Canticle of the Plains

Description

Canticle of the Plains, sub-titled A musical based on the life of St. Francis of Assisi by the kid brothers of St. Frank, is an album featuring songs co-written by the three American singers/songwriters Rich Mullins, Beaker (a.k.a. David Strasser), and Mitch McVicker, released on Ragamuffin Records in 1997. The album was recorded at Roswell East Studios in Elgin, Illinois; with Rich Mullins and Mark Robertson producing.

Canticle of the Plains was performed at the Cornerstone Music festival shortly after Rich Mullins and the Ragamuffin Band’s mainstage performance July 4, 1997. Copies of the album were available at the show, but sold out very quickly.

Since he died more than 750 years ago, St. Francis of Assisi has inspired hundreds books, paintings, compositions and movies. But the beloved saint has never prompted anything like Canticle of the Plains, a bold and beautiful music which transforms Francis into Frank and moves him from medieval Italy to the wild west of 19th-century America, a setting that has inspired its own share of art and music.

Created by Rich Mullins, longtime Mullins collaborator Beaker and Mitch McVicker (who together make up the Kid Brothers of St. Frank), the album boasts performances by Mullins’ Ragamuffin Band, Jimmy Abegg, and Mark Robertson of This Train, as well as features lead vocals by Sixpence None The Richer‘s Leigh Bingham Nash and DC Talk‘s Kevin Smith and Michael Tait.

Canticle is an audacious move for Mullins, an artist who has previously been content to toy with the boundaries of contemporary Christian music but now blows them to smithereens. There’s no strict chronology of Francis’ life here. Instead, the emphasis is on Franciscan principles such as deep-rooted mysticism that sees the hand of God in the sun, sage and sand, the creativity to express this way in «Heaven in Waiting», the album’s first single: “My savior’s calling and I’m listening/ Time to saddle up my pony and ride.”

Nor is there strict adherence to any one musical style. Bingham sings «Buenos Noches from Nacogdoches» to a mariachi accompaniment, while Tait belts out «Oh My Lord», a moving description of Christ’s passion, over a gritty blues-rock background. But it all hangs together, thanks to the player’s passion and professionalism.

Some won’t get it and will pray that Mullins returns to more conventional fare. But others will hail Canticle as the trailblazing journey into brave new musical territory that it is. If you can’t find Canticle in a store near you, send $16.50 for CD and shipping to Kid Brothers of St. Frank, 313 N. Hillside, Wichita, KS 67214. [Steve Rabey, CCM, September 1997]

CD tracklist:

01. Mitch McVicker – There You Are – 4:21
02. Michael Tate – Cry For Freedom – 4:07
03. Kevin Smith – If I Could Make It Work – 3:50
04. Leigh Bingham-Nash – In Your Hands – 4:18
05. Mitch McVicker – Heaven Is Waiting – 3:35
06. Mitch McVicker – Things Even Angels – 4:09
07. Leigh Bingham-Nash – Buenas Noches From Nacogdochas – 3:16
08. Kevin Smith – Love’s As Strong – 3:57
09. Michael Tate – Oh My Lord – 3:30
10. Mitch McVicker – You Are All – 5:02

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Cornerstone 20th Anniversary DVD, Rich Mullins segment with footage from Canticle of the Plains.

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CREDITS. Produced by Rich Mullins and Mark Robertson. Recorded by Jordan Richter at Roswell East Studios, Elgin, IL. Mixed by Dave Jahnsen at Sprocket Media, Milwaukee, WI. Additional mixing and editing by Daniel Holter. Art Direction and Design by Diana Lussenden. Art Direction and Photography by Jimmy Abegg.

Musicians: Rich Mullins (Acoustic Guitars, Keyboards), Christopher Mosher (Keyboards), Mitch McVicker (Vocals, Acoustic Guitars), Michael Tait (Vocals), Kevin Max (Vocals), Leigh Bingham Nash (Vocals), Kenny Greenberg (Acoustic and Electric Guitars), Billy Crockett (Acoustic Guitars, Nylon String Guitar on track 7), Mark Robertson (Bass Guitars, Percussion), Kyle Woodring (Drums), Jeff Olson (Percussion), Daniel Holter (Percussion).