Church MuseSep 20, 20211 minAbout "Muse Moments," formerly known as "Church Muse"When I was growing up in the First Presbyterian Church in Warsaw, Indiana, I seem to recall a newsletter with the name of the "Church...
Church MuseSep 20, 20202 min“Smizing” when you don’t feel like it - Charles Chaplin’s “Smile” sung by Nat King ColeAs a little girl, whenever I was feeling blue, my mom would say, encouragingly, “If you smile on the outside, it’ll make you feel better...
Church MuseSep 6, 20203 minDealing with Heartbreak - "It is Well with My Soul"The text for the hymn, "It Is Well With My Soul" was written by Horatio Spafford. Though a prosperous lawyer, he fell on difficult times....
Church MuseJul 26, 20203 min"No Man is an Island" - John DonneThis week, Marty and I are happily vacationing in northern Wisconsin, graciously hosted by dear friends who have a house on an island on...
Church MuseJul 10, 20203 min"A Passionate Friendship" - Clara Schumann and Johannes BrahmsI think it’s time for a love story. My music offering today highlights two amazing composers who shared a deep love, yet never married....
Church MuseJul 2, 20202 minKeeping it light - Flute Clock Pieces - Franz Josef Haydn It has been awhile since I posted anything, and it’s because there has been much weighing heavily on my heart that I have been at a loss...
Church MuseJun 24, 20202 minIn Paradisum - In Paradise - Gabriel Fauré's RequiemToday Marty and I lost a dear young friend to cancer (only 51 years old), Ryan Anthony. I had posted a performance of him playing,...
Church MuseJun 20, 20202 minFather’s Day“Ich bin der Welt Abhanden gekommen” - from “Rückertlieder” by Gustav MahlerThis post comes from different facets of my soul, beaming brilliantly together like a rainbow prism from leaded glass. And they are all...
Church MuseJun 6, 20202 minA Hymn to Heal Our Nation - "Agnus Dei" by Samuel BarberFor one of my earliest posts, I chose two of Sam Barber’s songs, “Desire for Hermitage” and “Solitary Hotel,” which seemed to mirror our...
Church MuseJun 2, 20203 min"Amazing Grace" - Celebrating our DifferencesAs I know you probably are, too, I am terribly troubled with what is happening across our country right now, and coupled with the...
Church MuseMay 26, 20202 min“Somewhere” - from West Side StoryAs a student, I learned that to write a good story, a reporter must ask - and answer - the five questions in his or her piece: who, what,...
Church MuseMay 20, 20203 min"In This, Our House" - KKH and C, S, N & YSince we are all staying in our houses, if we are fortunate enough to have one, I thought it would be fun to share two songs about...
Church MuseMay 15, 20202 minWe Need Each Other - “People” - Barbara Streisand and Jennifer LopezLike all of you, I’m staying at home as much as possible. I make an effort to keep up with constantly changing details as the scientists...
Church MuseMay 10, 20203 min"Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child” - arr. Ann Ker Hall/Kelly Ker HacklemanOkay, I got another inspiration from the small screen… We’ve been watching “Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist.” It’s a very unusual show. If...
Church MuseMay 4, 20203 min"Take a Minute" - Chopin’s Minute Waltz, Op. 64, no. 1 and Mazurka in f minor, Op. 68. no. 4A few nights ago, we found ourselves in our usual place in front of the tv, and decided to rent a movie instead of binge watch a show....
Church MuseApr 28, 20203 minFriendships - “Sometimes” by Henry Mancini - The CarpentersIt would seem that during this time our friendships would fall by the wayside because we cannot see each other. But even though we have...
Church MuseApr 23, 20203 minIn Celebration of Earth Day - Clarity - Claude Debussy’s "Clair de Lune"We have learned that there are some positive ripple effects to our staying at home, because of what we’re NOT doing. Besides not...
Church MuseApr 19, 20203 minFinding Balance - All Star Brass - “Nice and Calm” and “Sway”Even in the best of times, I struggle to achieve a balance in my life…balance between work and play, calories and activity, wake and...
Church MuseApr 16, 20203 min“Inventing Outside Your 'Bach's'” - J.S. Bach's InventionsWhen I was in grade school, I remember being assigned a short story called, “Necessity is the Mother of Invention.” As a kid, I thought...
Church MuseApr 11, 20202 minDarkness into Light - "When Jesus Wept" by William BillingsEaster is the most important day in the Christian year. The week preceding Easter tells the story of Jesus’ death and resurrection....