13 June 2008
Lutheran Hymns from Lake Wobegon
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Lake Wobegon is a small town in the American state of Minnesota that exists only in the mind of humorist and writer Garrison Keillor. In a rambling reminiscence that may or may not be true, Keillor explains the difficulties of keeping a music director at the nearby Holy Trinity Lutheran church.
Lutherans have a wonderful history of congregational hymn singing. And Luther himself said that "Next to the Word of God, music deserves the highest praise".
Among the hymns this week will be an arrangement of 'A Mighty Fortress is Our God' (Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott), written by Luther himself, and a favorite of Protestant congregations everywhere, 'Now Thank We All Our God' (Nun danket).
If you're a regular listener to Radio National you might have heard the Garrison Keillor Radio Show broadcast last Summer. It's an edited version of his long-running radio show on American public radio, A Prairie Home Companion.
As well as being host and writer of A Prairie Home Companion, Garrison presents The Writer's Almanac heard on public radio stations across the USA and around the world. And he's also the author of more than a dozen books, including Lake Wobegon Days. He was born in Minnesota in 1942 and while he now worships at an Episcopalian church in New York city where he lives, Garrison has in the past been a member of the Lutheran church, and was born into a family belonging to the Plymouth Brethren, a fundamentalist Christian denomination which he's since left.
Finally, to coincide with the Australian visit of the Dalai Lama this week, we hear chanting from the Gyuto Monks of Tibet, a Special Message recorded by His Holiness in 2000, and a Long Life Song for the Dalai Lama by Ama La Olo Bhuti.
Further Information
A Prairie Home Companion with Garrison Keillor
From the website of American Public Media.
The Garrison Keillor Page
An assemblage of information about Garrison Keillor including links to other Garrison Keillor sites.
Garrison Keillor's Radio Show - ABC Radio National
Garrison Keillor's Radio Show will be back at 7pm on Sunday 6 July 2008.
Peace and Compassion - A Concert for Tibet
Sunday 15 June 2008, 7:00pm at the City Recital Hall, Angel Place, in Sydney.
A fusion of world, pop, and classical/contemporary music combined with colour and images in an extraordinary two hour synaesthetic experience. The audience will be taken on an uninterrupted spiritual journey, through the medium of music, that has been based on the Chenrezig Buddha of Compassion Initiation that His Holiness the Dalai Lama will be giving at The Dome, Olympic Park on the morning of 15th June 2008. Artists include the Gyuto Monks of Tibet with William Barton's didjeridu, the drums of TaikOz, Synergy Percussion, Jimmy Little joined by Steve Kilbey and Elena Kats-Chernin on piano recreating Under The Milky Way, Katie Noonan, Tenzin Choegyal and the MLC Chamber.
Anoushka Shankar
A reminder that Anoushka Shankar, sitar virtuoso and daughter of Ravi Shankar, will be playing at the Sydney Opera House, Saturday 14 June at 8.00pm. Anoushka and Ravi Shankar were featured on The Rhythm Divine, 3 August 2007.
His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama - Video Footage
By scrolling down this list, you can view ABC News video footage of the Dalai Lama at Sydney Olympic Park, delivering the Stages of Meditation teaching by the Tibetan master Kamalashila.
Music
CD title:
Martin Luther und die Musik
Track title:
Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott
Artist: Wiener Motettenchor/ Musica Antiqua Wien
Composer: Luther/ Walter/Othmayr/Osiander
CD details: Christophorus CHE 0025 2
CD title:
Hymn to Potatoes
Track title:
The Choral News from Lake Wobegon
Artist: Garrison Keillor/ VocalEssence/ Charles Kemper, piano/ Philip Brunelle
CD details: VocalEssence Records VECD 0605
URL: http://prairiehome.publicradio.org/
CD title:
Over the River & Through the Woods
Track title:
Now Thank We All Our God
Artist: VocalEssence/ Garrison Keillor and the Hopeful Gospel Quartet
Composer: Rinkart/Cruger
CD details: VocalEssence VE 1104CD
CD title:
Compassion:
Track title:
Special Message from His Holiness the XIVth Dalai Lama
Artist: Dalai Lama
CD details: Millennia Music/Harmonic Station
CD title:
Om Mani Padme Hum
Track title:
Long Life Song for His Holiness the Dalai Lama
Artist: Ama La Olo Bhuti/ Gyuto Monks of Tibet
CD details: ABC Audio 0642 558000
URL: http://www.gyuto.va.com.au/
Presenter
Geoff Wood
Producer
Geoff Wood
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