 |
||||||||
 |
|
|||||||
|
New Music | |||||||
|
||||||||
|
||||||||
|
||||||||
| Introducing Heartpsalms of the World, an inspiring, new collection of songs designed to enhance personal and communal prayer experiences in a variety of settings. The lyrics of these twenty-five prayer-songs feature beautiful renditions of the psalms taken from Psalms for Praying by Nan C. Merrill (Continuum Publishing). The songs are composed by Juliana Howard and sung by Diane Bosl and Kevin Anderson.
The prayer-filled music in this collection blossomed from Juliana’s daily reading of Psalms for Praying. “Nan Merrill’s texts are so poetic that they almost sing themselves, so the songs are easy to learn,” says composer Juliana Howard. While meant to be used as a companion to Merrill’s book, these sacred songs can also be listened to, meditated on, sung as responses to spoken verses, chanted as mantras, or danced. The songs in the Heartpsalms of the World collection have been used to open and close meetings, in liturgical and non-liturgical prayer settings, at retreats, with ecumenical peace groups, and at women’s gatherings. They have been sung and prayed by Native Americans, Sufis, high school students, and religious sisters. Rounds, descants, and simple harmonies featured on the CD add variety and texture to the melodies and invite both the singers and the listeners to experience the sacred. For more information, contact Juliana Howard, 320-251-3417, [email protected]. |
||||||||
|
||||||||
|
||||||||
|
||||||||
| We Are the Circle | ||||||||
|
||||||||
|
||||||||
|
||||||||
| We Are the Circle is intended to help God-seekers grow in knowledge of the Beloved One, who created us to bring light to the world. We are all part of the same circle. It is the same One who draws us into our common center and into our own depths where we begin to experience the love and peace promised by Jesus. As we surrender to the magnetic pull of the Great Mystery, we begin to shed our illusions and fears which have kept us from believing in ourselves. It is then that we become free to love and live for others—to be joyful servants in a troubled world. Juliana Howard, 2004
Words and Music: Juliana Howard |
||||||||
|
||||||||
|
||||||||
|
||||||||
| Leap Like a Deer | ||||||||
|
||||||||
|
||||||||
|
||||||||
| I published this collection of songs, sung by the Crayons, in 1998 under the title What Would Jesus Do? It was the sixth and last recording the Crayons did before they disbanded. Now I am reissuing the songs under a different title and with an accompanying music book. I believe that this music is sorely needed in today’s hectic, violent world. Children need to be comforted and instructed with words, tunes, and rhythms that speak their language but are steeped in scripture and tradition.
Fig Tree in the Garden and Papa Love are based on Jesus’ parables. Fill us in the Morning, You Are My Shepherd and Cling to Me are inspired by psalms. Just Be has a contemplative theme, reminding us to stop striving so much and just rest in God’s love. Come O Blessed Mother honors Mary and the Divine Feminine. God-Thoughts celebrates the abundance of a God-centered life. Jesus Feed Us is a Eucharistic hymn with a gospel feel. Follow Me is about trust and surrender to God’s will. The Other Side shows what it’s like to be caught in fear and doubt. Christ is Calling invites us to follow Jesus as the brave women in the Bible did. Gotta Do and Leap Like a Deer are dances which present profound lessons. Jesus Transfigured explains this mystery in a way that children can understand. Wherever You Go, based on the story of Ruth and Naomi, is a heartfelt farewell which can be sung for a community or class member who is moving away. My hope is that in singing and listening to these songs, children will come to know God’s love at a deeper level and will better be able to grapple with the dilemma of “What Would Jesus Do?” —Juliana Howard, 2004 |
||||||||
|
||||||||
|
||||||||
|
|
|||||||
|
|
||||||||
|
||||||||
|
|
||||||||
