As I said in the composer's notes for the
companion Christmas CD: Christmas Reflections on the Fallen Snow,
Christmas remains perhaps my most favorite time. Instilled in me by my
Mother throughout my childhood years, Christmas is a most special time
and a most special event. The older I get, the more I remember with
great affection the Christmases of my youth. The older I get, the more
it seems as though the minutes, hours and days race buy, and the faster
the earth spins. Many find it harder and harder to remember what
Christmas really is. And all too many find it hard to "feel"
the joys and wonder of what Christmas used to be.
Points
of Light and Christmas Reflections on the Fallen Snow
are companion CDs. Both CDs were recorded an engineered in the studio at
the same time. Both CDs feature Christmas music like you've never heard
before. The melodies are haunting and beautiful. The music selection and
structure draws upon familiar melodies and traditions, but presents them
in most unique and original arrangements and sounds. You will notice
that although both CDs feature only six Christmas songs each….there
are 49 to 55 minutes of musical listening delight available to you on
each CD. These CDs immerse you to great depth in the beauty of each
Christmas song and melody. Like the many colored lights and ornaments on
a Christmas tree, the number of shapes, shadows and colors you hear and
see are determined only by the different angles you have when looking
upon the tree, or when listening from the individual perspectives unique
to your heart and life's experiences. So too are the musical variations
and arrangements within this CD.
The music
of this CD tells a tale of Christmas from a most unusual perspective.
Most renditions of Christmas music and art are based on the idea of
Bethlehem and the events unfolding there. That is as it should be. But
in composing the variations and special arrangements for the musical
selections on this CD, I wanted to give you the listener something
different to reflect on and to celebrate. The central idea of this music
is that you, the listener, are taking your own journey along with the
three wise men…the three kings as they are often called. The symbolism
and divine connections to our current lives are immediate and obvious.
The journey with the wise men takes us through the mountains, across
rivers, hills and valleys. We feel the cold…our feet get tired…we
rest by the campfire, under the light of a million stars…preparing for
the next day's journey…ever seeking our goal…our treasure…the
new-born king…in Bethlehem. Led by Faith and by the a single bright
star…we press on…for weeks, perhaps a month or two…until finally,
we are there, and we share our gifts with the babe in a manger.
Does this
not remind us of our own life's spiritual journey…led mostly by faith
and by the singular light of God, manifest in all its forms around us…His
divine Word..in places, people, nature, and circumstances… in the
beauty all around. Christmas is a wonderful and joyful time…but most
of all clearly reminds us of our higher purpose for being…of our need
to grow and evolve…to our more perfect selves…to a more perfect
understanding…to a more perfect reflection of the light and love of
God. Christmas is about us being given the opportunity to know God in a
way never before possible…God made man - incarnate.
Relax…and
let the angels touch your heart with a most special sense of Christmas…
far away from the stresses and cares and tensions of daily life and
taskings…though the storm rage all around, on the inside you have the
calm, serene waters of a protected lake…Listen to the wise men as they
travel…hear them speak to your heart in We Three Kings…and
allow the light of God that is within you to be manifest for others
around you to see…until the light that is within burns so bright it
shines through the heavens, among all of God's many Points of Light.
.. Listen carefully to the voices upon the alpine winds, as they call to
you in Do You hear What I Hear. Revel in the joy and camaraderie
of God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman. Share in the simple joy of the
childhood Jolly Old St. Nicholas, performed as a slow prayer to
bridge the child's understanding of the Christmas wonder and joy with
those of an older, wiser heart. May we never lose that child-like heart
within. Listen as the winds call out in the distance…to a Christmas
bell…or an angel perhaps…or a past remembrance…or a special or
forgotten friend…feel the energy and rhythm of the Carol of the
Bells. Let the music make your heart young again!
Points
of Light is my own small attempt to share some of those past
Christmas joys and memories in the light of modern new age sound and
style. You will find this to be one of the more delightful aspects of
the CD- the arrangements blend past traditions with new age sounds to
once again let the past blessings and significant understandings pour
forth…your heart will leap again perhaps as when you were a child…when
you felt close to the babe in a manger…or perhaps you will smile with
the remembrance of the Christmas manger and stalls on the mantle piece,
with the statuary of shepherds, animals, St. Joseph and Mary all around…and
with the three wise men placed just a little bit further away…further
out on the mantle…still on the journey…until Christmas day...the
music will take you away from the stresses and concerns of the current
season- and take you to a place where your heart will again be gently
imbued with the one true spirit of the Christmas season…the coming of
God-made-man.
Final
Thoughts: … The cover art for this CD was one four created for me as a
commissioned painting by my friend and brother, Tom Barber. His creative
genius and gifts are without measure. The image you see on the cover is
the result of me telling him what the CD was going to be…he had not
heard the music…at least not on tape…obviously he heard and
connected to the music of my heart and his own. The painting itself is a
very great blessing, the music not withstanding. I'm glad he is my
brother and friend.
Stayed
tuned to another day and another visit to this wayside stop to learn
more of the stories for each individual song selection. However, I would
like to tease you a bit more by suggesting you pay special and close
attention to the Carol of the Bells. You will find the sounds,
textures and rhythms to be captivating and most unusual. NOT your
typical Christmas fare. My son thinks its cool, and so do I. Merry
Christmas.
PS- the
music on my CDs has been likened unto movie theme music in some ways,
and all of the arrangements, familiar or original, are soothing and easy
on the ear…yet they have intellectual depth. If you are like many,
including myself, you may find yourself listening to the Christmas CDs
most any day or time of the year…and some may think you crazy at first…until
they hear the music too…the music of their hearts…the music of the
angels.
