Performers Kathy Songbird and Mark Hall[/caption]Carol Forsloff--In the world of music many songs have been forgotten, that were uplifting at the time they were written, then put on a back shelf and seldom heard again. But one has been brought back, dusted off, renewed and made particularly beautiful with the superb talents of a songstress named Kathy Songbird and a pianist/music producer of consummate skill, Mark Hall. The song is of the nature that it brings a sense of immortality to music, the kind for whom fine music was created.
The song "One God" was performed by Mario Lanza more than 50 years ago, although no permanent recording of it can be found. Later Barbra Streisand and Johnny Mathis sang it in a duet. The Streisand - Mathis rendition is part of YouTube offerings, yet it languishes at times in the heap of non-music material as well as lesser tunes without the same level of skill and measure of permanence and perfection as this great song, "One God."
This time, with the new recording by Hall and Songbird, the song simply soars on what feels like the wings of peace itself, as it reminds us over and over in the stanzas throughout that God belongs to us all, regardless of race, religion, culture, location, and that wherever man prays, answers come.
Often the message there is one God is forgotten in the hue and cry of what's better and who's better and the message of everlasting love given by the great prophets of man's antiquity is lost in the din of political and religious strife. Yet when we focus on what binds us as creation, what rises above all other issues, to affirm our unity, our connections and our every-lasting spirits that make us special in what has been called the likeness of God, we are reminded we are more alike than we are different. Because we all have a relationship with the Creator, each in our own way. In fact, it is often said that each man finds his path, and on that path is often found the Divine.
As James Henry Leigh Hunt tells us, God loves those who don't believe in Him but do indeed practice the love He offers to all, regardless of where they may be and what their faults and foibles might occur. In that poem "Abou Ben Adhem" the message brought by an angel tells us in God's Book of Gold one who practices love is honored most.
In affirmation of "One God" is the song composed by Ervin Drake and Jimmy Shirl. It is the kind of song that is memorable for many reasons, with its lyrics and melody. But it is made even more memorable by talented professionals who have the distinction of making music special with everything they perform. In this case, that special performance of Songbird and Hall was reinforced in its final mixing by the detailed music brush of Darcy Jeavons, with just her bits of musical angel dust to make what was already golden, shine with added brilliance.
"One God", now on YouTube and Fandalism, is performed by the soprano known as Kathy Songbird, whose thrilling voice has captured the hearts of thousands of her friends and followers, and the masterful piano of Mark Hall, whose music is heralded by many musicians as among the best. His production mastery reveals the truest measure of beauty for the song. The video contains pictures of people of various faiths in worship and in prayer, along with pictures of God's creation, focusing not on any sectarian view but one that represents a universal representation of God and His love, regardless of the names by which He is known among men, for the song reminds us there is one God, loving us all. Additional pictures are provided from the Forsloff collection of photos from World Religion Day in Shreveport in 2008. The song is for all seasons, all faiths and for people everywhere as a reminder of how all men and all creation are part of the world of one God.
On New Year's Day let us celebrate together a new beginning, as we would like those kindergarten children who, as told related by Robert Fulghum in All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten reminded us, hold hands as they cross the street. And as we cross the streets throughout our lives, it's a message that might ring well for us all, the message of One God that we are all God's children, united by His love.
The song can be found at two locations, and others will be posted as updates to this article:
http://fandalism.com/carolforsloff/cEGl
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1vc442zo-0
[…] and Johnny Mathis, and its most recent Internet recording by Kathy Songbird and Mark Hall, and recently described in this magazine, there are many paths to God, according to the concept put forth by Hough and […]
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