Chant Songs
The chants were composed over many years. I needed to express in music some of my exploring in contemporary, mystical spirituality. The two chant CDs were recorded by the choir and instrumentalists of Grace St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Tucson, AZ, (Summer 2000), while I was organist-music director there.
Background
I was born in small-town Minnesota. As a child I'd plunk on the piano when we visited my grandma. So when I was 8 years old my parents started me in piano lessons with a nice woman in the neighborhood. In high school after our family moved to Phoenix I got to start learning classical pipe organ.
Formal Education
Organ performance, choral conducting, choral arranging-Arizona State University, Tempe AZ.
Christian theology, liturgy-Graduate Theological Union, Berkeley CA.
Contemporary spirituality-Institute in Creation-Centered Spirituality, Holy Names College, Oakland CA.
Consciousness and the arts-John F. Kennedy University, Orinda CA.
After living in Berkeley and San Francisco for 20 years, I moved to Tucson, Arizona in 1997 - for the immense sunshine and summer heat, combined with its liberal-progressive bent.
Explorations in Music & Spirituality
During the past 25 years I have been an explorer in quest of 'Who am I -- really?' This exploring took me through East-West religious thought, diverse spiritual practices and mysticism, psychology and consciousness.
I also continued to serve on-and-off as a church organist and choir director. About 15 years ago I returned to the piano as well, but in ways different from my early training. I took some jazz lessons and coaching in free improvisation, and I tried my hand at composing. Now I seem to have evolved my own style that fits no good, clear label -Celtic-like tunes with a little jazz harmony and classical forms.
Today
Currently, I have a day job to pay the rent. I meditate daily for sanity. And I live a pretty simple lifestyle. I'm working on a solo piano CD to include other tunes I've composed - gentle, heart-felt, contemporary folk. I'm aiming for release in early 2006.
Through all my exploring I've often felt 'on the edge' -- of society, of established religion, of the music world. Now I've begun to embrace and celebrate being on the edge, being an outsider.
If I needed a label, it would be a transitory one -- the facets intertwining in various ways and shifting in order of significance. As of this writing I'd say I'm a 'Queer Mystic Musician.'
Check out the artist's website:
http://www.kelmusic.com
Track List:
1. Let Go, Let Be
2. My Soul Magnifies You, O God
3. Holy, Wholly, Holy One
4. We are the Light of the World
5. One in Whom We Live
6. My Spirit Rests in You Alone
7. Christ Above Me
8. Child of the Universe
9. Spirit Set Us Free
10. You Shine Within Us
11. Beauty Before Me
12. Hearts Desiring
13. The Earth Does Not Belong to Us
14. May All Beings Be Happy
15. My Voice Has Wings
16. Blessing Rest Upon You
17. Let Go, Let Be
Suggested CDs:Other Genres:
The chants were composed over many years. I needed to express in music some of my exploring in contemporary, mystical spirituality. The two chant CDs were recorded by the choir and instrumentalists of Grace St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Tucson, AZ, (Summer 2000), while I was organist-music director there.
Background
I was born in small-town Minnesota. As a child I'd plunk on the piano when we visited my grandma. So when I was 8 years old my parents started me in piano lessons with a nice woman in the neighborhood. In high school after our family moved to Phoenix I got to start learning classical pipe organ.
Formal Education
Organ performance, choral conducting, choral arranging-Arizona State University, Tempe AZ.
Christian theology, liturgy-Graduate Theological Union, Berkeley CA.
Contemporary spirituality-Institute in Creation-Centered Spirituality, Holy Names College, Oakland CA.
Consciousness and the arts-John F. Kennedy University, Orinda CA.
After living in Berkeley and San Francisco for 20 years, I moved to Tucson, Arizona in 1997 - for the immense sunshine and summer heat, combined with its liberal-progressive bent.
Explorations in Music & Spirituality
During the past 25 years I have been an explorer in quest of 'Who am I -- really?' This exploring took me through East-West religious thought, diverse spiritual practices and mysticism, psychology and consciousness.
I also continued to serve on-and-off as a church organist and choir director. About 15 years ago I returned to the piano as well, but in ways different from my early training. I took some jazz lessons and coaching in free improvisation, and I tried my hand at composing. Now I seem to have evolved my own style that fits no good, clear label -Celtic-like tunes with a little jazz harmony and classical forms.
Today
Currently, I have a day job to pay the rent. I meditate daily for sanity. And I live a pretty simple lifestyle. I'm working on a solo piano CD to include other tunes I've composed - gentle, heart-felt, contemporary folk. I'm aiming for release in early 2006.
Through all my exploring I've often felt 'on the edge' -- of society, of established religion, of the music world. Now I've begun to embrace and celebrate being on the edge, being an outsider.
If I needed a label, it would be a transitory one -- the facets intertwining in various ways and shifting in order of significance. As of this writing I'd say I'm a 'Queer Mystic Musician.'
Check out the artist's website:
http://www.kelmusic.com
Track List:
1. Let Go, Let Be
2. My Soul Magnifies You, O God
3. Holy, Wholly, Holy One
4. We are the Light of the World
5. One in Whom We Live
6. My Spirit Rests in You Alone
7. Christ Above Me
8. Child of the Universe
9. Spirit Set Us Free
10. You Shine Within Us
11. Beauty Before Me
12. Hearts Desiring
13. The Earth Does Not Belong to Us
14. May All Beings Be Happy
15. My Voice Has Wings
16. Blessing Rest Upon You
17. Let Go, Let Be
Suggested CDs:Other Genres:
- NEW AGE: Meditation
- FOLK: Gentle
- CHRISTIAN