Music

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Conspirare: Holiday Big Sing at Home

Participate in the joy of singing with Conspirare for Holiday Big Sing at Home presented on December 22, 2020 at 5:30 pm Central.

Experience the joy of singing as we come together from our homes. For this special Holiday Big Sing at Home, Craig leads the singing from the piano and with a mix of cherished holiday favorites, pop songs, and the Hallelujah Chorus. Conspirare Symphonic Choir continues to serve as hosts and we also welcome singers from our national roster, guitarist Mitch Watkins, and percussionist Thomas Burritt. Lyrics will be on-screen, and you can converse in real-time with the artists in the chat feature.

You can view the Conspirare Holiday Big Sing at Home program on the event webpage, including a PDF booket with lyrics. Click on this link to view this live streaming program, which will still be available through Jan 6, 2021.

Holiday Big Sing at Home – Dec 22, 2020 – 46 min

Please consider a contribution to help engage the power of music to change lives, as well as heal, transform, and elevate the human spirit. Your investment provides the gift of Conspirare’s music to everyone and keeps their nationwide roster of artists employed. There is also a link to go directly to the concert without any donation. Thank you.

Videos

These video recordings from the recent Conspirare Christmas 2020 virtual concert, as well as previous live concerts at The Tobin Center in San Antonio are also available for you to watch.

Conspirare Christmas 2020 – 1 hr 30 min

Conspirare Christmas 2019 – 2 hr

Conspirare Christmas 2018 – 1 hr 57 min

Conspirare Christmas 2017 – 1 hr 53 min

Listen to more of their music at my Conspirare post with additional albums, videos, and links.

Paul McCartney: McCartney III
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Paul McCartney: McCartney III

Listen to rock music by Paul McCartney on his new album McCartney III. Also I included the earlier albums in this self-titled “trilogy”.

Albums

McCartney III (2020) – 11 songs, 44 min

McCartney II (1993) – 11 songs, 38 min

McCartney (1970) – 13 songs, 34 min

Photo Credits: McCartney III – Album cover @ Amazon

John Albert Thomas: Music Portraits
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John Albert Thomas: Music Portraits

Listen to solo piano music by John Albert Thomas on his new album Music Portraits. I also included his earlier Christmas album.

Album

Music Portraits (2020) – 11 songs, 38 min

Light Has Come (Solo Piano Christmas) (2015) – 12 songs, 42 min

See John Albert Thomas for more albums, videos, and links.

Photo credit: Music Portraits @ Amazon (album cover)

KeithTim Anderson: Dreams Come True
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KeithTim Anderson: Dreams Come True

Listen to solo piano music by KeithTim Anderson on his new album Dreams Come True. I also included his earlier debut solo piano album. I absolutely love this album; it’s so melodic and relaxing.

This is a solo felt piano album of all original dreamy almost magical sounding music composed and recorded in 2019 and 2020 using the unique sound of a one-string-per-note felted piano along with reverse reverb.

KeithTim Anderson – Album notes

Albums

Dreams Come True (2020) – 10 songs, 43 min

Waiting’s End – solo piano vol. 1 (2018) – 11 songs, 50 min

Photo credit: Dreams Come True @ Amazon (album cover)

Gary Schmidt: Christmas Meditations
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Gary Schmidt: Christmas Meditations

Listen to Christmas solo piano music by Gary Schmidt on his newest album Christmas Meditations. I have also included his other non-Christmas albums. Read the reviews of these albums on the artist page at mainlypiano.com.

Christmas Meditations (2020) – 14 songs, 41 min

A Classical Medication (2020) – 15 songs, 1 hr 1 min

Even for a Moment (2019) – 14 songs, 53 min

Landscapes of the Heart (2016) – 13 songs, 48 min

La Vie en Piano (2011) – 13 songs, 54 min

Videos

Carol of the Bells – on Christmas Meditations (2020) – 3 min

The Beauty We Love – on Landscapes of the Heart (2016) – 4 min

Inside This River – on Even for a Moment (2018) – with Hannah Alkire from Acoustic Eidelon (cello) – 6 min

Claire de Lune from Suite Bergamasque by Debussy – on A Classical Meditation (2013) – 5 min

Photo credit: Christmas Meditations – Album cover @ Amazon

Michele McLaughlin: Sketches
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Michele McLaughlin: Sketches

Listen to solo piano music by Michele McLaughlin on Sketches. There is a nice review by Kathy Parsons at mainlypiano.com. I also included my playlist of her songs.

