In The Backward Way is written in waltz form. What dance is more reminiscent of times past, elegance, and romance? The waltz is a ballroom dance, in 3/4 time, and characterized by a step-slide-step pattern. The dancing couple is touching throughout the dance, and was considered somewhat shocking in the late 18th century because of … [Read more…]
I decided that I wanted to write a minuet. Why? I have no idea. Actually, I had the title first – As It Ever Was. This is a line from one of my favorite books by Nora Roberts, in the Dragon Heart Legacy. The meaning is “as is always the case”, “as has long been … [Read more…]
Softly and Tenderly was written by Will Lamartine Thompson in 1847. It is a lovely song to sing and I also really like playing it on the harp. The verses flow easily, but I think my favorite part to sing is the chorus. I’m proud to say he grew up in my home state of … [Read more…]
May Our Hearts Sing of Peace is a choir anthem I wrote in 2023 using the words of John Birch with his permission. The song is a prayer asking God to help us feel and express His peace, His joy, His forgiveness, His Grace in the world. The final words are a reminder that we … [Read more…]
May Our Hearts Sing of Peace was written in 2023 for SATB choir with piano accompaniment. I fell in love with this text from John Birch and knew right away that I wanted to create music for it. If you have followed my compostions you know that I have used his lyrics many times. John … [Read more…]
We’ve all had broken dreams. Maybe you didn’t get the bicycle you wanted for Christmas. Did your cruise to the Bahamas get cancelled? Perhaps you were told, like I was, that you couldn’t be an astronaut when you grow up because you are a girl. Was there a broken dream of having a “till death … [Read more…]
Once again I’ve chosen lyrics by John Birch for this choral arrangement. This prayer contains such vivid imagery celebrating God’s wisdom and power in the creation of the world. I was particularly captivated by the image of God’s laughter creating a wild goose to fly across the universe. Although I’ve chosen to use repeating phrases … [Read more…]
I know there isn’t a “right answer” to the question of what key signature I should choose when I begin a composition. However, it is one of the questions that I find really difficult to answer. There are many articles and chapters in textbooks that suggest that different key signatures represent different emotions. Some key … [Read more…]
I love the prayers and poetry of John Birch. I’ve set several of them to music for choir and piano in the past couple of years. One of my favorite arrangements so far is God of Rising Sun. God of rising sun, embrace us. God of mist and rain, refresh us. God of flowing stream, … [Read more…]
I have had a lot of vicarious exposure to handbell music. Both of my sons played handbells as they were growing up. We were blessed to attend Westminster Presbyterian Church in Dayton, OH. That church had an outstanding music program for youth and adults. On occasion I would be asked to play a single bell … [Read more…]