Musical Friday Five

MUSICAL FRIDAY FIVE

Over at RGBP, Songbird writes,It was ... Martin Luther who said:"I have no use for cranks who despise music, because it is a gift of God. Music drives away the Devil and makes people gay; they forget thereby all wrath, unchastity, arrogance, and the like. Next after theology, I give to music the highest place and the greatest honor."

On this Friday before Reformation Sunday, let's talk about music. Share with us five pieces of music that draw you closer to the Divine, that elevate your mood or take you to your happy place. They might be sung or instrumental, ancient or modern, sacred or popular...whatever touches you.

My deepest connection with music is through singing along to the radio/cds... even if the song has no words, I vocalize - lalala, hum, etc - to feel the music in my physical being. Here are 5 (in no particular order) that particularly speak to my spirit:

1) Catch me singing "Hammer and a Nail" (Indigo Girls) in the shower many mornings. "Gotta get out of bed, get a hammer and a nail - learn how to use my hands not just my head - I think myself into jail - Now I know a refuge never grows from a chin in a hand in a thoughtful pose - gotta tend the earth if you want a rose!" It's a great way to remind myself to get moving; God has called me into the world. (YouTube video here - but, thank heaven, it's not me singing)

2) I can't sing the Dixie Chicks' "Top of the World" without passion and a lump forming in my throat - it's such a soul-longing search for redemption that it encourages me to try to live life without those deep regrets. (another YouTube video)

3) If I had to choose a favorite hymn (too hard a task, by far!), I might name "O For a Thousand Tongues" in sentimental honor of my United Methodist roots - but really, most hymn-lyrics to the tune of AZMON make my heart sing.

4) Melissa Ferrick's "'Til You're Dead" just makes me happy because it's a song Jamie sang to me early on in our (now 10-year!) relationship.

5) And just because I'm totally boring and predictable, if I need a pick-me-up, or if I'm having a joyful day and want to celebrate it, or for almost any other reason, I put in any Indigo Girls cd and sing along. Lyrics, music, spirituality and social justice emphasis make their music speak to every part of who I am.

On a similar note, if you haven't read Don & Emily Saliers' book A Song to Sing, A Life to Live: Reflections on Music as Spiritual Practice I highly recommend it! It's from the perspective of a professor of liturgy/music (Don) and his daughter, a "pop" musician (Emily).