mountain masala

"How Shall We Sing?" Recording

Here's a recording of the song I co-wrote with David MacGregor, "How Shall We Sing?" in 2018 after the Songwrite event in Brisbane. It was prompted by Dr Tanya Riches' input about writing songs with a local flavour. The song is a suggested resource for a Day of Mourning in Uniting Church congregations on the Sunday prior to Australia Day. We finally got around to making something that would help people to learn the song. It was written as a lament. As it happens the chorus is kind of anthemic, so I decided to start it quieter and let it build up. The wonderful Steve Bevis provided the vocal. David's piano playing is in there, and I'm to blame for the rest of it. I learn by trial and error so this is me learning a bit more about recording.

I'd appreciate hearing your feedback.

The score is in my book "Deeper Water" (see link below).

How Shall We Sing Audio

How Shall We Sing?

How shall we sing the Lord’s song
in this strange land?
How shall we sing the Lord’s song
in this strange land?
This endless desert
These golden sands
This blue horizon
These green islands
How can we sing the song?
How can we sing the song?

How shall we hear God’s story
of this strange land?
How shall we hear God’s story
of this strange land?
This timeless dreaming
These rocks and bones
This wisdom people
Their ancient home
How can we sing the song?
How can we sing the song?

Come hear a new song
Come hear a new song
Come sing it loud
Come sing it strong

How shall we cry God’s weeping
for this strange land?
How shall we cry God’s weeping
for this strange land?
This broken homeland
These stolen years
Their hidden history
This trail of tears
How can we cry the song?
How can we cry the song?

How shall we live God’s story
in this strange land?
How shall we live God’s story
in this strange land?
With eyes wide open
and gaping hearts
With truthful longing
and stumbling start
How can we live the song?
How can we live the song?

Come sing a new song
Come sing a new song
Come sing it loud
Come sing it strong

How can we bring the Lord’s peace
in this strange land?
How can we bring the Lord’s peace
in this strange land?
With justice raining
When poor are blessed
With love outpouring
From east to west
How can we bring the song?
How can we bring the song?

Come sing a new song
Come sing a new song
Come sing it loud
Come sing it strong

Come sing a new song
Come sing a new song
Come sing it loud
Come sing it strong

lyrics: Craig Mitchell  © 2018
music: David MacGregor © 2018

From "Deeper Water" published by Mediacom Education 2021.

"God of Creation" Video

You're welcome to use this in worship, including streaming and inclusion in online recordings of worship services.

Nowhere Line

This looks fantastic. A forthcoming 'animated commentary' of the stories of two refugees on Manus Island, based on phone interviews with them. 

Adelaide Fringe Festival 2014

I'm helping two of our city churches - Pilgrim and CitySoul - plan Adelaide Fringe events for February-March next year. Here's the unofficial blurb from the Fringe Guide (pre-publication). Stay tuned for more details. (Click the image for enlargement.)

snow in wellington

thanks to duncan for this stunning link...

"the smooth move" on vimeo

"The Smooth Move", a 35 minute short film made for the Ucan2 country-city transition project by Kirk Robson is now online on my vimeo site.

The Smooth Move

It's there so that teachers, students, parents and others can access it anywhere, anytime for free in high quality. I'll be promoting it to university and other contacts with the hope that it will continue to be of use. There was some other video material that I may add as well.

If you haven't seen it, please go watch.

 

The Smooth Move - Episode 1 from Craig Mitchell on Vimeo.

Trove

Trove is the new web portal for the Australian National Library. If you're looking for a book, you can find out which library in your city holds it. You can also search on other types of print media, films, photos, maps, etc.

For example, a search on 

A history of installation and the development of new art forms : technology and the hermeneutics of time and space in modern and postmodern art from cubism to installation / Faye Ran

tells me that there's a copy at the Barr-Smith Library at the University of Adelaide - even gives me the call no. nice.

broken hill

broken hill - a new aussie movie, currently on trial screening in the US.

thanks to ruthmary, our three girls are extras in the film, which was made in south australia. they're in the crowd scenes...

apparently released here early in 2010.

Broken Hill - Trailer from Broken Hill on Vimeo.

how to make a baby

very clever.....

turtles can fly

We saw the utterly astonshing movie Turtles Can Fly on the weekend. This film is so amazing at many levels. It is set in Kurdistan at the start of the US' attack on Saddam Hussein. Told through the eyes of children, it is a harrowing tale of growing up in a war zone. At the same time, there are many moments that are remarkable in their portayal of humanity.

Set in Ghobadi's native Kurdistan, close to the Turkey-Iran border. Soran is a 13-year-old boy who orders other children around as he installs an antenna for villagers keen to hear of Saddam's fall. Eventually, he falls for Agrin but is disturbed by her brother Henkov, who was left armless after he stepped on a landmine and who can now seemingly predict the future.

this film had ther critics raving. i think it's a life-changing movie, revealing just how little we know or understand of what life is like for other people's in our world.

see it however you can!