Mary Beth Carlson Finds Joy in new album 'A Brand New Day'

By Julie Saffrin

“It's my prayer, my plea, to be an instrument of the Lord when I'm playing,” said pianist Mary Beth Carlson after a recent performance for world-renowned cardiologists at Mayowood, once the home of the Mayo Clinic brothers in Rochester, Minnesota. During the performance Carlson felt the need to worship and started to play “Shout to the Lord,” while the doctors ate dinner. Before long several men came into the room and sat down beside Carlson on the long piano bench and together they worshipped in the moment. “It was a humbling experience to be in the presence of these doctors who save lives. . .when I save coupons,” she said.

With her newest album, A Brand New Day, her fourteenth in 10 years, Carlson's musical artistry is as infectious as her stunning smile and quick sense of humor. Filled with hopeful hymns and happy tunes one wonders where all Carlson's joy comes from, given the fact that she and her husband, Kent, placed their middle daughter in a group home this summer.

Carlson tears up as she talks about twenty-two year old Jody. Born with cerebral palsy and autism, five years ago Jody lost four important people in her life within a short time period. The experience emotionally and physically triggered a nervous breakdown in Jody and the young woman landed in Abbott Northwestern Hospital for ten days, only to return to the Carlson residence with two new illnesses, psychosis and schizophrenia. “I can say without a doubt those were the hardest days of my life,” Carlson said.

Carlson found sustenance as she does daily with her music writing. In the Scriptures. “I just needed a lot of help with joy. I asked God to give me songs that were joyful.” It was in the 22nd chapter of Lamentations she found hope again. “The Lord's love and compassion never fail; His mercies are new every morning. Great is His faithfulness. “I realized I needed to choose joy, act joyfully and fill my life with joy every day,” Carlson said. “I determined to be joyful and influence others to be joyful through my music.”

Though she does not sing on her albums, Carlson often pens lyrics to her songs before she goes to the piano to work out the melody. “As a composer you need to lead the song somewhere. The music still needs to tell a story,” she said. Before each writing session, Carlson immerses herself in prayer and meditates on Scripture. “Creating music is a planned event for me.”

The album's title track delves into the mysterious paradox that joy is birthed in adversity when God is worshipped. A Brand New Day beautifully marries lyrics to music. One envisions the changing horizon at morning's light, from tresses of pinks and orange, to a fully risen sun as Carlson plays octaves above middle C. Every day is a fresh gift, “a new day dawning…to worship You.”  The metaphors are strong here. Horizons change when the Son is allowed to rise in our lives.

particular favorite for Carlson is the Bart Millard classic, “I Can Only Imagine,” At the CD release concert October 25th at Calvary Church (formerly Grace Church of Edina), Phil Kitchen, who is blind, will perform the song. “That Phil has never seen Earth yet can envision Heaven. . .it's something else to hear him sing this song,” Carlson said.

A favorite time at her concerts is the design-a-concert” segment after intermission. “I take song requests from the audience and work them into a medley,” said Carlson. “It's a fun time but it can be a challenge to think of a way in ten seconds to weave Clair de Lune, The Old Rugged Cross and the Linus and Lucy songs into one medley.”

Carlson's love of music began at the age of 4 when she heard her father play Silent Night on the piano. After he finished, she went over and added chords by ear until it sounded like it had in church. By ten she was creating her own compositions which later led to arrangements and improvisations with her brother and two sisters' newly formed singing group, The Trones Family. Though she desired to double-major in elementary education and music, her music professor at St. Cloud State University discouraged it because of her perfect pitch; She received her teaching degree, going on to earn a Teacher of the Year award at Prairie View Elementary in Eden Prairie.

It wasn't until Carlson had a family that she became serious about writing music. One day in 1992 while at Nordstrom's department store her husband encouraged her to inquire about being a pianist there. She did and that evening opportunity knocked when the hired pianist cancelled. Carlson debuted with three hours' notice.

Shortly afterwards she was asked to write a song for a Louis Whitbeck Fraser Community Services benefit, an organization that benefited Jody and the Carlson family for many years. It was the first song Carlson wrote lyrics to and one that came to her in the middle of the night. If You Could See Through My Eyes was adopted as the organization's theme song. Carlson said about the writing, “The words just flowed. It was as if Jody said, ‘Accept me. This is the best I can be.'” If you could see through my eyes and feel with my heart, you'd understand my desire, the need to do my part.

It is evident that whether through her CDs or live performances, that Carlson accomplishes her part as well. “I love to share my story and the joy that is in the universal language of music.”

Action Box

Tickets for the Calvary Church concert are available at Northwestern Book Stores or at 1-888-684-2319 or at Mary Beth Carlson's website, www.marybethcarlson.com .