The Power of Music
By admin | February 4, 2008
I haven’t been to a classical concert in years, but I remember one of my favorite things was sitting there a few minutes before the concert started and hearing the sounds of the instruments tuning up. It it a chaotic, non-musical type sound, but yet somehow very energetic. You could feel the anticipation.
Then, the conductor walks up, raises his baton, and everything comes together. From chaos springs beauty! Everyone is now on the same page, and although the notes and rhythms form complex patterns with all the instruments playing different parts, everything comes together and the listeners are inspired.
And the thing is, all those people in the orchestra have different backgrounds, beliefs, religions, cutures, even languages. Their instruments were designed and developed from different parts of the world by people who could only imagine that their invention would be part of a grand concert. And they play music that spans time…the great classics still alive as evidenced by the passionate players and eager audience. The composer might have lived 300 years ago, but his or her composition reaches out over time and speaks to those of us in the here and now.
This is course of human events. Different peoples, different cultures, sometimes warring with each other, sometimes not even aware of each other…then something or someone comes along that brings us together, and great things happen.
“…and the world can live as one”…World peace is a lofty goal. I don’t know if we will ever live in a harmonious world, but one thing I do know, music can help get us there!
Topics: Music, Ramblings | No Comments »
So the USA is a Democracy after all…
By admin | January 30, 2008
Something I hear a lot lately, particularly among conservative thinkers, is that the USA is not a democracy…it is in fact a “representative republic” And sure enough, if you try to find the word “democracy” in the constitution, you’ll come up empty handed. You will find this: “”The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government”
Hmmm, I’ve always thought we lived in a democracy, a government which derives its power from the people. A Republic can in fact be a dictatorship, and if you ask most people in the USA, a dictatorship is the last thing we want to become. I like to think that although a direct democracy would not be possible or practical (although with technology it is more possible than it was 200, even 25 years a go), a representative form of democracy is necessary if we are to be a free people. Maybe the conservative forces are right after all, and that the idea of a government of, by, and for the people is just an illusion.
But then I listened to President Bush’s final State of the Union Speech last night….”By trusting the people, our Founders wagered that a great and noble nation could be built on the liberty that resides in the hearts of all men and women. By trusting the people, succeeding generations transformed our fragile young democracy into the most powerful nation on Earth and a beacon of hope for millions.” President Bush, sotu 2008
And our President certainly seems to value Democracy, in that he say “The time has come for a Holy Land where a democratic Israel and a democratic Palestine live side-by-side in peace”
…not to mention we have expended great amounts of money and human lives in bringing democracy, not representative republic to Iraq.
So what is it? What do we have in the USA? I think people should ultimately hire and fire their leaders, and as much as some of the powers that be want to take that ability away from the people, that is the system we have now. The concept of democracy is a key ingredient in keeping us free. And I do agree with President Bush…we are, in fact a Democracy. Power to the people!
Topics: Politics | No Comments »
Meigan’s Perspective on Music
By admin | January 20, 2008
I was speaking with an old schoolmate, and as usual the conversation turned to kids and music. He mentioned his college age son was really into the same music we liked backed during our high school days…Beatles, Stones, Don McClean. Sure enough my son, now 25, likes all the music I used to love. Could it be that the music of the 60s and 70s is the new classical music that will live for generations….like music from the classical period that gave us Beethoven and Mozart?Who knows…but I did ask my 11 year old daughter to write out some of her thoughts on music. Meigan has very broad taste in music, and she somehow knows all the lyrics to songs I knew in the 9th grade. It’s cool that she and I can tune the radio to the oldies channel, and enjoy the same great old songsNow here’s Meigan….
I may be young, but my musical tastes grow beyond just Hannah Montana and Disney. I still love to listen to the oldies stations with people like Sly and the family stone, and songs like “Time of season” and “You’re no good”. Also, A really big part of my musical interests are the Beatles. I love all their music, or at least what I’ve heard. I think we should get more kids to listen to a wider variety of music. Don’t get me wrong, There are some great artists that have been introduced within the last decade or so, But some even greater ones before that. I really only know of one genre of music I don’t like rap. It just seems useless to me and I can barley understand the words they say because they talk so fast. Again, that is just my opinion. Some of artists I like that are younger include Raven Symone, Carrie Underwood, and Relient K. As I said before, almost all types of music are for me.Contributed By Meigan Porter
Topics: Music | No Comments »
Welcome Yamaha Musicsoft!
