Strains of  “There is peace and contentment in the Father’s house today…” replay themselves in my mind as I work, having listened to the newly released album Charity Youth Bible School Chorus 2009 from Altar of Praise Studio.  Here are a few youtube videos (posted by others) of the chorus in action last November.

I was with a group of young people on Tuesday trying to learn a new song and no one happened to have a pitch pipe along. That steel cookie just doesn’t always make it into our pockets along side the requisite wallet, mobile phone and keys. So we stumbled along and made do without it for the duration of our song learning efforts.

Later, I got to thinking about how if we could just use our cell phone’s ability to play audio and use a pre-recorded set of auditory pitches, we wouldn’t ever have that problem again, since most people always have their cell phone with them. So I went hunting online to find something of that nature that would work for our future music endeavors. I came across the Online Pitch Pipe and figured the MP3’s found on that page would be just the ticket.  Unfortunately, they are no longer available, but thanks to our friends over at the Internet Archive and their Wayback Machine, I was able to download the files from the 2005 version of the website.  I have linked to them below in a zipped folder which you may freely download and unzip before loading them on your cellphone.  Now before anyone argues that the sound from a genuine free reed aerophone is far superior than the sound of an electronic micro-sized speaker on a cellphone, I will quickly agree.  However, having your cellphone blow the pitch is better than no pitch at all    So, I wouldn’t recommend this as an alternative for any of us Mennonite, Beachy or other Acappella singer-types on Sunday morning at church, but it works for impromptu singing events when the Real McCoy isn’t available.

Enjoy!

Cellphone Pitch Pipe.zip

Sherwin Samonte, from Vancouver Canada posts beautiful “music videos” of Anabaptist-Mennonite singing on Youtube and Tangle (used to be Godtube) that break the mold of what music videos are usually known to be.  Here’s one of his latest postings, He Still Came. It is sung by the Lebanon County Youth Chorus on their album, Somewhere In The Skies.  You can purchase the entire album from Altar of Praise Studio where it was recorded by clicking on the linked album above.

I recently made the discovery of a fairly new website dedicated to Christian music, Hymnary.org. Built with Drupal, an open-source content management system, this website is a beautiful example of excellent information architecture. Letting it it speak for itself…

The Hymnary is a new kind of hymn Web site. It combines the best features of popular sites like the Cyber Hymnal and academic projects like The Hymn Tune Index and rolls them all into one robust database.

Another great music website I’ve discovered is GladSongs.com.  It is basically iTunes for conservative Christian music where you can purchase and download albums or individual songs. Albums vary in price and individual songs are priced fairly reasonably at 0.99¢/ea. These folks have really embraced social media with a Youtube channel, RSS feed (for new releases), and even a Facebook page.

Today I received the recording by Altar of Praise Studio from Chorus at YBS ‘08.  I must say, I was pleasantly surprised at the quality of the recording.  It sounds better than it did live, at least to my untrained ear. Though it is not listed on their website, you can probably get yourself a copy of this recording if you contact them.

Here’s my favorite of all the selections:

Lord, I Want To Be A Christian In My Heart

I hadn’t heard this song before.  Great message!

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Yesterday evening and this morning our church enjoyed the company of a number of SMBI students who are on their Western tour singing at various churches here on the West Coast. I had wonderful conversations with some of the students and particularly enjoyed meeting blogging friend, Hans Mast.

The music was absolutely beautiful, but more importantly, it really focused on the importance of each one of us going out and sharing Christ with others. I was challenged and deeply blessed.

I didn’t shoot any video, but this is a similar performance of the song Days of Elijah that the group shared with us.

For anyone happening to read this blog living in the Western US, I’ve included their remaining itinerary below:

I’ve never heard a harmonica played this way. Truly outstanding! First saw it over HERE.

This song was a blessing to me. Yes, because of the blood of Jesus I can go in. Hallelujah!

(You can download the mp3 at http://www.abigailmiller.com/)

He stood beside the gate of Heaven, waiting to go in,
And he wondered how this Holy Place could take a man like him.
With shouts of great rejoicing and with music then they came,
Of the angels standing by him he asked what could be their name?

“These are the company of prophets.  The goodly fellowship of souls,”
“Who spake God’s Word with faith and boldness; who blessed the poor,
and made the wounded whole.”

“Oh,” he fell upon his knees, and cried, “I am not one of these.”

He waited ’til another band of shining ones drew nigh,
They entered into Heaven with a “Hallelujah” cry.
He asked again, “Who are these?  Can you tell me whence they came?”
He seemed to see the answer in a burning tongue of flame.

“These are the company of martyrs, the mighty fellowship of Saints.”
“Who knew our Lord and walked beside Him.”
“Who ran the holy race and did not faint.”

“Oh,” he fell upon his knees, and cried, “I am not one of these.”

Then suddenly, a multitude was heard from far away.
Their voices rang with songs of joy like children at their play.
He saw Rahab, he saw David, Mary Magdalene and Paul,
And the thief who died by Jesus was the one who led them all.

“Who are these?!” he almost shouted at the angels.
“These are the sinners saved by grace!”
“The host of them who called upon the Savior;”
“Washed in Blood and justified by faith!”

And, Oh…he leaped up from his knees!
“Oh, I can go in with these!!!!”

“And I can go in, for my heart is free from sin.”
“I’ve been washed in the Blood, everlasting life to win.”
“I can rejoice, I can lift up my voice…I can sing…and I can go in.”

Oh, he thought there could be no hallelujahs and no cries,
For this lowly band of people by the world despised,
But as the scenes of heaven opened up before his eyes,
He saw the martyrs and the prophets, and the host of heaven rise,
And they sang, “I can go in.  For my heart is free from sin.”
I’ve been washed in the blood, everlasting life to win,”
“I can rejoice, I can lift up my voice…I can sing…and I can go in.”
“I can go in.”
“I can rejoice, I can lift up my voice…I can sing…and I can go in.”
“I can go in.”

I just finished listening to an excellent music CD entitled Reflections on a Journey.  It is a beautifully done collection of classic hymns using piano, an orchestra and some soft background vocals.  The style of the music reflects on the main artist, Greg Howlett, a graduate of Pensacola Christian College, who developed the musical arrangements and played the piano pieces. 

The hymns chosen for this album are:

1. The Love of God
2. Count Your Blessings
3. My Jesus I Love Thee
4. His Eye is on the Sparrow
5. Have You any Room for Jesus?
6. Does Jesus Care?
7. Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus
8. Breathe on Me
9. Jesus Is All the World to Me
10. Near to the Heart of God

Real talent in this style of music is often hard to find, so feel free to check it out for yourself by clicking on the link below.  His previous album, Timeless Reflections is also available on the same website.