'Rosary' duo's new CD aimed at all Christians

The folks who set the rosary to music 15 years ago are back with another version, this one aimed at all Christians, not just Roman Catholics.

John Giaier (pronounced GUY-er) and Bill Gildenstern are ad jingle writers who released the "Rosary Tapes" in 1992. The labor-of-love project didn't earn much money, but it did get noticed by the music industry (it was nominated for a Grammy) and, more important to the Michigan-based duo, caught the attention of the Vatican. Pope John Paul sent them a personal greeting.

Now they have a followup CD, "Mysteries of Light," a "broad departure" that Giaier said is "for all Christians and for all ages. I very much wanted to build this CD for everyone. That's why we made it to be something very embraceable by all Christian traditions."

Although tied to the rosary, a traditional series of devotions to Jesus and the Virgin Mary represented by the set of prayer beads that accompany it, all of the material on the new CD is "pulled directly from the Bible" rather than the prayer, Giaier said. "We studied the Scripture, and, in the end, we discovered five components of a very beautiful, complete prayer -- not just for Catholics this time, for all Bible-believing Christians."

You can listen to samples from the new CD at www.rosarytapes.com.

Slammin' for a cause

American Indian poet Bobby Wilson is hosting an arts gathering/competition/little bit of everything to benefit homeless American Indian children.

Homeless in the Homeland will include, among other things, a slam poetry contest, live art (painters work while the audience watches and must complete their paintings by the end of the show) and music. There also will be free fry bread. The party begins at 7 p.m. today at Ancient Traders Gallery, 1113 E. Franklin Av., Minneapolis. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. A $5 donation is suggested.

A carol concert

The choirs at the Cathedral of St. Paul will present their annual Festival of Readings and Carols on Sunday. The event has become a popular tradition at the cathedral. Both the adult Cathedral Choir and St. Cecilia Choir for children and teens will perform. Their songs will be interspersed with readings and poetry. The concert begins at 3 p.m. Admission is free, but donations will be accepted. If you can't make it Sunday, the program will be repeated at 10:45 p.m. Christmas Eve as a prelude to midnight mass.

JEFF STRICKLER