Christmas CD focuses on spirit

Back in June, when the temperatures were inching into the high 80s and summer was at its glorious best, the folks at Sounds of Zion/Inspirational Music Showcase were thinking Christmas. Not only thinking, but singing, arranging, recording and packaging Christmas songs.

That's when you have to start if you want to have finished CDs to show off at fall booksellers' conventions, so book and music stores can order them for the Christmas rush, explained Earl Madsen, marketing and product development specialist with IMS.

When the record label folks started thinking about doing a Christmas CD, "we wanted something that says Christ is the center focus of Christmas," said Madsen. "But there are so many ways to say that, so many types of songs. We knew we wanted our favorites from the music that's out there, but we also wanted to introduce some wonderful new things that can bring new experience to the season."

"Night of All Nights" contains 17 tracks, both vocal and instrumental songs, most of them arranged by Greg Hansen and recorded at Lakeview Studio in Orem last summer — when snow and holiday lights and Christmas music were the furthest things from most people's minds.

Michael F. Moody, chairman of the General Music Committee for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, went to the studio to hear singer/actor/entertainer Dave Tinney record one of Moody's songs for the CD.

Moody said it was a thrill to have two of his songs on the CD. "These are my first Christmas songs to be recorded." The two are "Gentle Jesus," sung by Trudy Seely, and "Is This the One?" performed by Tinney.

Moody has composed the music for quite a number of Christmas songs over the years. "When we first got married, I was a frugal zealot who didn't want to pay for Christmas cards, so I started writing songs to send as greetings." At first he collaborated with lyricist Mabel Jones Gabbott and more recently with his cousin Penny Moody Allen.

As a composer, Moody said, his object is to provide music that "interprets and illuminates the text. Music has the power to bring feelings as well as convey a message. Together, words and music are a combination more powerful than each is alone." And in particular, he said, "I love the spirit Christmas music brings."

As for Tinney, singing Moody's song was "a real pleasure." Tinney also sings a verse on a version of "Silent Night" and contributed original music and effects for a retelling, which he produced, of the Christmas story found in Luke.

He, too, loves what Christmas music does. "Certain songs transport you immediately to childhood, to the magic of Christmas morning, and the innocence of the season. It almost feels as if the music cleanses the spirit."

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