St Philip's Singers and CAMRA Inc. have presented Handel's glorious Messiah a few times.

The ABC's Limelight has a list, with videos, of 'epic fails' in classical music. Mostly slapstick, and not funny. This one made me chuckle, as the humour is in the sound. With the excellent Colin Forbes at the helm, this did NOT not happen to our Messiah (!?).

The descent into chaos of this rendition of "Hallelujah!" is something to do with a transpose button, apparently.

Psalm 91 has long been a great blessing to me and is very familiar as one of the Compline psalms. There are many hymn settings. One that I particularly like is "Whoever lives beside the Lord", by John Bell, set to Teann a nall, a traditional Gaellic tune (in his Psalms of Patience, Protest & Praise).

As I plan for retirement, I've been challenged to be more trusting of God about my future. Somehow I seem to be able to trust God in the small things of life, but I find it harder when it comes to the really important.

The challenge was reinforced when last Sunday we sang "Safe in the shadow of the Lord" (by Timothy Dudley-Smith, set to Creator God, by Norman Warren). New to me, it's a simple hymn, but touched me strongly.

Safe in the Shadow of the Lord, beneath His hand and power,
I trust in him, I trust in him, my fortress and my tower.

My hope is set on God alone, though Satan spreads his snare,
I trust in him, I trust in him, To keep me in His care.

From fears and phantoms of the night, from foes about my way,
I trust in him, I trust in him, by darkness as by day.

His holy angels keep my feet secure from every stone,
I trust in him, I trust in him, and unafraid go on.

Strong in the everlasting Name, and in my Father's care,
I trust in him, I trust in him, who hears and answers prayer.

Safe in the shadow of the Lord, possessed by love divine,
I trust in him, I trust in him, and meet His love with mine.

Just been watching the Eurovision Song Contest. Between some decent singing and some 'songs' that weren't sung at all, this whimsical number from Iceland caught me.



When Sigurjon 'Sjonni' Brink died early this year, his wife and friends got together to keep his song Coming Home in the competition and perform it in his memory.

"This is a group of six individuals who have one thing in common," the Eurovision site says, "Palmi is the old and wise one, Hreimur is the innocent and sincere one, Matthias provides the comic relief, Benedikt is the good-looking, cheerful one, Vignir is the silent, mysterious type and Gunnar is the bad boy. Together they are Sjonni's Friends."

not too much is delighted to recommend this fine concert by igitur nos!

Well, if Christmas ain't gonna be Christian, this is much more fun and inventive than Department store Muzak!



"Jingle Bell with a south indian & gujarati flavor for MTV & Nick,India."
Design & Direction: Nupur Bhargava
Music Director: IshQ Bector
Singers: Shree Dayal, Prajakta Shukre & Sonny Ravan
©MTV,Viacom18,India