Tag Archives: music

Alex Boyé Takes Music To Higher Ground

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The latest release by the irresistible Piano Guys, entitled “Peponi“, has become yet another YouTube sensation for the classical duo. But, this one is an extra special treat. Pianist Jon Schmidt and Cellist Steven Sharp Nelson partnered with vocal powerhouse, (and my personal friend), Alex Boyé to create an African ”spiritualization” of Coldplay’s hit song “Paradise”. Alex Boyé is a British-born Mormon convert of Nigerian descent who currently lives in Utah, USA. Alex is a husband, a father, and a professional singer and actor. He gives his whole heart and soul into each performance, and allows his music to stand as a testament of his life and faith. Continue reading →

Silent Night Gets A Fresh Take

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Jake Justice and Amy Whitcomb recording Silent Night - used with permission

Jake Justice and Amy Whitcomb may be young, but they are already making a name for themselves in the competitive music industry. The two talented Mormon artists recently collaborated on a new recording of “Silent Night” which I am pleased to share with you today. Continue reading →

Welcome Christmas! Pull Up A Chair

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A Christmas tree inside a home.

Image via Wikipedia

Hello Christmas! You look so beautiful, and not even a day older, this year! Won’t you please come in and stay awhile? I’m sorry I’ve been rushing around so much lately I haven’t paused to spent more quality time with you. I know you can’t stay long, and your presence always fills my heart and home with such a special feeling!

I recently noticed that over the past 4 years of blogging, I’ve written more during the months of November and December than any other time. You, Christmas, inspire me! Some of the older posts are getting attention and traffic all on their own through search engines, or chance, but many readers may not be aware of some of the fun Christmas posts from the past. So, I would like to welcome all of my dear readers to come sit a while with me and Christmas. Whatever time you have to spare, here are a few of my favorite topics of conversation:

The Music of Christmas

Oh so many posts to choose from! I can’t possibly list them all, but here are some that I am particularly fond of:

The Story of Christmas

The Food of Christmas

The Gifts of Christmas

  • What Shall We Give? - Try some gift-giving tips from President Thomas S. Monson, and enjoy an inspiring song.

The Sorrow of Christmas

For many, Christmas is a poignant, even sorrowful time. Chairs are empty at the table, and hearts are aching and missing the ones we love. Here are two posts for remembrance and healing:

  • A Soldiers Christmas Card - A tender story, and sweet video honoring our troops
  • You Would Have Loved This – A special Christmas song of love, loss and faith – written and performed by Mormon folk-singer Cori Connors and featured as an original MoSop video.

The Joy of Christmas

  • Joy To The World For Everyone – music video released in 2009 featuring Emmy-award winning composer and producer Sam Cardon and vocalists Jenny Jordan Frogley and David Osmond

The Magic of Christmas

The Legends of Christmas

The Power of Christmas

Here are some stories about how we can live with the spirit of Christmas all year round.

  • Seeking Christ - This post features a video entitled “Look to the Light” with real people telling their real stories of how the meaning of Christmas changed their lives.
  • Christmas Every Day In India - Meet Narayanan Krishnan, a professional chef who lives every day with the true Christmas spirit
  • Let There Be Peace On Earth - “Sooner, perhaps, than we realize, the fate of nations will be in the hands of today’s children.” Words of wisdom by Elder M. Russell Ballard, and a song for peace.

The Fun of Christmas

I hope you have enjoyed a peaceful moment sitting here with me, and the spirit of Christmas. Thank you so much for your readership, your friendship, your comments and most of all, your presence in my life that motivates me to look for the good in each day!

Merry Christmas with Love – MoSop

Carol Of The Bells and Cellos

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Confession time. There are a few Christmas songs I don’t particularly care for. Take Carol of The Bells, for instance, which usually scrapes along the edge of my nerves like a dull razor. The song is merciless for any singer with articulation problems, or any listener who prefers their music to stay on pitch. And, don’t even get me started with all of the painful High School Choir concert renditions I’ve been forced to sit through…”ding, dong, dinng, doonnnnng”…But, I digress. Enter cellist extraordinaire Steven Sharp Nelson and the magic elves with The irresistible Piano Guys (all classically trained Mormon musicians). They have just redeemed this poor carol from its drudgery status and demonstrated to the world how truly brilliant it can be!  Continue reading →

The Most WONDERFUL Time Of The Year

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English: Dwight McCann, http://dwightmccann.co...

Mathis: Image via Wikipedia

The distinctive voice of Johnny Mathis crooned through my radio, declaring “It’s The Most Wonderful Time of The Year!” The popular Christmas song went on to list exactly what makes it so wonderful, such as holiday greetings, being with loved ones, caroling, “parties for hosting”, and even “marshmallows for toasting” Continue reading →

The Importance Of Music

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This new video expresses perfectly the way that I feel about music.

Marissa Rohlfing

I am so impressed with Marissa Rohlfing, a beautiful young Mormon Soprano woman from Hawaii who is truly magnifying her talents by not only sharing the song of her heart, but helping others to do the same. From one “MoSop” to another, I salute Marissa! May we all follow her good advice and positive example. – Aloha!

BONUS:  Download Marissa singing  “Nearer My God To Thee” - FREE HERE. Enjoy.

The Memorial Day Promise

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Cemetery Hill

Image by Soaptree via Flickr

On the cold afternoon of November 19, 1863 United States President Abraham Lincoln joined with over 15,000 people in a field on the outskirts of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The crowd was gathered for the purpose of dedicating the fresh graves of a newly created Soldiers National Cemetery; location of one of the most vicious and deadly battles of the raging Civil War.

The featured speaker of this event was U.S. Senator Edward Everett, a popular orator who chose to wax poetic for over two full hours to the [extremely patient] crowd. After he sat down, President Lincoln was asked to give “a few appropriate remarks” in closing. Lincoln spoke for only four minutes, and yet his words have become one of the most enduring and memorable speeches in American history. I feel his words stand as a solid American oath for Memorial Day, and an enduring anthem for every day. Continue reading →

Please Remember Who You Are

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At The Back Door by Robert Duncan

One of my mother’s “famous sayings” when I was growing up, [used with increasing frequency and urgency the older my siblings and I became], was  “Please Remember Who You Are!” Without fail, as we were running out the door to play with friends, or to have a “sleep over”, attend a party or go to Prom, Mother’s voice could be heard calling after us;  “Please Remember Who You Are!“

As time went by, it became an inside joke to see Continue reading →

Miracle From Heaven

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Joy Of The Lord- By Liz Lemon Swindle

In 2009 three nationally known artists joined talents to share their witnesses of Jesus Christ. The “Son of Man Project“ was created to combine artwork of renowned Christian artist Liz Lemon Swindle, the music of acclaimed composer Kenneth Cope, and the writings of religious scholar Susan Easton-Black

“at completion, the Son of Man project will include a four-volume book series, an original two-volume musical score, and over one hundred paintings and sketches celebrating the life of the Savior.”

The attached video produced by B. Hillman combines Kenneth Cope’s song “Miracle From Heaven“ with art-work by Liz Lemon Swindle, and enjoy rare behind-the-scene footage of Ms. Swindle’s staged subject photo-shoots.

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Resources

He Is Risen!

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The Resurrection of Christ by Carl Bloch - image courtesy Wikimedia

“Of all the things for which I feel grateful, I am most thankful this Easter morning for the gift of my Lord and my Redeemer. This is Easter, when, with all of Christendom, we commemorate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. This was not an ordinary thing. It was the greatest event in human history. I do not hesitate to say that.

“If a man die, shall he live again?” asked Job (Job 14:14). There is no question of greater importance than this. Continue reading →