On His Own Musical Tastes
John Michael Talbot

Thank you for the inquiries about my personal musical tastes and listening habits. Professional musicians are notorious for being incredibly dull in this area! They are like professional comedians who rarely talk, or wrestlers who are most peaceful.

Actually, I do not listen to much music anymore. The music in my spirit is best heard in silence through meditation and prayer in the Spirit of Jesus.

Of course, from my past, I like the folk and rock classics, as well as ancient and classical music. Peter, Paul and Mary, the Chad Mitchell Trio, The New Christy Minstrels, and the Kingston Trio were all big folk influences in my early days. The Beatles, The Byrds (old and new), the Hollies, Crosby, Stills, and Nash, as well as Cream, Hendrix, et all, were rock influences. Of course, our group, Mason Proffit, was part of the emerging country rock scene, along with Poco, the Flying Burrito Brothers, and Eagles, who finally kicked it over the goal post! My classical selection is extensive, and traditional, encompassing Ancient, Renaissance, Baroque, Classical, Romantic, Impressionistic, and Minimalist genres. I don't much like modern Christian music, though there have been some good liturgical things written for popular and Choral settings. I like the IDEA of New Age, or Ambient, music, namely, trying to capture the sound of that which is really beyond sound, or silence, though its theology, or lack of it, makes me nervous. I do wish more Christians were involved in the latter genre, for we are theologically prepared through our contemplative tradition to really find a home there. I also enjoy world music very much, and love what Paul Simon has done,
especially on the Rhythm of the Saints collection.

As I said, I do not listen to much anymore. When I do, it is usually for purely diversionary reasons on recreational nights, so I Iike the old stuff mentioned above. I am presently listening to a lot to the Byrds and the Beatles, especially interested in their evolution in such a short span of years! I also like Enya, and Loreena McKennitt, though I find too much of any of this much like watching too much television, it dulls my spirit. I am intrigued by the healing music, and the study of the healing aspect of certain frequencies and tones, as used in the orchestral collections put together out of Beijing.

The best music of all is silence. It speaks best the music that is currently in my spirit and soul. I am convinced that I will only hear this music in heaven, where we will," see sound and hear color," as some of the mystics have said. When all the waves and rhythms are put back into the original peace and order of God, no doubt, all Reality will BE music. I am looking forward to that day! This is what Jesus came to bring us all back to.

John Michael Talbot