From: owner-believers-digest@smoe.org (believers-digest) To: believers-digest@smoe.org Subject: believers-digest V11 #90 Reply-To: believers@smoe.org Sender: owner-believers-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-believers-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk believers-digest Tuesday, November 13 2007 Volume 11 : Number 090 In Today's believer's digest: ----------------- Did you see this article about the Lehigh concert? ["Tracy J. Wells" Subject: Did you see this article about the Lehigh concert? From The Brown & White, student newspaper of Lehigh University http://www.thebrownandwhite.com/home/index.cfm? event=displayArticlePrinterFriendly&uStory_id=8ed94dec-7d89-489a-ad2c- fcd7234e2081 My favorite line: "Werner is a musician that any doubting or confused individual can listen to and gain insight from." ROFL, nice. Also, I LOVE the melodramatic lead (opening paragraph). CLASSIC college journalism. Folk singer questions religion By: Diana Terracciano Posted: 11/6/07 In today's day and age, it is interesting to study how concrete and persistent religious beliefs are in society. Although many people believe in the word of their own God or gods, do they really believe all their words and teachings? Is this truth they believe in really the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help them God? Artist and musician Susan Werner presented these questions in a performance of her latest album, The Gospel Truth, held on Oct. 30 in Zoellner Arts Center. In her performances, Werner tries to reveal ideas and feelings that are either new to the audience, or help her listeners to recognize their own feelings. [Werner's songs and lyrics] "raise questions about contemporary Christianity in America, about questioning the beliefs of one's youth, and about searching for someone or something to believe in," said Ben Wright, professor of religion. Werner, born and raised in Manchester, Iowa, grew up in a large Catholic family with two parents and five siblings. However, Werner said she chose her own outlook on the church and its beliefs over the teachings she was raised to believe. Although she initially aspired to have a career in opera, Werner, 42, began composing songs on an acoustic guitar, compiling her first album in 1993. With six albums preceding The Gospel Truth, Werner's music genre and style has evolved and expanded over the years. Her first five albums were folk, while the sixth was a combination of cabaret and early jazz. It wasn't until this most recent album that Werner expressed her deepest feelings, experiences and uncertainties. The Gospel Truth, released in March 2007, addresses the themes of religion, faith and social responsibility. Werner's newest material is often critiqued as "agnostic gospel" because it regards religion from an agnostic perspective. Werner's songs and lyrics convey agnostic claims that it is not possible to have absolute knowledge of the existence or nonexistence of gods. Even when believed individual certainty may be possible, individuals still have no definite knowledge. Werner said she doubts the existence of God but is willing to have her belief proved otherwise. Werner said proving God exists would be fun. Werner's music voices what many people feel but are too afraid to admit, students thought. Werner's lyrics ask questions like: "Is there God above?"; "If God is great, and God is good, why is your heaven so small?" and "How do you love those who will never love you? Only God knows." Werner questions Christianity from the perspective of both God and the believer. Because her music applies to all, Werner is a musician that any doubting or confused individual can listen to and gain insight from. Those who attended Tuesday's performance, ranging from students to adult community members, many seemed engaged, reflective and enthralled by Werner's performance and the meanings of her songs. The impact on Werner's listeners was evidently dramatic. "I thought her performance was captivating," Daniel Stein, '09, said. "I thought it was beautiful. I love how she knows exactly how to capture the audience and make you understand what she is trying to say." Werner performed her newest songs from The Gospel Truth, including "Heaven So Small," "Our Father," "I Will Have My Portion," and "Did Trouble Me." Each song offered a new perspective for audience members to contemplate within themselves. Werner's broad ideas address themes of modern Christianity, including people's uncertainty in regards to faith. "I am trying to put something between all of us," Werner said. Werner describes herself as having "one foot in and one foot outside of the church." She said that if she "didn't care about the church [she] wouldn't have written this album." Central to Werner's album is the uncertainty of life after death. She said everyone has a desire and longing to believe that there is something waiting for us after our lives. "It's OK to say and feel both," Werner said. "It's OK to want and fear both. All humans have it in their hearts." Werner's songs do not always define who she is. "Although her music is about uncertainty, she is very sure of what she is saying," Stein said. "She has this aura of confidence in her ideas that makes it very easy to understand and relate to. Her lyrics made me think twice because she puts into words the questions, doubts and feelings I have always felt but never asked or admitted to even myself. She makes you question what you once thought you believed." However, despite some negative feedback to her boldness, the comfort and reactions of her supportive fans have made everything more meaningful. "I feel useful and really rewarded," Werner said. "It is the best feeling, the best possible feeling I have ever had." ) Copyright 2007 The Brown & White HELP! owner-believers@smoe.org Send mail to believers@smoe.org Susan's CD's are available on your desktop at World Cafe CDs http://worldcafecds.com ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 12 Nov 2007 18:09:15 -0800 From: "john vavrek" Subject: Re: Did you see this article about the Lehigh concert? >Her first five albums were folk, while the sixth was a combination of cabaret and early jazz. It wasn't until this most recent album that