FredMcKinnon.Com

Hey Gang,

The blog has been quiet here … VERY QUIET … mainly because I haven’t been posting.  We’ve wrapping up an 8-day whirlwind vacation that stretched the east coast from New York City to Orlando, FL.  I hope to jump back into blogging soon enough but will need a day or so to recover and catch up.  In the meantime, here’s a little recap of our trip for those who may be interested.  (that would be a few friends on Facebook and my family!)

New York City – Andrea Bocelli

I was blessed to receive an opportunity to attend the FREE concert by Andrea Bocelli in Central Park last week in New York City.  I’m a huge fan of Bocelli and thought this would be like a bucket list experience.  One of the world’s greatest singers, with one of the world’s greatest philharmonic orchestras, in one of the world’s greatest cities, in one of the world’s most famous city parks … you know … epic!

Experiencing something like that is even more fun with friends so Joy (my wife) and I flew up to NYC with another couple from St. Simons Island and spent a couple of nights in Times Square.  We left the kids behind and had a few days of “us” time.  Joy had never been to NYC and it was only my second visit.  We did it hard – from Rockefeller Center to the top of the Empire State Building, shopping on 5th Avenue to waving outside the Fox News windows on 6th Ave.  We had Italian one night and some great pizza at Lombardi’s another day.  We did taxis.  We did subways.  We walked a kazillion miles.  The forecast was for rain and the news said that if the concert was rained out, it would be rescheduled for the next night.  This was a big burden for me because we flew out the next morning to meet up with the kids and leave for our family vacation time.

Well, the rain came.  The gates to the Great Lawn at Central Park were to be opened at 3:00 PM.  Because of the rain, people weren’t lining up quite so early so we got there at 3:00 and waited in line for over an hour in the rain.  Thankfully, Joy sported us some $1-store ponchos that we shared with our friends. (Mike/Leisa Dunn)

The rain was nasty and it got pretty chilly with the wind blowing.  The blessing in the rain; however, was that people just didn’t come to get in line.  We were one of the first 50 people in line on the East Side entrance and as a result, when they finally DID open the gates we got the most incredible seats on the Great Lawn possible.  Friends of mine who waited until the rains held off said the lines on both the east and west sides were 30 blocks long and met! We were literally about 30-40 feet away from the stage – and we could’ve gotten even closer but I didn’t want to be so close to the high stage that I couldn’t see the orchestra and choir in the background.

The concert was as magical and epic as I would’ve guessed.  My DroidX camera photos just don’t do it justice.  We were RIGHT THERE center stage.  The people who paid $1,000 for the “VIP” seats didn’t have seats as good as ours.  (Yep, they were there in full force, Donald Trump & Alec Baldwin to name a couple).

Bocelli was joined with the New York Philharmonic and the Westminster Symphonic Choir.  They were amazing.  He was joined with many special guests including Chris Botti (an amazing trumpeter), Bryn Terfel, Andrea Griminelli, Ana Maria Martinez, and Pretty Yende.

Two of my favorite guest moments included Celine Dion singing “The Prayer” and Tony Bennett singing “New York, New York” with Andrea.

(this photo courtesy of BocelliCentralPark.Com)

One incredible moment of worship for me was Andrea’s rendition of “Amazing Grace”.  Lastly, although he did not sing two of my favorite songs I really wanted to hear (“Sogno” and “Besame Mucho”) he did conclude with a finale of my favorite, “Nessun Dorma”.

A quick flight home from NYC and we gathered the kids and took off to Disney World for FIVE days.  Yes, FIVE DAYS.  “The Happiest Place on Earth”.  I will recap that in a separate blog post.

As for Bocelli in Central Park?  It was a whirlwind trip – really crazy to try and fly up there for a concert and back to dump out our suitcase, repack and drive away again for 5 days.  But it was worth it.

As a composer, a  musician, a singer, and a creative person – I was so totally inspired.  It was one of the most awe-inspiring concerts I’ve witnessed and truly was a once-in-a-lifetime event.  I am reminded when I watch some incredible talent and hear such beautiful music how God created us and blessed us with these talents.  Ideally, they are given to us to bring honor and glory to Him.  It inspires me to take my own talents and use them to bring glory to God and inspire others.

Here’s the last few seconds of the grand finale to “Nessun Dorma” – sorry for the jerky camera work, my wife and friends were trying to pack up the blanket we sat on which I was standing on!

Hey Gang,

Lord willing and weather permitting, I have the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity next week to hear Andrea Bocelli perform with the New York Philharmonic on the Great Lawn of Central Park in New York City.  I can’t wait.

I’ve been listening to more of Bocelli’s music so I’m more familiar with his songs and discovered this video.  I’ve watched it (and shared it) countless times.  I seldom finish it without my eyes getting all wet.  Turn it up.

And yes – I do realize this is the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.  My loving this video and sharing this video is not an endorsement of the Mormon faith at all.  I am a Christian, not a Mormon.  Nevertheless, this is one of the most beautiful, inspiring renditions of the Lord’s Prayer I’ve ever heard in my life.  (and if by chance you feel a bit disappointed towards the end like I did, hang in there … you’ll know what I mean!)

Hey Gang,

I started playing the drums in high school marching band after we no longer needed my piano skills on the bass line for “Bird Land”.  (remember those big ole’ keyboards on the roller cart w/ the amp attached?).

Ever since, I was hooked on drums and percussion and found myself marching quints on the drum line at Georgia Southern University for three great years.  Few things ring me up like the sound of an intense drum line banging out a sweet cadence full of dynamic and flare.

Enter the new sample package “Rumble” from SampleLogic.Com (configured to work with Native Instrument’s Kontakt player)

I’ve seen drum line used occasionally as a feature in a worship setting.  It was creative and inspiring.

How this can be used in every-day composing, I’m not sure – but I’ll give you this:
Listening to this clip got me FIRED UP.
RUMBLE by Sample Logic

What are some ways you’ve used drums/percussion creatively?

I’m living with this song this week. It will potentially be our closer this coming Sunday, July 3rd at SSCC. Our hope is to create a tension where we can ask ourselves the hard questions:

Am I trying to do this alone?
Have I tried to be King?
Where and how am I trapped?

We’re pulling together a few string players to make this a beautiful, stirring moment.

Hey Friends,

I was reading through Psalm 49 a few weeks ago and was inspired by these verses:

7 Truly no man can ransom another,
or give to God the price of his life,
8 for the ransom of their life is costly
and can never suffice,
9 that he should live on forever
and never see the pit.

(Psalm 49: 7-9, ESV)

From that passage came this new song.  So glad to finally be writing again.  Below is a rough-recording/mix of the debut at our services at SSCC.  Feel free to use in your own personal worship or corporate worship services.

“He Ransomed Me”
Words and Music by:  Fred McKinnon
©2011, HPP Publishing Company/BMI (a division of Highest Praise Productions, Inc)
CCLI# pending

Download .PDF Chord Chart

Lyrics:

Verse 1:
Deep in sin.  No hope within.
Captured by the grave.
A cost so high to set me free
No man could ever pay.

PreChorus:
Only One could e’er suffice
To pay so great a price
A life for liberty ….
He ransomed me.

Chorus:
What a price He paid.
Sacrificed, I’m saved.
By His blood, I’m free.
He ransomed me.

Verse 2:
Now I am His, and He is mine.
Received in His great Name.
Embraced by faith, His love divine
Forever I’ll proclaim.

Bridge:
No greater love has ever been shown
No greater friend has ever been known
He gave His life on Calvary’s tree
He died.  He rose to ransom me.