The Cricket and Seagull Fireside Chat

Bobbi Hansen has always loved working with kids and music, but she was a bit daunted when she first felt the vision of a new musical project for kids coming into her mind and occupying her thoughts and feelings.  Luckily for kids everywhere, she was willing to be brave and step forward in faith and dream big.

In producing "We Are Amazing!" she teamed with veteran children's writers Roger & Melanie Hoffman, Marvin Payne, and Steven Kapp Perry to write and record a program that embodies the concepts she felt every child should know about themselves and their world.  Take a listen as she shares the music and the results of performing the songs live with 2nd and 3rd grade choirs.

That's this week on The Cricket and Seagull.

A visiting legislator once asked Joseph Smith Jr. how he governed so many people with such order.  Joseph replied, "I teach them correct principles and let them govern themselves."  Joseph Smith was the mayor of Nauvoo, Illinois at the time and was later a candidate for President of the United States.  Now, over a hundred years later, another Latter-day Saint espouses much of the same principle-based philosophy of decentralized governance, only his name is Yeah Samake, he is currently the mayor of Ouelessebougou, and he is a candidate for President in the African country of Mali.

In this audio interview, BYU graduate Yeah Samake shares the story of his father's vision for education which raised an entire family from hunger to prominence.  We'll hear how his actions eliminating corruption as Mayor of a small town brought him to the attention of national leaders in Mali, and what he hopes to accomplish if elected President of Mali in April of 2012.  You'll also learn what it's like for brother and sister Samake and their children to be the only members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in their country.

That's this week on The Cricket and Seagull.

If you can picture a jalopy crammed full of thrift-store-clothing-clad carolers singing and playing hymns with acoustic instruments as they bounce merrily along through the snow under a winter moon, maybe you can imagine the sound of The Lower Lights on their cheerful new Christmas album without even taking a listen.  But do take a listen, you'll be glad you did.

Producer Scott Wiley provides the quirky recording space where all the magic happens at June Audio, in Provo, Utah.  In a room filled with instruments and mics at the ready and looking like it's decorated for A Beatles Christmas all year long, he collected faithful friends and musicians to spontaneously arrange and record the holiday songs they love best over a joyful five-day period.  In this week's audio interview, Scott talks about the group dynamics, the surprising reaction to unexpected fans from young to old, and ultimately why The Lower Lights do what they do.  Like I said before, take a listen, you'll be glad you did.

That's this week on The Cricket and Seagull.

From tender to triumphant, you'll find all the moods of the Christmas season in this beautifully produced new holiday album from Tricia Storey.  It's the kind of heart-felt work of art from a skillful and experienced artist you rarely hear any more in these days of glossy arrangements, one-song downloads and whatever-will-sell retail dynamics.

Turn on the Christmas lights, sit down with a cup of hot cocoa and put on this new recording for a feast of favorites and rare finds that feel instantly like old friends.  Perfect simplicity in instrumental arrangements and harmonies make this my favorite intimate holiday recording of the last several years at least.  You're in good hands with Tricia Storey and you'll love hearing her insights and stories of the songs in this week's interview.  She calls Christmas songs "the last socially acceptable way to bear testimony of Christ," and you'll hear plenty of joyful and inspiring music doing just that on "Christmas."

That's this week on The Cricket and Seagull.

Playlist
O Come All Ye Faithful • I Saw Three Ships • Rise Up Shepherd and Follow • Good Christian Men Rejoice (harp interlude) • Who Comes This Night • Away in a Manger • What Child Is This (harp interlude) • The Holly Berry • Christmas for Cowboys • Some Children See Him • O Come O Come Emmanuel • Lo How a Rose (harp interlude)  • We Will Rock You • what Songs Were Sung • Angels We Have Heard On High (harp interlude) • Christmas is a Comin' • I'll Be Home for Christmas • Silent Night • Merry Christmas Round

One of the most surprising things about Christmas is that the earliest Christians didn't celebrate it at all—it was just too pagan. Not long thereafter though, the human propensity to observe important events began to assemble a celebration like none other. 

In his new book on the advent, Eric D. Huntsman creates a near-perfect mix of history, facts, doctrine, stories and illustrations to engage readers of every age and intellectual bent.  Along the way, you'll encounter wisemen, shepherds, angels, Joseph and Mary, and all the familiar elements of Christmas cast in a revealing new light.  You'll also enjoy a heart-felt chapter on "Christmas with Autism," which shows one family's discovery of ways to fill the season with joy for every family member. 

Click Here to follow the Huntsman's celebration of Christmas in Jerusalem this year at their blog at http://www.huntsmansintheholyland.blogspot.com

Happy Advent, from The Cricket and Seagull!