StrangeSights: New claim for world’s oldest man; proposing during a solar eclipse; and, music, not too fast, not too slow, in Chechnya
DAVID ADAMS provides a round-up of some stories on the odder side of life…
Music
When Steve Jobs released his MP3 player, did he realise that he was putting a time machine into our pocket? PICTURE: Yuriy T/iStockphoto When I listen to Pray for Rain’s self-titled ‘92 debut album, I’m taking back to my college dorm as a university student just trying to make my way in the world. When […]
Quick facts – Key moments in King Charles III’s coronation
London, UK Reuters From the religious symbolism of his anointment to the moment when the crown is placed on his head, what are the highlights to look out for during the coronation of King Charles III on Saturday? Coach procession A grand procession by the royals in historic coaches through central London is always a […]
Soundbite – The TCM Update: Collaborations and the changing landscape of music releases
Mac Powell. PICTURE: Alex Ferrari Listen to this week’s TCM Update…
Postcards: “Music is their language” – school gives autistic Chinese youth a voice
TINGSHU WANG and JOSH ARSLAN, of Reuters, reports on how Beijing-based Chen’s Studio is helping young adults with autism…
The Interview: CeCe Winans on ‘Believe For It’ and building a bridge across the generations
ADELLE M BANKS, of Religion News Service, speaks to CeCe Winans, recently honoured at the GMA Dove Awards, about her new book and album, ‘Believe for It’, her hopes for opening doors for younger artists, what she’s learned from “church mothers” and why retirement is not on her mind…
In the UK, London church launches project exploring possible health benefits of music in church
Norwich, UK St Augustine said, “he who sings, prays twice”. But does church music also have a health benefit? A new research project is seeking to find out. St Paul’s Knightsbridge, a Church of England church in west London, has obtained a grant from Scientists in Congregations to explore the health benefits of music in worship. […]
Religious groups are “making a joyful noise” with outdoor instruments
RNS After a beloved choirmaster of a Texas church died in 2020, her congregation wanted to honour her in a unique way. The committee of Cross Tracks Church, a United Methodist congregation in the Austin suburb of Liberty Hill, dedicated a memorial garden to Louine Noble and has outfitted it with bright-coloured, weather-hardy instruments that […]
Dumping plastic in waterways is “criminal”, Pope says in TV interview
Vatican City Reuters Dumping plastic in waterways is “criminal” and must end if humanity wants to save the planet for future generations, Pope Francis said in a television interview on Sunday. In the hour-long interview on state broadcaster RAI’s Channel 3, Francis also reiterated some of the key themes of his papacy, condemning excessive spending […]
Pope slips out of Vatican to visit record shop, gets CD
Rome, Italy AP Pope Francis grew up listening to the opera on the radio, is a fan of Argentine tango and thinks Mozart “lifts you to God”. But it still came as a something of a shock to see the 85-year-old pontiff coming out of a downtown Rome record shop late Tuesday with a CD […]