Saturday, December 4, 2010

David Lanz

Tonight Jake took me to a concert of my favorite Modern / New Age / "Heavy Mellow" Composers - David Lanz!

I have been playing his songs since I was 12 or 13.  In fact, I looked through my Christmas Eve book tonight and the first song I learned was in November 1999!  It is my Christmas tradition to play that book cover to cover.  And almost every Christmas Sacrament meeting performance I've done in the past 11 years has come from his book.  So... I was way excited!


He came out with his crazy hair and yoga/zen shirts (classic!).  He played "Christmas and the Beatles" (his latest album is inspired from Liverpool & Lennon).  It was such a great concert!  I loved his new songs.  I loved his old songs.  I loved listening to how the songs are supposed to sound.  I loved the classic Cristofori's Dream.  I loved the intense Dark Horse (seriously - that song is the bomb dot com!  Jake even said it reminded him of Iron Maiden).  I loved his version of Angels We Have Heard on High.   I loved the whole thing!!! 


After the concert, I got to meet him!!!!!!  He was so nice and friendly - spelled my name correctly - talked about music - and was so excited when he found out my big belly is home to our first baby (he even rubbed my baby bump!)


It was an awesome night (thank you Jacob Dear!)

Oh - here are some cool facts about David Lanz:
  • He fired his piano teacher at age 12
  • His hand spans 10 notes on the piano (which is why I have to modify all his songs for my baby hands)
  • At least two of our Presidents have had Lanz's music featured on Air Force One.. and George Sr. even uses his music during his massages!
  • Cristofori's Dream is dedicated to Bartolomeo Cristorfori - the inventor of the piano.. and it spent 27 weeks as #1 on the Billboard New Age Chart, even sold platinum
  • Even though Yanni's CDs out sell David's, Lanz way out sells Yanni in the sheet music department
  • He is a spokesperson for the American Music Therapy Association and believes in the healing/calming effects of music... a Midwestern surgeon won't even operate unless Lanz's music is in the OR

5 comments:

More Bacon said...

SO COOL! His Christmas Eve CD is my first go-to CD for the holidays, and I listen to it dozens of times before Christmas. I love the sheet music to it, too. And I LOVE Christofori's Dream. One of my favorite things to play.

So fun! I'm glad you guys got to go. I bet he gave the baby some extra musical skills when he rubbed your belly! Hopefully the baby doesn't get his hairstyle though...not sure that'll be cute on her...

LL said...

Love his Christmas stuff - I'm so jealous that you go to go to a concert and meet him! Christofori's Dream is also one of my favorite songs to hear and to play.

Well done Jake!!

VickieG said...

I've never heard of him but now I am intrigued. Share his music with us; perhaps we can hear you on the piano at the next FHE. Christy has a great piano.

Glenn and Natalie said...

Christmas time is wonderful....the music is grand.

WHy, pray tell, didn't you grace us with a picture of your baby bump? We are all super excited for you guys!

ari said...

ok, I have to admit I have never heard of him...at least I don't think so. I guess I need to start broadening my music from the old stuff i listen to. I would like to look at the christmas book you have and if it is not too hard for me, which it probably is, I would like to purchase one. So, I will find out about that next year. What a cute husband to take you to that.