Favorite Thing: Music
I love music. From my earliest days I’ve loved singing, the piano, and making up songs. I grew up listening to the Gaithers and Christine Wyrtzen on an old record player. Then classical music quickly became my passion, and still, in my opinion is the most complex and wonderful expression of music.
After 8 years of piano and 2 years of voice, music took a back seat when I went to college and was double majoring in English and Graphic Design. Unfortunately, during those five years I lost a lot ground by not practicing much. After college, I started learning guitar before courting Josh, and then with wedding planning, it fell by the wayside again.
But this year, Josh and I decided to make music more of a priority. Josh has been taking guitar lessons since January to further his skill, and I’ve been practicing guitar and songwriting. We’re always on a quest to discover new and different musical styles and like a huge range of eclectic music.
Right now, I’ve been listening to Enya and Over the Rhine.* Enya has long been a favorite of mine and although you’ll often find her in the “New Age” section (you’ll find Jim Brickman and George Winston there too), she’s essentially Celtic infused easy-listening. One of my favorite albums is The Memory of Trees.
Also, at work I’ve been listening to my new favorite band, Over the Rhine. You can read about them here. If you go to their website, you can sample their music (I could listen to “Born” all day). They have an acoustic folk feel and thought-provoking lyrics.
So, I’m wondering . . . do you play any instruments? What kind of music do you like? What are you into listening to right now?
*I know everyone has different tastes and convictions on music, so I want be careful when recommending music. This is not “Christian” music per se, although the band members of “Over the Rhine” are Christians to my knowledge. Feel free to do your own research on them before listening.
Dancing by the Light 
I took several years of piano, starting in first grade, but not getting serious until high school.
I always wanted to play in the marching band, but lacked the confidence to try to learn a new instrument. Right now I am listening to a one-man band on the drums. His name is Stephen. When he gets famous, you’ll know it. I’ll blog about it. My all-time favorite music would be old hymns.
My favorite songwriter: the late Rich Mullins. He was a modern-day prophet, if I can be so bold. I also enjoy listening to my hubby on guitar, especially when he plays classical. So soothing (and sexy, I tell him).
Hmmm I use to play the flute…all I play now is the B flat scale. HEE HEE. I leave the music playing to my husband.
I do however LOVE music. All kinds. I love Over The Rhine. They are one of my all time favorites. We danced to one of their songs for our first dance at our wedding. Her voice is so soothing. They are great in concert too.
Other music I am listening to a lot now include
Jack Johnson (don’t agree with all his political views but he has a great sound very relaxing.) He also did the Curious George Soundtrack that both my kids and I love. You know usually kids music is annoying.
LOVE LOVE YO YO MA. Very soothing and Relaxing. (He plays the Cello) My favorites of his are Bach the Cello Suites. It is just him playing Bach with no other instruments. It is heavenly sounding. I also like his CD Appalacian Journey. Incredible it is a mix of Classical and Bluegrass. Sounds weird to try to explain but it is breath taking.
Another favorite of mine is Jose Gonzalez Veneer. He is Swedish Born. He plays the acoustic guitar. It is obviously European and sounds that way. Picture a sidewalk cafe and what you would imagine playing there. Great relaxing weekend kind of music.
Then I really like Angels and Airwaves. (THE CLEAN VERSION) Don’t buy the explicit version and get mad at me. HEE HEE. My husband LOVES this band. It is the guy from Blink 182 but sounds nothing like Blink 182 except his voice. Kind of more along the lines of U2. Great CD to clean house or workout to. Very interesting progressions etc.
Imogene Heap. Another European singer formerly part of the duo Frou Frou. I love her sound. It is really different. A mix of Euro Pop and Electronica but not how you would normally imagine. Her voice and sound is etheral. There is the use of the H double hocky sticks in one of her songs. Obviously not Christian.
Okay for Christian Bands. Gotta redeem myself here. I love Switchfoot. Fun music, great sound, incredible make you think lyrics.
Also love Relient K. My boys love to Jam in the car to this. Kind of punk sounding. Very up beat. Great make you think and also just fun lyrics.
Lastly Pierce Pettis. HE is a Folk singer. Very good lyrics. Soothing reflective sound. He is a Christian and that influences his song writing. Another great relaxing weekend CD. Somewhat on the sad side but still great.
Okay I have taken over your blog. So sorry. Can you tell I like to listen to music as much as I like to take pics.
In school sometimes, I’ll play music when the kids are doing Writer’s Workshop..as a way to keep the atmosphere light and mellow. I play Enya because its relaxing and not distracting. The first time I played it, the kids busted up laughing at it. The next few times, they whined and moaned. (They wanted to bring in their rap music) But by the end of the year, they were humming along to it. That’s my contribution to raising the next generation in a variety of music.
As for me…I am a country girl through and through! 🙂 I like country, blue grass, folk. I would love to learn the violin or guitar, and tried teaching myself once but didn’t get too far.
kI like country too, Kristin. And that’s funny about your students and Enya! Josh and I LOVE Yo Yo Ma too, Bethany. Actually Josh has gotten me into him the most. I especially love, “Yo-Yo Ma Plays Ennio Morricone.” I’ve heard Imogene Heap is good too.
I hear much about you from Suzanne’s blog … nice to find another person out there who appreciates Enya and especially The Memory of Trees. How about that founding Latin-imbued track 3, eh wot?
Of course, I am a male, and that being the case, I am not supposed to like Enya. Why, even my own boss caught me listening to track 12 of Watermark in the car — “Storms in Africa, pt. 2.” Yet, although I could blame my sister for my initial exposure, or perhaps Fellowship of the Ring, I care no longer whether people know of my preference. And more recently, I determined one reason for such a preference: Enya’s style and lyrics are trascendent. She sings — or echoes, or reverbs or whatever — of things beyond herself, or beyond humanity altogether. And while not explicitly Christ-honoring, of course, to me that seems a step in the right direction.
Meanwhile, Enya’s sister, Maire (Moya) Brennan is also excellent listening. As former lead vocalist for the Irish band Clannad, Ms. Brennan eventually began her own solo albums — and, following an evident profession of faith, she actually made two albums, Perfect Time and Whisper to the Wild Water, with clearly Christ-honoring lyrics. “Perfect Time” from the former album and “Follow the Word” and “Ageless Messengers” from the latter are particularly excellent.
Meanwhile, of course, certain film soundtracks are my all-time favorite genre of music. Howard Shore’s score for The Lord of the Rings trilogy, to me, is the all-time best. More recently I’ve especially enjoyed John Ottman’s heroic and classical Superman Returns score. …