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MALLETT'S MUSIC
PROJECT: ROSARY HISTORY IN THE MAKING
by Jeff Burson
(ALBERTA,
CANADA )
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In October of
2002 Pope John Paul II declared the next year to be the Year
of the Rosary. It was on that same day Catholic
singer/songwriter Mark Mallett was beginning to lay
down the tracks for his newest CD. The CD is called “Through
Her Eyes: A Journey to Jesus” and is a tribute to the
rosary. “We had no idea the Pope was going to do that,” says
Mallett, “so, it was more of a confirmation for us.”
Mallett says that the title of this Rosary CD is inspired from
Pope John Paul II's letter on the Rosary,
Rosarium Virginis.
“You could summarize his letter, or rather, the goal of the
praying the Rosary, as
contemplating the face of Jesus, through the eyes of Mary. “
”The Pope
calls the Rosary a
compendium of the Gospel,” Mallett continues. “As
such, praying the Rosary is really to enter into the Gospels,
to enter into the living Word of God, and thus into deeper
union with the Trinity. That is if one prays the Rosary as one
should: by meditating on the mysteries of Christ's life. The
other dimension of the Rosary is its Marian character which
unites our prayers to hers, and draws us closer to her since
she is our spiritual mom. I consider picking up my Rosary as
though I were taking the hand of Mary. So sometimes I like to
hold the Rosary just for that reason. I trust no other
creature more than Mary.”
Mallett
admitted the production, with co-producer Darcy Phillips, has
been a vast project since its first inception more than two
years ago. It has taken this long because Mallett has written
a musical score beneath each mystery, suited to the character
of that mystery. Music was also written for the Creed, the
Our Father, the Hail Holy Queen, 5 versions of the Glory Be,
and four songs to Our Lady (including “Family Beads”). Also
written is an epic theme which depicts the life of Mary from
her Immaculate Conception to her Crowning in Heaven. “It is
absolutely gorgeous,” says Mallett. “There is all the
narration, graphic design work, CD content, and of course,
hundreds of hours in the studio... and that's not everything.
The result is, there is no Rosary CD like it in all of
Christendom. “ The CD will also include the new Luminous
Mysteries.
Leading the
Rosary is well-known and beloved Marian priest, Fr. Ray
Guimond, from
Canada.
The
inspiration for making this a CD dedicated to Our Lady of
Guadalupe came from Christine Foisy-Erickson, Mallett’s
cousin, who founded Mi Casa Ministries, which spreads devotion
to Our Lady of Guadalupe. Christine's voice also graces the CD
with meditations after each Rosary from the comforting words
Mary spoke to St. Juan Diego.
One Catholic
lay evangelist described it to Mallett as "Rosary history in
the making". “I think it is too,” he said, ”and we only have
the Holy Spirit to thank, for he is the giver of gifts and
author of all that is good.
 I
believe it will be the first time families will feel drawn to
pray the Rosary, especially youth, because of its contemporary
style, and the way the music draws one into the mysteries, as
though it were a movie without pictures.
The Holy
Spirit has surely let Mallett know that his work will not go
unrewarded. Mallett has just won Covenant awards for
Country Album of the Year (“Love
Holds On”) and Country Song of the Year (“Makin'
My Way”). Mallett was surprised by the award for
“Love Holds On” since he considers it to be a blend
of folk, pop, and new country. It’s a CD which weaves the
Gospel into our daily lives, its joys and struggles. He says,
“It is not a literal expression of Christianity, such as in a
hymn or song of worship; rather, the songs speak about family,
faithfulness in marriage, sacrifice, and unconditional love.
In this, everyone can identify, whether a Christian or not.
The music is rich, easy-listening, and diverse, and has won
over listeners, young and old, and from many different
genres.” The song “Makin' My Way” was written at Mallett’s
kitchen table. “One night after supper, I was pounding on the
table with a really neat rhythm. I took out my guitar, my wife
kept pounding, and along came the song! It is a concert
favorite for many.”
One of the
best surprises that God has given Mallett is they had
their sixth child in March.
Look for Mark Mallett’s new Rosary CD, “Through
Her Eyes: A Journey to Jesus,”
at CatholicMusicNetwork.com. |