"Carolina in the Pines" - Michael Martin Murphy

This song takes me back to my years in North Carolina, and all the loblolly pines.  It is such a beautiful state - quite possibly my favorite in that regard.

The GUM blog hits 100!! with "New Words" - Brian Stokes Mitchell

After 2 1/2 months in existence, the Good, Uplifting Music blog playlist has reached its 100th song!

As I was deciding what song should receive this honor, I was astonished to realize I hadn't yet posted anything from the fabulous Brian Stokes Mitchell, who is quite possibly my favorite professional singer.*  He has such a rich, powerful voice, and he performs with such animation.

Please enjoy this touching song by Maury Yeston, performed by Brian Stokes Mitchell, and keep listening and recommending!

* Like so many people, I loved the soundtrack to The Prince of Egypt as soon as I heard it, especially the song, "Through Heaven's Eyes."  Later, I discovered the musical Ragtime, and loved several songs sung by the character Coalhouse Walker.  (I'll post those here sometime....)  Still later, I was watching a Christmas special with Brian Stokes Mitchell as the guest singer, and I realized that all of these were the same singer.  I looked up when and where he would be performing, and I discovered that he would be performing in Boston a few months later!  I attended the concert and it was amazing!!  He is a fantastic performer and he makes a strong connection with the audience.  I recently learned that he will be in Houston for the holiday pops concerts, too!  I am really excited....

"Waiting for a Star to Fall" - Boy Meets Girl

This song became the "theme," if you will, for one or two of my early crushes.  It's a classic, 80s one-hit-wonder-type song, complete with saxophone solo and "we-weren't-sure-how-to-end-this" fade out, but I love it nonetheless.  It brings back fun memories :)

If you need even more of an 80s kick, check out the official video!

"I Will Arise (and Go to Jesus)" - arr. John Carter

This is a hymn from the Southern Harmony, a "shape-note" songbook compiled by William Walker that contains many great early-American hymns (more info here). Enjoy!

Recommendations, Weeks 9 & 10: Neil Diamond!

Ahh, the classic upbeat tunes of Neil Diamond!  Here are "Sweet Caroline," which always brings back fond memories of Boston; and "America," which is the first song I associated with Neil Diamond (from my mom's VHS of a Neil Diamond concert :).

"Buckbeak's Flight" from Harry Potter 3 - John Williams

The Harry Potter establishment scored big when they got John Williams to compose the soundtrack!  I love this piece - I think it really captures the feeling of freedom and exploration that Harry experiences during his ride on Buckbeak.

"The Fallow Way" - Judy Collins

I love this wintertime ballad by Judy Collins.  I find the words thought-provoking, and the melody beautiful and peaceful.

(If you can find a better YouTube video of this song, please share it!!)

"Bless the Broken Road" - Rascal Flatts

This is a sweet song about finding - and recognizing - true love.  It's by the band we saw last year at the rodeo :)

"I Thought I Loved You Then" - Brad Paisley

We saw Brad Paisley in concert at the Rodeo tonight, so I am posting one of his songs!  This is a sweet song that I think encapsulates the love of happy couples.  (This is popular at weddings. :)  In concert, he did some really cool things with the guitar - sliding his fingers up and down the string to make a nice effect.  He also used several guitars during the concert, including the one pictured below!

"Homeland" and "Here I Am" from Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron - Hans Zimmer

One of the things I enjoy about animated films these days is that a lot of them have really good-quality music, good enough to be played by professional classical orchestras!  The movie Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron is one of these.  You may remember this movie as being "the animated film about animals who don't talk."  I knew the soundtrack by heart long before I saw the film.  But the movie was pretty good, too - even my dad enjoyed it :)

Here's the "original," soundtrack version, which continues to include the piece "Here I Am":

"For Good" from Wicked - Stephen Schwartz

Perhaps Stephen Schwartz' most well-known work (at least these days - Godspell was 1971), Wicked is one of my favorite musicals.  One of those that I can quote all of the music, and most of the book (having seen it three times :)  This song is one of the concluding numbers, when the "good" and "wicked" witches of Oz are saying farewell.

"Til Kingdom Come" - Coldplay

A nice, mellow love song :)  I like the guitar part during the chorus, especially.  Enjoy!

"Ubi caritas" - Maurice Durufle

A beautiful song, often sung at weddings.  The first line means "Where charity and love are, God is there."  Below is an English translation.  Enjoy!

Where charity and love are, God is there.

Christ's love has gathered us into one.

Let us rejoice and be pleased in Him.

Let us fear, and let us love the living God.

And may we love each other with a sincere heart.

Where charity and love are, God is there.

As we are gathered into one body,

Beware, lest we be divided in mind.

Let evil impulses stop, let controversy cease,

And may Christ our God be in our midst.

Where charity and love are, God is there.

And may we with the saints also,

See Thy face in glory, O Christ our God:

The joy that is immense and good,

Unto the ages through infinite ages. Amen.

Recommendations, Week 8: "Castle on a Cloud" from Les Miserables - Schonberg and Boublil

This week's recommendation comes from the musical Les Miserables.  This musical is full of powerful, beautiful music, but most of it isn't cheerful.  This sweet song, however, is sung by the young Cosette as she daydreams about a happy place.

"Don't Go Breaking My Heart" - Elton John and Kiki Dee

This is such a fun, happy-in-love song.  It always makes me think of a Disney music video to this song (from time 0:51 to 2:19).

"Linus and Lucy" - Vince Guaraldi

This happy jazz tune has to bring a smile to anyone's face :)  It always makes me think of the Peanuts gang, of course, which I love.  Below is also a fun ThePianoGuys video for the song.  Enjoy!

"A Spoonful of Sugar" from Mary Poppins - Richard Sherman (1928-2012)

Richard Sherman, of the Sherman Brothers who wrote many of the Disney songs that get stuck in our heads, died today (click for news article).  To commemorate his work, here is one of his most famous songs.  Enjoy!

Kyrie from Missa Mater Patris - Josquin des Prez (performed by Chanticleer)

The Missa Mater Patris by Josquin des Prez is my favorite mass, and the Kyrie (below) is my favorite part.  To hear the entire mass, which is ~1/2 hour, check out this playlist.  This recording is by the group Chanticleer - sort of the American equivalent to the King's Singers.

(This is actually a "parody mass" - for more info, click here.)

Recommendations, Week 7: "Concerning Hobbits" from The Lord of the Rings - Howard Shore

We just finished reading the entire Lord of the Rings trilogy (after reading The Hobbit), so it seemed especially appropriate to post this song on the blog this week.  I guess it is a "solicited" recommendation, since I asked which piece to include.  This is the cheerful theme from the Shire, "Concerning Hobbits."  Enjoy!