Something about Mary...............

Ahhhh.......'tis the season (well, 'tis always the season for me)..........a few songs about our Mother, the one who's always there, and loves us warts and all.

(A note from your Mom: There's enough Aves in this list to probably nearly cover you, in the event that you got "too busy" and neglected to pray the Rosary today.....jest sayin')

Andrea Bocelli-Sancta Maria

Sarah Slean-Mary (version from "Orphan Music")

Joan Baez-Mary

Word of Mouth Singers-Weeping Mary

Pink-Ave Mary A

Ashana-Ave Maria

Huong Lan-Ave Maria

Kim Ah Joong-Ave Maria

Luis Gonzaga-Ave Maria Sertaneja

Beth Neilsen Chapman-Hymn to Mary

Bobby McFerrin/Yo Yo Ma-Ave Maria

Charles Aznavour-Ave Maria (live)

Kathleen Battle-Ave Maria

Kokia-Ave Maria

Libera Boys Choir-Ave Maria

Luiz Loys-Ave Maria

Marian Sawa-Ave Maria

Nina Hagen-Ave Maria

Noa-Ave Maria

Paolo Serrao-Ave Maria

Richard Clayderman-Ave Maria

Take 6-Mary

http://www.mediafire.com/?gop26i3uy778q2i

Mary Lou Williams "St. Martin De Porres-Black Christ of the Andes" 1963

Here is where sacred jazz originated. After MLW's conversion to Catholicism, she withdrew  from the concert stage, and focused for the next decade or so on her growing spirituality. When she returned to music, the music reflected where she was at in her life....the music here is deeply spiritual and personal.

Here's a review from allaboutjazz.com:

Calling this album mainstream is a bit misleading, since it includes four pieces of choral/sacred music and one avant garde cut. In a way, it's the perfect mirror of where Mary Lou Williams was in the early 1960's, coming out of a nearly ten year absence from performance. At the beginning of that period she had devoted herself solely to religion and charitable work. Jazz-loving priests within the Catholic church convinced her to convey her religious feelings through what she did best: performing, composing, and arranging. Here we have some of the beautiful results.
The hymn “St. Martin de Porres” celebrates the life of a recently-canonized Peruvian patron saint of interracial justice, complete with modern jazz harmonies and rhythm patterns, ascending and descending chromatics and falls, with a brief, simple Latin piano interlude. The very hip jazz waltz ”Anima Christi” has the usual strong bass line of a Mary Lou Williams tune, here doubled by Budd Johnson on bass clarinet.
Vocal soloist Jimmy Mitchell reminds me of a higher-pitched Lou Rawls. Grant Green's clean, hip, tasty blues licks flavor the piece throughout. “Praise the Lord” brings together inspired gospel and the feeling of a great jam session, with swing era vet Budd Johnson wailing on tenor sax. Jimmy Mitchell quietly raps. By the time he sings “Everybody clap your hands now,” you'll be doing that or moving your body in some fashion.
Exploration was the hallmark of Mary Lou's career. Here she takes the journey into rhythms and deeply into the blues. At times her playing is very spare but deeply felt. “A Fungus A Mungus” takes the listener in a polytonal direction, hinting at her later interest in Cecil Taylor. 

Here is the link:

http://www.4shared.com/file/cETLyh_X/desporres.html

Here is the track list:

St Martin De Porres

It ain't necessarily so

The devil

Miss D.D.

Anima Christi

A grand night for swinging

My blue heaven

Dirge Blues

A fungus A mungus

Koolbonga

Forty-Five degree angle

Mary Lou Williams "Mary Lou's Mass"

This is a long time favourite.....a recording that I return to often, both as a Catholic...and as fan of Mary Lou Williams.....enjoy.

By John Seroff Smithsonian Folkways July/August 2005

Over the course of her nearly 60-year career, Mary Lou Williams was like a Swiss army knife of jazz, having a go at just about every movement between ragtime and free jazz. This lifelong musical exploration culminated in a devotion to ecclesiastical music; most of her later recordings are spiritually informed (Black Christ of the Andes and Zoning, two other excellent recent Smithsonian Folkways reissues, are excellent examples). Williams' spirituality awakening happened most suddenly in 1954 when, at the age of 44, she walked off a Parisian stage in the middle of a performance, disappeared for three years and reemerged as a confirmed Catholic who would spend much of the rest of her life spreading the twin gospels of music and the Lord. These two passions meet to great effect on Mary Lou's Mass, a long out-of-print, papally commissioned suite that showcases some of Williams' most personal and mature work.

Blending late-'60s funk, show-tune quality cabaret singing and biblical scripture, Mass is often shocking in its commingling of styles: "Lamb of God" is Williams' successful attempt at writing a modern Gregorian chant; "Lazarus" uncannily juxtaposes a jaunty guitar melody over bassist Carline Ray's vocalese retelling of the scripture; "It Is Always Spring" sets inspired back-and-forth play between Williams' piano and soloist Roger Glenn's flute underneath Leon Thomas' wordless yodeling. Some of the songs represent more genre-homogenous explorations, such as the authentic Southern gospel flavor of "The Lord Says" or the rousing bop of "Willis," but every take snaps with innovation and life. This sumptuous and richly annotated rerelease is long overdue and utterly praiseworthy.

Here is the link to Mary Lou's Mass:

http://www.4shared.com/file/yxggXSii/mass.html

Here  is a tracklisting:

Willis

O.W.

Praise the Lord

Old Time Spiritual

The Lord says

Act of Contrition

Kyrie Eleison (Lord, have mercy)

Gloria

Medi I and Medi II

In his day/Peace I leave with you/Alleluia

Lazarus

Credo

Credo (instrumental)

Holy, Holy Holy

Amen

Our Father

Lamb of God

It is always Spring

People in trouble

One

Praise the Lord (Come Holy Spirit)

Jesus is the best

Tell him not to talk too long

I have a dream

A request...for Holy Week: The Easter Triduum...Catholic hymns in Latin by Beth Neilsen Chapman

Thus begins Holy Week: The Easter Triduum

Our long journey to the font culminates in the Easter Triduum.  These three days draw us into the mystery of our salvation.  Whatever we are doing these days, these prayers and resources can help us be open to the graces the day offers.   Each morning, we can pause to acknowledge the meaning of the day ahead.  Each night, we can give thanks.

Even if we can't celebrate these days liturgically, we can reflect upon the symbols and rituals, and let the prayers of the liturgies draw us in.  All, that we might know the depth of the love being offered us, and power of the gift of life won for us.

I am posting this request for Catholic hymns.....this is a personal joy for me in being able to post this for her.  These hymns are a big part of my life as a Catholic, also.

Here is a link to an absolutely wonderful CD by Beth Neilsen Chapman from 2004, "Hymns".

Here is the link:

http://www.4shared.com/file/254600172/3068dc20/hymns.html

And here are the songs:

Ave Verus Corpus
Veni Veni Emmanuel
Tanti Erego
O Salutaris Hostia
Adoramus te
O Santissima
Panis Angelicus
Salve Regina
Hymn to Mary
O God of lovliness
Dona Nobis Pachem
Ave Maria


A beautiful collection....enjoy! And a blessed Holy Week to all......