smallVOICE podcast – January 2015

A podcast packed with good things, this month’s illuminating A Thousand Words feature is contributed by Norman Shanks | We’re delighted to have music in the studio from singer-songwriter Crawford Hall Mackenzie| Our Media Review focuses on the phenomenon that is NPR’s Serial podcast | The Moral Mixdown discussion considers ethical questions from the Ched Evans’ news story | And our regular feature, Shelf Life, allows Darren to make a case for Arvo Part’s Spiegel im Spiegel. Is it really the most beautuful and spiritual music ever, ever, ever?

Presented by the usual suspects of Darren, Anne & Margaret. Helped along by a fair old wind.

Recorded on Thursday 8 January 2015. Length: 66 minutes 33 seconds.

Music courtesy of Kevin MacLeod

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3 Responses to "smallVOICE podcast – January 2015"

Catriona says:

January 13, 2015 at 1:36 pm

Thank you for another thoughtful and thought-provoking podcast.

Arvo Part – what’s not to like? And Speigel in Speigel is on the “soundtrack to my life”. One of those pieces of music where I can remember the first time I was consciously aware of it (being used as a kind of musical bookend for a storyline in the TV soap/drama Casualty for a storyline in which a junior doctor attempted suicide – a horrific storyline tenderly handled, I felt). Soon after that I stole its premise for a theological relfection on theological reflection. Later it would become one of my precious “dark nights” comfort pieces during cancer treatment… Music has incredible power and I guess many of us have our equivalent pieces of music.

In stark contrast, the mention of Matt redman’s “Ten Thousand Reasons” made my blood run cold and I physically shuddered. Knowing a little of his s tory, I am sure this song was written with utmost and authenticity, but it is a song I discovered around the time of my cancer treatment, when certainty had been snatched away – to this day I cannot song the final verse:

“And on that day when my strength is failing
The end draws near and my time has come
Still my soul will sing Your praise unending
Ten thousand years and then forevermore”

I am sure, for many this song carries huge comfort and encouragement, but for me this is one to avoid (by contrast, I find his earlier song, “Blessed be your name” hugely encouraging and comforting)

All of whgich shows the power of music, and makes me think about the choices I make for Sunday worship.

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1. smallvoice1 says:
  
  February 6, 2015 at 12:01 pm
  
  Catriona, thank you so much for this comment. Sorry it got lost for a while! (And no idea why your comment needed moderated again.) Thanks so much for sharing.
  
  Reply
kennedy fraser says:

January 17, 2015 at 2:24 pm

Did Darren really say ‘a box set of Serial’?

Am really enjoying the Serial podcast – gives you a different perspective on court proceedings (and the gospel accounts).

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