The Nine Days of Feasting are upon us and in full swing! What a glorious time to celebrate God's goodness to us in sending his Son to be the Savior of His people. Thanks be to God for this indescribable gift.
Have a blessed celebration of the incarnation of our Lord!
Thursday, December 21, 2006
Friday, December 15, 2006
Hymns for Kith and Kin: Recording Process
News on Hymns for Kith and Kin!!
"We are very excited to report that we completed the recording of Hymns for Kith and Kin: Piano Accompaniment for Family Worship. Hymns for Kith and Kin provides rich piano accompaniment supporting you in your daily family worship. Rebecca Serven plays on a Steinway parlor grand giving the musical introduction and accompanying each verse with music styled to the text of the hymn. Your family can join in song with 18 familiar hymns such as "Great is Thy Faithfulness" and "Holy, Holy, Holy". Watch for the release of this upcoming recording!"
Playing away--not a bad task with a Steinway 1920's Parlor Grand!
Last week as we hinted at in our blog post, we journeyed down into the city to make a piano recording. Many thanks for all your input regarding a name for the CD and also your top 5 hymn choices! We appreciate the many responses we got and your thoughtful (and sometimes humorous) responses.
The brains behind the operation.
We decided to title the work "Hymns for Kith and Kin: Piano Accompaniment for Family Worship". In case you don't know here are some definitions:
"Kin": family related by blood (i.e. mother to child)
"Kith": close friend or relative not related by blood (i.e. husband to wife)
Listening to the takes at the end of the first day.
We narrowed down the hymn choices to these eighteen selections:
- A Mighty Fortress is Our God
- Amazing Grace
- And Can it Be
- Be Thou My Vision
- Come Thou Almighty King
- Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing
- Doxology
- For All the Saints
- Great is Thy Faithfulness
- Hallelujah, Praise Jehovah, O My Soul
- Holy, Holy, Holy
- How Great Thou Art
- Immortal, Invisible
- Jesus, What a Friend for Sinners
- O the Deep, Deep Love of Jesus
- Praise to the Lord, The Almighty
- Soul Adorn Yourself with Gladness
- When Peace Like a River
Most of the songs were recorded in 2-3 takes, though some took much less (the Doxology was perfect the first time!) and others more (the record was 9 takes). Peter was a wonderful producer, giving encouragement through the whole 8 hour long process (over 2 days).
When Mom and Lydia came by, we gave them a tour.
We are in the middle of graphic design right now--the cover is going to look very beautiful. Peter is doing a great job. It was hard to find an image that would encapsulate all the concepts that we wanted to portray, but I think we are on the right track. We'll be sure to let you know as this project progresses along. We might (?) even let our blog readership have a sneak peak at the cover art once it is together. I'll have to check with my agent though. : )
Listening, evaluating, and bouncing the music (it's a recording term) : )
Questions or comments? We would love to hear your feedback on the project. Lord willing, this CD will be for sale in the new year.
Wednesday, December 13, 2006
That Feathery White Stuff
At the news of a possible snow a few weeks ago, we were thrilled to pieces. According to the locals, last year's weather was unusually mild. It snowed 2 or 3 times with a measly 1-2 inches per time. We were quite hopeful of a more substantial winter this year.
The Lord was kind to bring a very respectable snow for Missouri almost 1 1/2 weeks ago(6 inches of snow with 2 inches of ice underneath it)! It was a thrill for these ex-Californians to be able to sled, snowboard, make snow angels, have snow ball fights, create snow forts, and just generally romp in the snow--all right in their back yard.
The ubiquitous "they" informs us that usually the snow melts with in day or two. This snow lasted quite long (1 1/2 weeks) with following cold temperatures. It's all melted now, but we have so many joyful memories from these last weeks of playing in that feathery white stuff. What a fun blessing from the Creator!
Our back yard.
Sledding on the road.
The kids woke up early the morning after the snow and started sledding on the road. The big boys were out by 6 a.m. and the rest of us by 7:30 a.m.
Trying out the ice.
The builder/farmer who owns the land for our subdivision came by around 8:00 to plow the road--we were so disappointed. But, happily we discovered that you can even go faster on the ice underneath!
Shoveling snow--a new experience.
There were quite a few who felt the need to eat snow.
Lapping the stuff up.
Snow in the mouth.
This is COLD!
Our wintery abode.
Monday, December 11, 2006
Thanksgiving Musical Recital
What a glorious evening we had with all these music students from our church! Piano solos and duets, violin, cello, fife, harp, and vocal solos created quite a variety concert of musical blessings. We talked of the importance of music as a means to glorify the Lord and the privilege we have to praise him skillfully and joyfully.
Psalm 33:1-3
"Shout for joy in the Lord, O you righteous!Praise befits the upright.
Give thanks to the Lord with the lyre;
Make melody to him with the harp of ten strings!
Sing to him a new song;
Play skillfully on the strings, with loud shouts."
Tuesday, December 05, 2006
ENN: Reformation Day at Our House
Insert Opening ENN Theme Music: "Ta-ta-ta-tam-m-m-m-ti-bi-ta!" *
"Hello! This is Andrew Gordon reporting for Everyday News. Unfortunately, our video equipment is not cooperating, so I decided to give my news report in a blog post.
"Today I'm going to tell you about a very special day at our house. Reformation Day is the Sunday closest to October 31st, the day Martin Luther nailed the 95 theses on the door of the Wittenburg Church. We celebrated this Lord's day by inviting our church family over--170 people came!! Wow, was our house full.
