"Music expresses that which cannot be put into words and that which cannot remain silent"     Victor Hugo
 

Music and Ministry

Music has been "the organizing force of my life.  I was raised on American popular music, but made my career in classical music.  Sharing the endless and deep awareness which music can bring to each one of us is where I feel most at home.

As music director at St. John's Episcopal (Progressive Christian) Church in New Rochelle, NY I have sought out devotional interfaith music with both intelligent texts and good quality writing.   I'm sharing below some musical sources I rely on.

Mel White (www.smilingheartmusic.com).    Oh my gosh,  you must get to know Mel White's music. Her music is awesome, unity-based, interfaith, and she is prolific.  You can buy her CDs at CDBaby.com or www.amazon.com.   Contact her via email at here2shine@aol.com  to buy the actual sheet music to any of her songs.  Some of her songs, like "Holding Me"; "Alchemy of Love", are among the best of this genre I've heard.  I put her right up there with David Friedman.

 

Nancy LaMott, David Friedman.  I almost have to speak of these two artists in the same breath.  Her voice sung to the music written by David Freidman (songs like "We Can Be Kind") and others who wrote and arranged for her continue to inspire me. 

David Freidman just produced a songbook of his works which is worth having, available on his website.  And Nancy LaMott's CDs - well, every one is a winner (although if you have to buy jus one, I recommend "Listen to my Heart").  It is the way she sings the words, her choice of inspiring pieces and arrangements, which make me love her every time I hear her.  What a gift to our world she was.  Her CDs are available at www.amazon.com and other places on the internet.

  • New Lyrics to traditional hymns. Progressive Christian churches are eliminating the use of patriarchal words like "Lord", "King," "Master" and "Father" from their hymns and liturgy.  There is a movement to use "Teacher" and "Father/Mother God".  There are similar movements in the progressive Jewish community and in other faiths, too.  

    New thoughts/ideas need new lyrics to traditional music, and finding new lyrics is becoming an active part of my music ministry.  Several well-known composers/lyricists have published books with new hymn texts, anthems, and poetry.  Some write completely new hymns.

    • Carolyn Winfrey Gillette
    • Thomas H. Troeger

Paramahansa Yogananda.  For 30 years, I have regularly sung the "Cosmic Chants" of Yogananda.  They remain some of my favorite pieces of devotional music.  They are available on the Self-Realization website.

Interfaith Ministers who are Singers, Composers and Musicians.  Many have come through the seminaries who are active in the sacred/spiritual music industry.  I'll post links to their sites/music here as I learn of them.

Rev. Denise Di Renzo is an amazing person, singer, actress (www.denisedirenzo.com).  Her album "Sweet Refrain" is available on Amazon.com and she appears with Mel White on her "Sea of Grace" and other Mel White CDs, also available at Amazon.com and CDBaby.com.

Rev. Sandra Bargman (www.sandrabargman.com) is another multi-faceted, multi-talented singer, actress, writer.  She also narrates Gloria Karpinski's renowned book, "Where Two World's Touch: The Seven Steps of Conscious Change."  

Rev. Jody Kessler's music pervades classes at the New Seminary with her amazing voice and message.  Her site (www.jodykessler.com) contains generous samples of her writing, singing and playing.  Recordings are available on CDBaby or her website.  She also has a congregation in Ithaca, NY, called Common Heart Interfaith Fellowship.  The site is www.commonheart.org.