Werner expressed her deepest feelings, experiences and uncertainties. You know, I don't think I can agree with that statement. Certainly Live at the Tin Angel and Midwest Sat Night were folk, but LOTGSG doesn't strike me as a folk album. Sure, no doubt about, go hear a Suze show and you'll say she's a folkie, yep, non-parallel, penultimate, and boy howdy! But her albums aren't just "folk." And excuse me?! Deepest feelings. experiences and uncertainties? Maybe that's true with her thoughts about religion, but she's been great at expressing deep feelings as far back as you care to know. That seems to be a common reason why people write songs and go sing them in public. But it's always great to know she's reaching the "younger generation." Thanks for the post Tracy! John HELP! owner-believers@smoe.org Send mail to believers@smoe.org Susan's CD's are available on your desktop at World Cafe CDs http://worldcafecds.com ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 12 Nov 2007 21:32:03 -0500 From: "Tracy J. Wells" Subject: Re: Did you see this article about the Lehigh concert? LOL, I know. This was amusing to me because it was classic "college journalism" in terms of making a lot of assumptions and/or "opinion statements" and passing them off as fact. When I was news editor of my college paper, I used to just LOVE my writers who would give me articles with sentences like the one you quoted -- talking about "deepest feelings, experiences and uncertainties," etc. Right, ok. "Did YOU say that, or did your interviewee say that?", I would ask. Also, it seemed clear to me just from reading the article that this student had no familiarity whatsoever with Susan and her music before this Lehigh appearance... which is good (new fans!) but makes for an interesting "news article"! ;o) Would be interesting to know how many of Susan's fans are in the college age bracket. I have a feeling this might be a great untapped resource for her! Peace to all, Tracy On Nov 12, 2007, at 9:09 PM, john vavrek wrote: >> Her first five albums were folk, while the sixth was a combination of > cabaret and early jazz. It wasn't until this most recent album that > Werner > expressed her deepest feelings, experiences and uncertainties. > > You know, I don't think I can agree with that statement. Certainly > Live at > the Tin Angel and Midwest Sat Night were folk, but LOTGSG doesn't > strike me > as a folk album. Sure, no doubt about, go hear a Suze show and > you'll say > she's a folkie, yep, non-parallel, penultimate, and boy howdy! But > her > albums aren't just "folk." > > And excuse me?! Deepest feelings. experiences and uncertainties? > Maybe > that's true with her thoughts about religion, but she's been great at > expressing deep feelings as far back as you care to know. That > seems to be > a common reason why people write songs and go sing them in public. > > But it's always great to know she's reaching the "younger generation." > > Thanks for the post Tracy! > > John HELP! owner-believers@smoe.org Send mail to believers@smoe.org Susan's CD's are available on your desktop at World Cafe CDs http://worldcafecds.com ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 12 Nov 2007 21:24:11 -0500 From: Stephen P Murphy Subject: Susan at Lowell on Sunday at the high school in the Afternoon for the Moses Greeley Parker Lecture Series It was a great concert for the "Moses Greeley Parker Lecture Series" at the Lowell High School on Sunday. Susan lampooned the title as well as the concept of a lecture series. She was great. She now and then performed from the lecturn. She kept watch for people leaving and mentioned now and then... "Have I lost anybody yet?" during the Gospel Truth material. Then she went on to what she called "the Hellbound Secular portion of the show". Our 8th and 6th graders both attended, as well as my 81 year old Dad. He loved it, but particularly liked the last 4; two new "blues" numbers that were amazing, followed by "Movie of my Life" and then when she, as she put it, "pretended to leave", we called her back and she sat on the edge of the stage and did "La Vie En Rose" unplugged. It was quite a concert. Everyone was VERY impressed. - - The Murphys HELP! owner-believers@smoe.org Send mail to believers@smoe.org Susan's CD's are available on your desktop at World Cafe CDs http://worldcafecds.com ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 12 Nov 2007 23:02:15 -0500 From: "Tracy J. Wells" Subject: Re: Susan at Lowell on Sunday at the high school in the Afternoon for the Moses Greeley Parker Lecture Series Two new blues numbers??? Do tell! More info, please! What were they about? :o) Tracy On Nov 12, 2007, at 9:24 PM, Stephen P Murphy wrote: > It was a great concert for the "Moses Greeley Parker Lecture > Series" at the Lowell High School on Sunday. Susan lampooned the > title as well as the concept of a lecture series. She was great. > She now and then performed from the lecturn. She kept watch for > people leaving and mentioned now and then... "Have I lost anybody > yet?" during the Gospel Truth material. > > Then she went on to what she called "the Hellbound Secular portion > of the show". > > Our 8th and 6th graders both attended, as well as my 81 year old > Dad. He loved it, but particularly liked the last 4; two new > "blues" numbers that were amazing, followed by "Movie of my Life" > and then when she, as she put it, "pretended to leave", we called > her back and she sat on the edge of the stage and did "La Vie En > Rose" unplugged. > > It was quite a concert. Everyone was VERY impressed. > > - The Murphys > > HELP! owner-believers@smoe.org Send mail to believers@smoe.org > Susan's CD's are available on your desktop at World Cafe CDs > http://worldcafecds.com HELP! owner-believers@smoe.org Send mail to believers@smoe.org Susan's CD's are available on your desktop at World Cafe CDs http://worldcafecds.com ------------------------------ End of believers-digest V11 #90 ******************************* ------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------- -------------------------- This has been a posting from the Susan Werner believers-digest To unsubscribe send mail to Majordomo@smoe.org with "unsubscribe believers-digest" in the body of the message