Sketches is a fully improvised solo piano album.  Several of the songs were completely improvised during the recording process for this album and several were inspired by my Monday Morning Improvisations series on YouTube. I hope you enjoy the music on this album as it comes from my inner well of creativity and straight from the heart.  

Michele McLaughlin – album description on her web site

Album

Sketches (2020) – 13 songs, 44 min

Playlist

Michele McLaughlin (Playlist)  – 51 songs, 2 hr 59 min

Listen to more of her music at Michele McLaughlin with other albums, videos, and links.

Photo credit: Sketches (Amazon album cover)

Vitamin String Quartet: The VSQ Christmas Album
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Vitamin String Quartet: The VSQ Christmas Album

Listen to Christmas string music by the Vitamin String Quartet. I have also compiled a playlist of their pop/rock/country music, as well as more of their albums.

A group of Los Angeles-based studio musicians, the Vitamin String Quartet have carved out a unique niche for themselves, recording new releases of songs by well-known rock, pop, and country artists, arranged for a small string ensemble. VSQ have release well over 100 albums, most of which feature the songs of a single artist (and in some cases interpret a single album in full), though the group has also released thematic collections based on a particular mood, style, or genre.

Christmas Album

The VSQ Christmas Album – 11 songs, 31 min

Vitamin String Quartet (Playlist) – 68 songs, 4 hr 14 min

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Conspirare Christmas 2020
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Conspirare Christmas 2020

Listen to a Conspirare virtual concert of Conspirare Christmas 2020 presented on December 7, 2020 at 7:30 pm Central. This streaming, in-home concert has free admission and no RSVP is needed.

Begin the holidays with songs that go deep with love, courage, and hope. Artistic Director Craig Hella Johnson curates this beloved concert bridging everyday songs with seasonal favorites that speak to our hearts.  This year’s Conspirare Christmas will feature surprise cameos and is a unique virtual choir offering created in the spirit of this beloved annual concert.

Live Concert on Dec 7, 2020 (Mon) @ 7:30 pm Central

Craig Hella johnson and Conspirare are excited to welcome the following special guests:

  • Patty Griffin, multiple Grammy-winning singer-songwriter
  • Joyce DiDonato and Frederica von Stade, internationally-acclaimed mezzo-sopranos
  • Carrie Rodriguez, singer-songwriter and 2017 guest artist
  • members of African Children’s Choir, Dallas Street Choir and Conspirare Symphonic Choir

You can view the Conspirare Christmas program on the event webpage. A printable Conspirare Christmas 2020 program is also availble.

Click on this link to view the recorded live virtual concert, which will still be available through Jan 6, 2021.

Conspirare Christmas 2020 – 1 hr 45 min

Please consider a contribution to help engage the power of music to change lives, as well as heal, transform, and elevate the human spirit. Your investment provides the gift of Conspirare’s music to everyone and keeps their nationwide roster of artists employed. There is also a link to go directly to the concert without any donation. Thank you.

Videos

These video recordings from previous concerts at The Tobin Center in San Antonio are also available for you to watch.

Conspirare Christmas 2019 – 2 hr

Conspirare Christmas 2018 – 1 hr 57 min

Conspirare Christmas 2017 – 1 hr 53 min

Listen to more of their music at my Conspirare post with additional albums, videos, and links.

Philip Wesley: Christmas Music
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Philip Wesley: Christmas Music

Listen to Christmas solo piano music by Philip Wesley with his newest album and two earlier ones.

Christmas Around the Piano (2020) – 8 songs, 26 min

The Magic of Christmas (2018) – 18 songs, 47 min

Comfort and Joy (2006) – 12 songs, 56 min

Hear his non-Christmas music at Philip Wesley.

Photo credit: Christmas Around the Piano – Album cover @ Amazon

Isaac Shepard: Christmas Piano Vol. 3
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Isaac Shepard: Christmas Piano Vol. 3

Listen to Christmas solo piano music by Isaac Shepard. I originally posted his first Christmas Piano album back in 2015, but he has released two more since then so I included them all here, along with my playlist of his music.

Albums

Christmas Piano, Vol. 3 (2018) – 11 songs, 25 min

Christmas Piano, Vol. 2 (2017) – 10 songs, 21 min

Christmas Piano (2015) – 12 songs, 37 min

Playlist

Isaac Shepard (Playlist) – 33 songs, 2 hr 6 min

Listen to more of his music at Isaac Shepard for albums, videos, and links.

Photo credit: Christmas Piano, Vol. 3 @ Amazon (album cover)