Published on Jun 12, 2002
Here’s an interesting question: How do you help someone feel the
power of God without uttering a single word?
Pianist Dana Cunningham seems to have the answer to this
question. A Christian in her upbringing, she takes the messages she
has grown up with and internalized and presents them in soft,
contemplative piano works which make up her independent CD
Dancing At The Gate. In a time where so many people may
question whether God is really present through all of the pain and
turmoil the world is going through, Cunningham takes her simple yet
beautiful melodies and gets the message through better than any
fire-and-brimstone bandit on television.
The best part about this is that you don’t have to be religious
to appreciate Cunningham’s music – even if you only gain an
appreciation for her skills on the piano, that’s okay. Cunningham
reminds me a lot of early Jim Brickman, where the melody helps to
paint a picture in one’s mind that you can be transported to at a
moment’s notice. Tracks like “Light On Water,” “Surrender,”
“Welcome To The World (Song For Ava Grace)” and “Unfolding Journey”
all have such a calming presence that the listener can’t help but
tune in to gain tranquility.
In a sense, this could also be seen as the biggest pitfall that
Cunningham will face, especially on
Dancing At The Gate. Too often, it’s easy to let this music
become the background to our day – loud enough where we’ll pay some
attention to it, but mostly oblivious to the effects it may have on
our psyches. This is not necessarily a bad thing, but when I pick
up such a disc, I want to focus in on every note that’s being
played. When the music seems to be pushing me back towards
continuing with my daily routine, it’s a bit distracting.
While I do like the way that Cunningham comes full circle near
the end with “Night On Water,” I wonder if this should have been
the closer to this disc, instead of ending it one song later with
“Presence”. On the other hand, I can also see the scenario where
“Night On Water” signifies the nearing of the end of the day, and
“Presence” brings us to that end.
I don’t consider myself to be even a good Christian, and I
personally have had some major differences of opinion with my
Catholic upbringing, but I do remember a Bible story where God
isn’t heard in the thunder, fire or water – but in the gentle
breeze of the wind. Cunningham’s music should serve as a wake-up
call to all the Jesus-freak thieves on television and those
wringing their hands on the pulpits: sometimes, the most powerful
voice is one of the quietest.
Dancing At The Gate is a wonderful example, and is a very
enjoyable collection of music. What you get out of it is completely
up to you.