Diary of a Church Pianist

     I wrote my first song when I was twelve years old. It's a very simple song, not particularly rich in lyrics or chord structure, but sometimes 'tis a gift to be simple!

Diary of a Church Pianist: Youth Sunday

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Podcast email: diaryofachurchpianist@gmail.com

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     This week is an update on my ongoing Judges Project. It is my goal to complete a collection of 12 songs that brings the book of Judges to life. I have previously played Jephthah's song on this podcast, which I will link here. Today we investigate the story of Ehud, the second judge of Israel, whom God used to defeat the mighty Moabite king Eglon. Featuring my new "sea shanty" Ballad of King Eglon.

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Podcast email: diaryofachurchpianist@gmail.com

Facebook page for social media stuff: @diaryofachurchpianist

     This week's episode is about a song that I sang for service recently. It is from a kid's Christmas musical that I performed in 1998. Many thanks to Dogman15 for their contributions to the hive mind of human memory known as the internet. Without their efforts to preserve this music on their YouTube channel, this song might have been lost to the sands of time.

"Mission Possible" on YouTube

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Email: diaryofachurchpianist@gmail.com
Facebook page for social media stuff: @diaryofachurchpianist

Kari recounts the story of Stephen the martyr and performs her original song "Heaven in His Eyes," which is written from the point of view of Paul the Apostle.

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Email: diaryofachurchpianist@gmail.com
Facebook page for social media stuff: @diaryofachurchpianist

     In which I sum up 2020. Also, some New Year's Musical Resolutions.

Links to my virtual choir performances:

The Solid Rock

Angels We Have Heard on High

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Email: diaryofachurchpianist@gmail.com
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     Kari plays two of her most recent compositions, "House of Prayer" and "Daddy, Why?"

     "House of Prayer" is about the Tabernacle as described in the book of Exodus. The chorus also draws inspiration from Solomon's dedication of the temple in 2 Chronicles 6.

     "Daddy, Why?" is based on the story of Jephthah's daughter from Judges 11.

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Email: diaryofachurchpianist@gmail.com
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Kari talks about some common metaphors used in Christian song lyrics and how they relate to the classical elements.

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Email: diaryofachurchpianist@gmail.com
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In this special hour-long edition of Diary of a Church Pianist, Kari and her husband Jacob have a casual conversation about cookie-cutter worship songs, Taylor Swift, Christian K-Rap, and much more.

Jacob's YouTube channel

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Email: diaryofachurchpianist@gmail.com
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In which Kari talks about playing piano for a wedding.

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Email: diaryofachurchpianist@gmail.com
Facebook page for social media stuff: @diaryofachurchpianist

 

This is part one of a series about the influence of technology on Christian music. In this episode Kari talks about how the invention of sound recording has changed how we hear and think about music in the church.

50th anniversary demonstration of the phonograph by Thomas Edison archive.org

Intro music--"Onward Christian Soldiers" by Fred Waring and His Pennsylvanians archive.org

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Email: diaryofachurchpianist@gmail.com
Facebook page for social media stuff: @diaryofachurchpianist