"The cars, vans and trucks parked all up and down our road."
"Before the feast began, my brother Nathan, helped us kids with some fun and games."
"Look what Isabella found! A frog on our property!"
"Mr. Bringe ties Nathaniel's shoe so he can play the game too."
"Jump up high boys!!"
"Steve, can you play with us too?"
"My brothers, sisters and I built a really neat flag pole that really raises and lowers our flag."
"Everyone wanted to play trucks while they were waiting for dinner."
"While the children played, some of the dads talked. "
"When it was time for the feast to begin, Dad called us all to the back deck to pray to God, thanking Him for His blessings. "
"The time has come to start the food line--women and children first!"
"Delicious, nutritious and yummy!"
"My sister Beth loves to hold babies. Here she is chatting with Katie."
"My sister Rebecca and Mrs. Houghton enjoyed talking together."
"My sister Lydia had dinner with Mrs. Renaud, Holly and Allison."
"Joel and I had dinner at this table on the driveway."
"I wonder if the men noticed the doll listening into their conversation!"
"My Dad leads the Psalm Sing and we all sit in parts around him."
"Don't you think we could fit more people?" : )
"Awww, come on--let's just fit one more."
"Dad and my brother Ben sing in the tenor section. When I get bigger I might sing with them or with Nathan and Peter in the bass section. We'll have to see how God changes my voice!"
"Here is my section--the treble section (thats what we call all the children who sing soprano)."
"My sister Rebecca plays the piano for the Psalm Sing. In this picture she is showing Mr. Knibb a brand new Psalm. "
"We were glad our friends the Zeses could come up to sing with us."
"My sister Beth chats with Rebekah Zes in between practicing the Psalms."
" 'Young Master Cutler' explains how things work at a Psalm Sing."
"Some Dads and some Kids talking."
"Three Californian girls in Missouri."
"After the official Psalm Sing is over, some 'stalwarts' stay to sing later. We were so glad that Mandy and Danielle could join us."
"The Knibb girls and Rebecca were trying to figure out a new hymn."
"After the Psalm Sing some people stayed to chat."
"Grandma Grable with two babies!"
"What a memorable Reformation Day we had spending with the families from our church. We are thankful that many years after the Reformation we can celebrate the work God did, through singing Psalms and 'delighting in the Sabbath Day.' This is Andrew Gordon reporting for Everyday News."
Insert Closing ENN Theme Music: "Ta-ta-ta-tam-m-m-m-ti-bi-ta!" *
*With apologies to Justin Turley. : )
"Hello! This is Andrew Gordon reporting for Everyday News. Unfortunately, our video equipment is not cooperating, so I decided to give my news report in a blog post.
"Today I'm going to tell you about a very special day at our house. Reformation Day is the Sunday closest to October 31st, the day Martin Luther nailed the 95 theses on the door of the Wittenburg Church. We celebrated this Lord's day by inviting our church family over--170 people came!! Wow, was our house full.
"The cars, vans and trucks parked all up and down our road."
"Before the feast began, my brother Nathan, helped us kids with some fun and games."
"Look what Isabella found! A frog on our property!"
"Mr. Bringe ties Nathaniel's shoe so he can play the game too."
"Jump up high boys!!"
"Steve, can you play with us too?"
"My brothers, sisters and I built a really neat flag pole that really raises and lowers our flag."
"Everyone wanted to play trucks while they were waiting for dinner."
"While the children played, some of the dads talked. "
"When it was time for the feast to begin, Dad called us all to the back deck to pray to God, thanking Him for His blessings. "
"The time has come to start the food line--women and children first!"
"Delicious, nutritious and yummy!"
"My sister Beth loves to hold babies. Here she is chatting with Katie."
"My sister Rebecca and Mrs. Houghton enjoyed talking together."
"My sister Lydia had dinner with Mrs. Renaud, Holly and Allison."
"Joel and I had dinner at this table on the driveway."
"I wonder if the men noticed the doll listening into their conversation!"
"My Dad leads the Psalm Sing and we all sit in parts around him."
"Don't you think we could fit more people?" : )
"Awww, come on--let's just fit one more."
"Dad and my brother Ben sing in the tenor section. When I get bigger I might sing with them or with Nathan and Peter in the bass section. We'll have to see how God changes my voice!"
"Here is my section--the treble section (thats what we call all the children who sing soprano)."
"My sister Rebecca plays the piano for the Psalm Sing. In this picture she is showing Mr. Knibb a brand new Psalm. "
"We were glad our friends the Zeses could come up to sing with us."
"My sister Beth chats with Rebekah Zes in between practicing the Psalms."
" 'Young Master Cutler' explains how things work at a Psalm Sing."
"Some Dads and some Kids talking."
"Three Californian girls in Missouri."
"After the official Psalm Sing is over, some 'stalwarts' stay to sing later. We were so glad that Mandy and Danielle could join us."
"The Knibb girls and Rebecca were trying to figure out a new hymn."
"After the Psalm Sing some people stayed to chat."
"Grandma Grable with two babies!"
"What a memorable Reformation Day we had spending with the families from our church. We are thankful that many years after the Reformation we can celebrate the work God did, through singing Psalms and 'delighting in the Sabbath Day.' This is Andrew Gordon reporting for Everyday News."
Insert Closing ENN Theme Music: "Ta-ta-ta-tam-m-m-m-ti-bi-ta!" *
*With apologies to Justin Turley. : )
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)