Though released in 1984, Leonard Cohen’s beautiful “Hallelujah” didn’t catch on until it was covered by John Cale a few years later. Since then, more than 200 different artists have covered it, including Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson, k.d. lang, and Bono. Having “laid our alleluias to rest” during Lent, now seems the perfect time to hear one more cover of Cohen’s “Hallelujah,” this time from street musician Petr Spatina, playing the piece on crystal glasses. Notes: 1) If you are receiving this post by email, you may need to click here to watch the video. 2) Thanks to Diane for sending this my...

There are two types of worship services most regularly associated with Good Friday. One is the traditional service of the “Seven Words from the Cross.” The service, often held between noon and three – the hours Christ hung on the cross – is composed of hymns, readings and a brief meditation on each the seven words Christ uttered from the cross as recorded by the four evangelists. The other common occasion for worship on Good Friday is the Tenebrae service, usually held in the evening and arranged around the passion story as recorded by St. John. Tenebrae comes from the Latin word for “shadows,” and at various parts of...

I am a huge fan of George R. R. Martin’s Song of Ice and Fire series, of which A Game of Thrones is the first book. But that’s not what this is about. No, this is about Norway. Or, rather, Norwegian culture. Though I have no Scandinavian blood that I know of, I have developed over my years of living in the Upper Midwest a tremendous admiration for Scandinavian culture. So when I saw these two different articles that capture the resilience and creativity of this Nordic culture that I appreciate so much, I thought I’d share. The first comes from Open Culture, one of my favorite websites, and describes the work of Terje Isungset, a...

My very favorite element of the internet is the ability to share inspirational stories with others, and especially inspirational videos. I use that word “inspirational” with some trepidation. Often what’s labeled “inspirational” in our culture moves in the direction of sappy, happy, and Hallmarky (I know that’s not a word but you know what I mean). But I mean inspirational in the old-fashioned sense of where the word came from. “Inspiration,” like “respiration,” has to do with breathing, with breath. In fact, “in-spire” literally means “to breathe into.” And breath, of course, is connected to life. Hence, to...

Okay, so here’s the set-up: three guys who love bluegrass music. Except they’re not just three guys who love bluegrass, they’re three guys from New Jersey, not the first place you think of when you think of bluegrass. Except they’re not just three guys from New Jersey who love bluegrass, they’re three brothers. Except they’re not just three brothers from New Jersey who love bluegrass, they’re three brothers all under the age of fifteen. And there you have it: Brothers Jonny, Robbie and Tommy Mizzone are “The Sleepy Man Banjo Boys,” a trio of virtuoso bluegrass musicians who in just five minutes will share two songs and in...