This is a post about Scooby, a shuffle, and how they go together. Who is Scooby? Scooby is a 4-year-old shelter rescue dog. I went online to search Animal Humane specifically wanting a dog or bonded pair that might be a bit harder than average to place in a forever home. I fell in love … [Read more…]
I found this wonderful piece by Carol Kappus in the Spring 2026 edition of Folk Harp Journal. Carol Kappus is an award-winning Celtic harpist and I found some of her music this past Christmas and loved it. To get another one of her pieces, and for free, was a big win. A lot of her … [Read more…]
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…]
Some pieces of music seem to flow or to touch my heart more than others. Song From a Secret Garden is one of those. Song from a Secret Garden, not to be confused with the children’s novel about Mary Lennox, was composed by Rolf Lovland and was released on the album of the same name … [Read more…]
It seems I’ve known this song forever, as far back as my early Girl Scout years. It was something we would sing around the campfire. I can’t really say that I knew what it was about back then. I loved the melody, and really liked adding harmony with it. Recently I had the opportunity to … [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…]
I had the pleasure of attending the Harp in Worship Conference in Colorado in July. I admit to being more than a little nervous signing up for this with only about a year of harp experience behind me. Before signing up I did contact the organizers to make sure it was appropriate and also communicated … [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…]