This has absolutely no bearing on anything at all. But I finally found a webquiz that I liked, and took it.

"Which Dead German Composer are You?"

Take the Dead German Composer Test!

FWIW...

The Pearl Awards

My wife said that she likes seeing me at the Pearl Awards, because I get so excited and have such a great time. And it is a great time. It’s like the one night where everyone who is anyone in LDS music all dresses up and gets together.

What are the Pearls? They are the annual awards for LDS musicians, presented by the Faith Centered Music Association. It’s kinda like the Grammies for Mo’ Town.

Greg Simpson opened the show up singing “The Rhythm of Life”, from his most recent CD “Unspoken”. He was nominated for, like, four awards, but didn’t win any. Poor guy, that’s kinda the story of his life. He gets nominated for one or two each year, but I don’t think he’s ever actually won one. I was really pulling for him this year, but… Oh, well!

Scott Christopher was the MC, and was in great form. He did a lot of really funny bits on camera, which the broadcast will show, but his funniest bits were just vamping with the audience in between sets.

Another one I was hoping would win was Sam Payne. He was up for all kinds of awards, including Songwriter, Contemporary Album, New Artist… He did a song from his “Railroad Blessing” CD called “Brother’s Road”. Great tune about Isaac and Esau. And Sam’s a great performer. But he didn’t win either.

One thing that surprised me was that there were a lot of people accepting awards “in behalf of”… Meaning that a lot of people didn’t show up to get their awards! Even Ryan Shupe won two, but had his parents do the accepting. George Dyer was doing an opera somewhere, and Jennie Oaks Baker always wins, but since she plays in a symphony on the east coast, she’s never able to be there. Sam Cardon won, but wasn’t there, And a few others.

Well, it was great fun. I love being a part of the whole experience. It feels like the scene is just exploding every year. The vast majority of the LDS music buyers still really have no idea that the pear awards exist, so winning an award means little more than a tich of prestige in an already small circle. It’s not like it amounts to more sales, or anything. But every year it’s watched on TV by more and more people and every year it’s bigger and bigger.

So, watch for it! July 11 on Channel 4 here in Utah.

MRKH
Mark Hansen
http://markhansenmusic.com

I don't like it when Jacob is in the hospital. Let's get that clear right up front. There's amost nothing good about it. But, once or twice a year, we have to go through it. This time is particularly difficult.

But one thing I really love about the hospital is going to church up there.

He goes to the Primary Children's Medical Center. It used to be owned by the church, but, along with LDS Hospital, is now owned by some medical care company. But the hospital still carries a lot of mormon traditions. For example, if you want to give a blessing, a lot of the nurse stations carry little sterile syringes of consecrated oil. And every time we're up there at least once I'll hear a call over the intercom for Elders.

And they have a sacrament meeting in their auditorium.

It's short, and that's nice, but the Spirit is always so powerful there. That's because the meeting is filled with people who both want to be there, and know they need to be there. People in hospitals are looking for spiritual strength, and that makes the meetings that much more powerful.

People show up however they are. Hospital gowns, wheelchairs, scrubs, jeans, T-shirts. Only those that have been called to the hospital branch presidency, it seems, is there in a suit and tie. And nobody seems to mind. We all know that Spirit is more important than dress.

Everyone sings, too, instead of just mumbling.

Outside in the lobby, they have church magazines for you to take, and a complimentary donated blanket.

It was just a reminder to me of how powerful a sacrament meeting could be.

MRKH

Mark Hansen
http://markhansenmusic.com