I hope you enjoy this tribute.

Have you heard Hayley Westenra sing “Who Painted The Moon Black?”

Did you see the shiny moon?
Turned into a black balloon
Just as you walked away from me

Did you see how hard I’ve tried?
Not to show the pain inside
Just as you walked away from me

Who painted the moon black?
Just when you passed your love back
Who painted the moon black?
Oh won’t you, won’t you come back?

It must have been the darkest night
Not even a star in sight
Just as you walked away from me, now

Who painted the moon black?
Just when you passed your love back
Who painted the moon black?
Oh won’t you, won’t you come back?

Who painted the moon black?
Just when you passed your love back
Who painted the moon black?
Oh won’t you, won’t you come back?
Who painted the moon?

Da da da…

Did you see the shiny moon?
Turned into a black balloon
Just as you walked away from me

One of the most beautiful voices of recent times was discovered in New Zealand. Here, the prodigiously talented Hayley Westenra sings a stunning, rendition of Danny Boy. Enjoy! Oh Danny boy, the pipes, the pipes are calling
From glen to glen, and down the mountain side
The summer’s gone, and all the flowers are dying
‘Tis you, ’tis you must go and I must bide.
But come ye back when summer’s in the meadow
Or when the valley’s hushed and white with snow
‘Tis I’ll be here in sunshine or in shadow
Oh Danny boy, oh Danny boy, I love you so.

And if you come, when all the flowers are dying
And I am dead, as dead I well may be
You’ll come and find the place where I am lying
And kneel and say an “Ave” there for me.

And I shall hear, tho’ soft you tread above me
And all my dreams will warm and sweeter be
If you’ll not fail to tell me that you love me
I’ll simply sleep in peace until you come to me.

I’ll simply sleep in peace until you come to me.

“Hanging is too good for a man who make puns. He should be drawn and quoted.” – Fred Allen

You Raise Me Up is a favourite of The Galston Uniting Church Mens Choir. Here is a quite beautiful rendition by the group, Celtic Women.

On American Idol last night, in the Idol Gives Back show, the final song sung by the eight finalists was Shout to the Lord, by Darlene Zschech, from Sydney. Zschech’s best known song, Shout to the Lord, is sung by an estimated 25–30 million churchgoers every week. Darlene composed the praise anthem inspired by Psalms 92–96 at a time when she was feeling discouraged. “I felt I could either scream and pull my hair out — or praise God” she said.

Have you heard the story of Paul Potts? A mobile phone salesman from South Wales.  Here’s what Paul had to say, before appearing in the first round of Britain’s Got Talent:  “By day I sell mobile phones. My dream is to spend my life doing what I feel I was born to do.”  Paul’s dream was to sing opera. What is your dream? Paul Potts is touring Australia during April.

“Music is well said to be the speech of angels” said Thomas Carlyle.     Today I read this quote too, which is worth sharing:  Music is the speech of angels, a universal language of mankind. In music, one must think with the heart and feel with the brain and so, after every silence that which comes nearest to expressing the inexpressible is music!  That’s when you dream and your every dream precedes the goal! Its like dancing away your blues to reach high for stars that lie hidden in your soul and this is when the heart and mind perform in harmony after all! Enjoy music, dream big, and have a great day!

Earlier this year the Galston District Eisteddfod announced the very accomplished Daniel Sakoulas as the recepient of the inaugural Eisteddfod Scholarship.  Daniel will perform a number of recitals during the year, and will accompany the Galston Uniting Church Mens Choir. Daniel performed recently at a recital held at Galston Uniting Church.  The music was absolutely stunning!