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PITTSBURG —
There have been many famous musical duos over the years. A few that come to mind include Simon and Garfunkel, Jan and Dean, the Everly Brothers, John Lennon and Paul McCartney (and a couple of other guys), even Sonny and Cher.
But one of the most unique new duos has to be Lingor and the Rev, comprised of Dan Lingor, retired administrator of Mt. Carmel Medical Center (before it became Via Christi Hospital) and the Rev. Kevin Arensman, pastor of the First Christian Church, Pittsburg.
The two have just completed their first CD, “New Hope,” which will be launched with a release party from 6 to 8 p.m. Aug. 10 at Wheat State Pizza.
“We’ve been here five years with our open mic night,” Rev. Arensman said. “This is where Dan and I started playing together. He showed up with a Native American flute and wondered if we could play anything together.”
It was a good question.
“Neither of us had degrees in music theory, so we struggled until Elaine, Dan’s wife, who does have a music degree, said that if you know the key of a song, you know whether a flute will go with it,” Rev. Arensman said. “Native American flutes all have minor keys. We ended up playing a lot of songs with a D flute because it fits my voice range, but we have at least one song for each of Dan’s flutes.”
Lingor has around 14 of them, many custom made, all one-of-a-kind.
“Some of them have a precise, crisp sound,” Rev. Arensman said. “Others not so much.”
“Others are more mellow,” Lingor said. “Each flute is unique, made from a unique piece of wood. They have a sound and a nature that is very soothing. It’s a healing thing, that’s what it started out to be. The purpose of the flute was not to make music and have fun.”
Rev. Arensman said that the flutes have a very spiritual sound.
“I believe there’s a reason why the Greeks have the same word, pneuma, for spirit, wind and breath,” he said.
This spiritual sound fit in very well with the music Rev. Arensman had been creating.
“I’ve been writing songs and playing guitar for about 30 years now, and they’re pretty good, but there are a million guys out there playing guitars and singing,” he said. “It’s hard to be unique, but with Dan playing his flute, it doesn’t sound like anyone else.”
There have been many famous musical duos over the years. A few that come to mind include Simon and Garfunkel, Jan and Dean, the Everly Brothers, John Lennon and Paul McCartney (and a couple of other guys), even Sonny and Cher.
But one of the most unique new duos has to be Lingor and the Rev, comprised of Dan Lingor, retired administrator of Mt. Carmel Medical Center (before it became Via Christi Hospital) and the Rev. Kevin Arensman, pastor of the First Christian Church, Pittsburg.
The two have just completed their first CD, “New Hope,” which will be launched with a release party from 6 to 8 p.m. Aug. 10 at Wheat State Pizza.
“We’ve been here five years with our open mic night,” Rev. Arensman said. “This is where Dan and I started playing together. He showed up with a Native American flute and wondered if we could play anything together.”
It was a good question.
“Neither of us had degrees in music theory, so we struggled until Elaine, Dan’s wife, who does have a music degree, said that if you know the key of a song, you know whether a flute will go with it,” Rev. Arensman said. “Native American flutes all have minor keys. We ended up playing a lot of songs with a D flute because it fits my voice range, but we have at least one song for each of Dan’s flutes.”
Lingor has around 14 of them, many custom made, all one-of-a-kind.
“Some of them have a precise, crisp sound,” Rev. Arensman said. “Others not so much.”
“Others are more mellow,” Lingor said. “Each flute is unique, made from a unique piece of wood. They have a sound and a nature that is very soothing. It’s a healing thing, that’s what it started out to be. The purpose of the flute was not to make music and have fun.”
Rev. Arensman said that the flutes have a very spiritual sound.
“I believe there’s a reason why the Greeks have the same word, pneuma, for spirit, wind and breath,” he said.
This spiritual sound fit in very well with the music Rev. Arensman had been creating.
“I’ve been writing songs and playing guitar for about 30 years now, and they’re pretty good, but there are a million guys out there playing guitars and singing,” he said. “It’s hard to be unique, but with Dan playing his flute, it doesn’t sound like anyone else.”
After performing together at open mic night and other venues, the duo began working on songs in June 2011.
“By the end of the year we decided we had something we ought to record, so we did,” Rev. Arensman said.
All 11 songs on the CD are his original work.
“We started recording in March at Woodlands Studio with Phil Ward,” Rev. Arensman said. “We knocked out the recording part in a few weeks and were finished around the end of April, but producing a CD takes a lot more time than recording. We really appreciated Phil’s knowledge in this.”
The CD also has instrumental work by what the duo calls the “Junkyard Band,” local musicians who also often play during open mic night. Included are Marty Self on bass, Ronny Gallaway on mandolin, Dan Albertini on guitar, Jeff Simpson on harmonica, Kyle Simpson on djimbe, Matthew Schmitt on bass, Merri Teresa Accad with additional vocals, Travis McKee on ukulele and Rory McHarg on guitar.
“Rory is my wife Shannon’s nephew, and he didn’t actually sit in with us,” Rev. Arensman said. “He sent us some tracks and Phil put them in.”
He believes that the flute sounds really good on the CD, but feels that it must be heard live to get the full resonance and spirit of the flute. Lingor agrees.
“I don’t want to take away from any other instrument, but when you play a flute, you are putting your life breath through it,” Lingor said. “I play my flutes two or three hours a day and my breath has changed over the years.”
Proceeds from CD sales at the release party will go to Week of Compassion, an emergency relief organization based in Indiana that responds need around the world and also closer to home.
“They are involved with our church in a continuing mission in Joplin,” Rev. Arensman said. “They try to help people on the edge of survival to have a better life. They have no administrative costs, so all proceeds go to those in need. It’s been my favorite cause for years.”
Another CD may not be totally out of the question, and Lingor and the Rev plan to continue their regular Thursday gig.
“As long as we’re having fun, we’ll continue to do it,” Rev. Arensman said.
