Michael Card

    Michael Card

    Franklin, Tennessee9 reviews across 7 releases

    acousticccmcelticfolk
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    Michael Card is an American Christian singer-songwriter who emerged from Nashville's music scene and began recording in 1981 with First Light. His work centers on close readings of Scripture, usually carried by a clear tenor and acoustic guitar over carefully arranged folk music. The 1991 Christmas project The Promise retained his gentle MOR manner while adding Renaissance color, hammered dulcimer, orchestration, and choral writing; its songs treated the Nativity as fulfillment of prophecy, including witness songs from Mary and Joseph alongside the shepherds. By Poiema in 1994, Celtic tonality had become more prominent through fiddle, Uilleann pipes, and other traditional instruments. Starkindler completed that movement with spare Celtic arrangements of older hymns and one original song about the stars.

    In 1996, Card recorded Brother To Brother with John Michael Talbot, an exchange of each artist's songs that exposed the difference between Talbot's praise-oriented arrangements and Card's more impassioned writing. Card then applied his method to Revelation on Unveiled Hope in 1997; the project kept his established musical language while using orchestra plus guest singers to avoid a complete retread. After A Fragile Stone appeared in 2003, Card continued recording while expanding his work as a Bible teacher and author. He also hosted radio and podcast programs. Card retired at the end of 2023.

    7 releases reviewed