Christmas Album Song Stories

Consider this my VH1 Storytellers episode for my new Christmas album The Hopes & Fears of All the Years, which you can purchase as a download here: 

The Hopes & Fears of All the Years (it's a cheap affordable price, I promise).

For the past couple of weeks I've sharing daily stories on my Facebook page about a few of the songs. I've compiled them all together here, in case you wanted to listen to them in one big gulp while you listen to the song. On top of that, if you haven't gotten your fill of Christmas music and my thoughts on the album, you can listen to my podcast episode with commentary on the album.

Here now are the stories:

Giving an Organ a Proper Funeral

For six years I have been part of an Anglican church plant in the city of Peoria, Illinois, serving as the music and song leader (www.epiphanypeoria.org). After spending parts of those years as a house church or in a rented space in a ministry center (http://www.dreamcenterpeoria.org/) in the autumn of 2015 we were given the opportunity to finally move into our own space. Two churches in our diocese were going to combine (becoming www.stmichaelspeoria.org/) and our bishop said we could have the building of one of the congregations if we so desired. It was an old and beautiful gray stone building, formerly St. Andrews, and either the building itself or the congregation began in 1897.

I knew it when we moved, but what did not fully sink in because of all the busyness was there was a very old organ in the sanctuary. Being bi-vocational, having 3 kids, and operating a blog and podcast did not leave me much headspace to think about the dormant musical instrument dwelling peacefully among us. According to the commemorative plaque on the wall, it was a Lancashire-Marshall organ that had previously been restored in 1983, signaling that it was actually much older.

For those who might have trouble seeing it the plaque it reads:
Praise ye the Lord, Praise God in his sanctuary
Praise him with the timbrel and dance;
Praise him with stringed instruments and organs.
Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord
Praise ye the Lord—Psalm 150:1,4,6

Summer 1983
Restoration of the Lancashire-Marshall Organ made possible
through the donations and efforts of the congregation and
friends of St. Andrews Episcopal Church. Rededicated
November 6, 1983 to the glory and service of the Lord.
Father Vincent H. Butler (Vicar of St. Andrews),
Lt. Francis McClain (Senior Warden)

PCR Podcast Ep35: Christmas Album Excerpts and Commentary

Last week I released my new Christmas album The Hopes and Fears of All the Years on my music page. You can download it for $1 throughout the Christmas season at: https://chrismarchand.bandcamp.com/album/the-hopes-fears-of-all-the-years-a-christmas-album 

This episode features excerpts and commentary on the songs and recording process. You can stream the episode here and stream the album below that.




Subscribe to the podcast on itunes 
Check out the podcast page to subscribe on Stitcher, Tunein, and PocketCasts.



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Other music I've released:
Holy Mercy EP
1 + 1 = 1 (an album for my wife)
Perseverance of the Saints EP

Past Podcast Episodes

Episode 15: Mike Foster Tolkien Scholar and Author

Episode 32: An Interview With Mitch McVicker
Episode 16: Dialogues With Brandon: How Big Is Your Soul?

New Music Release: "O Little Town of Bethlehem"—Christmas single

Off and on over the years I have committed myself to recording little bits of Christmas music. These began as Christmas presents to my then girlfriend (now wife). Instead of buying her a Christmas card (which I find loathsome) I would instead record her a Christmas card, featuring my take on a classic carol and maybe an original song or brief instrumental. Then I would record my Christmas greeting to her. Yes, it was very cute.

After being married a couple of years I fell out of the practice though. Life got crazy in multiple ways and there simply wasn't enough time to do the songs justice. 

Nonetheless, a couple of years ago I started slowly recording Christmas songs again and this year I will finally be ready to release them as an album. Therefore, I would like to present to you The Hopes & Fears of all the Years: A Christmas Album. (See below for the tracklisting). (Who knows, maybe I'll change the album title and tracklisting several times before I release it, just like Kanye.)

In the hopes of getting the word out for the album I am releasing a free single this week of the song "O Little Town of Bethlehem." Consider it your Thanksgiving Day present.

Before you listen, here's a description: I recorded "O Little Town of Bethlehem" as an intentional Pedro the Lion (David Bazan) ripoff. Or an intentional homage, if you want to spin it more positively. I literally take the kind of chord structures from Pedro's "Of Up and Coming Monarchs" and morph them into the Christmas carol. I try to sing like him as well, though you can also hear hints of Bing Crosby in my vocal delivery. Sufjan's influence makes an appearance from time to time in the music as well. I figure if one mediocre musician fuses together aspects of three geniuses you might get a decent song out of it.

Anyway, here's the song. I hope you enjoy it. Remember, it's a free download (so please download it!):

The Hopes & Fears of All the Years tracklisting (not final order)

1. Lo How a Rose (instrumental)

2. Of the Father's Love Begotten

3. Away in a Manger

4. Greensleeves (instrumental)

5. O Little Town of Bethlehem

6. O Come O Come (Instrumental)

7. The Great Creator of the Worlds

8. Wishing You a Merry Christmas (instrumental)

9. O Come Let Us Adore

(hidden song)
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Other music I've released:
Holy Mercy EP
1 + 1 + 1 (an album for my wife)
Perseverance of the Saints EP