By admin | January 13, 2008
Sporter’s is very excited to have Yamaha Music Soft as a new sponsor. I have always been a fan of Yamaha equipment…we use Yamaha gear in our studio, and Yamaha pianos and keyboards are second to none.
Yamaha Music Soft has midi files, styles, sheet music, and various accessories for your Disklavier, Clavinova, and other Yamaha Keyboards. You will especially love the brand new exclusive PianoSoft downloads section. New downloads are added weekly.
It’s an exciting time to own a Yamaha keyboard…make the most by visiting Yamaha Music Soft and checking out some of the wonderful musical applications that are now available.
Topics: Yamaha | No Comments »
Reverse Crossover and Southern Gospel Music
By admin | January 6, 2008
Sporter’s is pleased to have contributor David Bruce Murray sharing his thoughts on an industry dear to my heart: Southern Gospel Music. Be sure and visit his website Musicscribe.com and read all his geat articles, CD and concert reviews, and lots of other great stuff. David alway has something interesting to say.
Kyle Boreing started this topic and Doug Harrison added to the conversation today. Here are my thoughts on the subject.
A fish from a big pond is always going to stand out in a small pond. Alan Jackson is going to sell more units than, say, Jeff & Sheri Easter. It doesn’t matter if it’s just a collection of hymns sung poorly (and I’m not saying Jackson’s Precious Memories CD is or isn’t sung poorly…I haven’t heard it), many of his existing fans will still buy it. PLUS a lot of gospel fans that might not buy a non-Gospel Alan Jackson CD will buy it too. It’s a win-win from a SALES potential standpoint. Whether SG radio stations will play it and if they do, whether Singing News will allow Alan Jackson to appear on their airplay chart are different stories. (Don’t get me started on why we need to have a Southern Gospel chart based on sales chart again…but if anyone wants to send me $5K a year…)
That’s why these “reverse crossovers” from well known artists like Jackson, Randy Travis, and others are so successful.
Kyle’s question is, “Why can’t Southern Gospel go in the other direction??” After all, it isn’t the Gospel message that’s keeping Country radio from playing a Southern Gospel artist. I see two reasons, which are probably one and the same.
1. If you were a MCA Nashville agent attending NQC or a Gaither event looking for an existing artist from the top of the Southern Gospel heap to take over to Country, who would catch your eye? Maybe Jeff & Sheri Easter and maybe the Isaacs…the point is that there aren’t that many from which to choose, and that’s reason number one. Of course, I’m speaking of these artists as they exist today. Many Southern Gospel artists have a Country sound, but they don’t have a Country look or a Country presence when they take the stage.
2. If you were Jeff & Sheri Easter and MCA Nashville came calling hat in hand promising you much fame and fortune, would you be willing to risk that against the immediate backlash you know would come from all your Gospel fans the minute they hear you’ve “signed with a secular record label?” That’s good enough reason for some artists to say no to such a deal.
Now, in the case of the Isaacs, they’re making an effort to get into Country, but it’s on Gaither’s label rather than a label like MCA Nashville with a proven track record in Country. They’re trying to do a double debut (artist and label). The deck is stacked against that ever working. On the other hand, if Gaither’s label had only taken care of the recording process and a big Country label took over from there with marketing singles to radio, we might be talking about how successful the Isaacs have become in Country by now.
It’s worth noting here that the Isaacs aren’t courting Country with overtly Christian lyrics…at least not at this point. They’re taking the Amy Grant approach to successful crossover status by pushing singles about family, love, etc. I completely understand Grant’s approach to pop music in the 1980s, but Country is a different animal. Christian lyrics will play on Country radio, as Kyle has mentioned. There’s no fundamental reason to limit song lyrics to family and love when pitching to Country. Going back to the Easters for a moment, I think Jeff’s “Tavern To A Temple” and “Goin’ Away Party” would have set well with Country audiences if either of those songs had been given a decent push by a successful Country radio song promoter.
The difference has to lie in marketing. Carrie Underwood had her Country music debut with “Jesus, Take The Wheel,” but she probably isn’t the best example. She was already a household name due to winning American Idol. Consider Josh Turner then, who made his Country debut with “Long Black Train.” That success didn’t come from his previous star power. It came because the MCA Nashville promotion machine devoted their attention to his initial success and got the ball rolling.
