journey Was Chosen”. This is a great opportunity to fill in the gaps in your sheet music collection. You can read more by downloading their April newsletter.
Light of Christ – Organ Music Review
For the organists out there, I know the Epiphany season is quickly coming to a close and soon we’ll be pulling out the Lenten music. Before the Epiphany music goes into the filing cabinet, I thought I would pass along a recommendation for some organ sheet music that I’ve had the joy of playing this Epiphany season.
Ben Culli has composed a series of preludes on six Epiphany hymns entitled Light of Christ (audio and PDF samples available on the CPH website). I usually find Culli’s compositions challenging, but accessible — meaning I have to spend some quality practice time to reap the musical rewards.
O Sing of Christ
Some of you may be familiar with O Sing of Christ (LSB 362) by Stephen Starke – a wonderful Christmas hymn text that will be new to many, but coupled to the tune Forest Green (sometimes sung to O Little Town of Bethlehem).
While listening to my Christmas iPod playlist, I came across a recording of a delightful hymn setting of O Sing of Christ that I discovered a few years back. After a little bit of Internet research I found the source of it — Outer Rim Territories. The setting is by Kevin Hildebrand and is a rehearsal recording of one of the seminary choral groups. You can even sing along if you like.
Organist Tip – Unwieldy Sheet Music
Every musician is bound to have music books that do not lie neatly open because they are too thick. Often we resort to using other books to keep the one music book open. But this doesn’t help with page turns. Why can’t publishers bind their books so that they stay open on their own without having to break the spine of the book? Alas.
1 Comment