David Bruce Murray
Topics: Gospel, Music | No Comments »
The Iowa Caucus
By admin | January 4, 2008
I have to admit, I like politics. I don’t know why, I’m not much of a political person, and the debates and campaigning these days have all the entertainment value and credibility of Pro Wrestling. I think we are in an era of pop-politics..you know, where news reporters report on the candidates hair, or how nice their wife (or husband) is, or other things not really meaningful to the issues.
Of course there are issues. Like illegal immigration. The Iraq war. Health care. But who gives a hoot? What we really talk about are issues like “Is America ready for a black President?…” (Or woman President, in Hillary’s case). The “Jesus” factor. Will an evangelical in the White House be good or bad? Some people are party loyalist while others want the most conservative or liberal candidate. I think we have reached the point we do not believe the candidates are going to do what they promise anyhow, so we go on and on about other things that are significant in some way, but have little to do with actual running the country. And then there’s the media that likes to keep things stirred up.
One thing I have noticed, the candidates that do the best are better able to let all the mud thrown at them just slide off. If the mud sticks, they’re toast. And so far the best one at the game, imo, is Obama. He’s been accused of so much (his middle name is Hussein!), and at least one news person accidentally called him “Osama” (ouch!). And he is a minority. Yet he has steadily increased his popularity, and after all the caucusing is said and done, he came out on top, at least in Iowa. He’s even taken some mud from the Clinton camp, and walked away looking clean.
Hillary…lots of baggage. Edwards…looks like a college brat (does his mommy know he’s running for President?). And the Republicans…goodness…by virtue of just being a Republican have LOTS of baggage. Whatever you think about the Bush administration, they have not been able to let the mud slide off, a LOT has stuck.
I’m not endorsing anyone. I tend to think most politicians with the exception of Ron Paul and a few other obscure also-rans are just front men for corporate and business interest. But I do see changes on the horizon, and Obama might just be the icon that represents a new direction for the good ‘ol USA.
Topics: Politics | No Comments »
53 is NOT old….
By admin | January 2, 2008
Why do I keep telling myself that? Probably because Jan 3 is my birthday, and I get closer and closer to having that endearing term “senior citizen” applied to me. I don’t really feel old, but a few tell tell signs are starting to make me aware I am entering the phase of my life which I prefer to think of in terms such as “golden oldie” or “mature…” I should know better, but I tell my kids how hard life used to be…I mean we had to REWIND the freaking vhs tape before returning to the video store. We had to actually turn a knob on a radio to change the channel, and worst of all, there was no such thing as email, which meant we actually had to talk to other human beings…without cell phones at that. How did we ever survive?
Probably had something to do with the music. I mean it was pretty good. even my 11 year old prefers the oldie channels, and my 25 year old son is a Beatle fan….
Oh well, might as well enjoy being a coger. When my wife tells me to do something, I can always say I didn’t hear her…or I forgot.
Do they still make Geritol?
Topics: Ramblings | No Comments »
Welcome to 2008!
By admin | January 2, 2008
If you’re reading this, you survived 2007 and you’re starting out a brand new year. I hope the new year finds you well, and in good spirits. Welcome to my newly designed website and new blog.
I plan to post a variety of things here, so do bookmark…and even better…subscribe to this blog. I’ll be talking a lot about music, keyboards, hopefully have some technical contributors, but I’ll also be sharing my thoughts about various things…politics, religion, world history, favorte TV shows, family, friends, good places to eat…just a variety of random thoughts from a fat old ugly piano player.
Speaking of piano players, you may have noticed I am no longer playing for Steel City Quartet. A combination of being a little older than I once was, plus many other obligations (like my 11 year old daughter who really likes her dad to show up at her various activities, and my disabled 25 son who relies likes dad to drop by from time to time) has led me to make the decision to leave the group. They are a wonderfully talented bunch of guys, and I miss ‘em…
A couple of people asked me what I plan to do…honestly, I don’t know. I still love to play. But for now I just want to be unobligated for a while. It’s nice to not have to be somewhere every weekend.
Here’s to a wonderful 2008!
Topics: Latest | No Comments »