Peace

I wrote this back in 2023, and finally am posting it. The music is peaceful and reflects the words of the Savior to His disciples and is taken from John 14:27. It is set for SATB with a soprano solo. It is intended to be sung unaccompanied.

Peace I leave with you,

my peace I give to you:

not as the world gives

give I unto you.

Let not your heart be troubled,

neither let it be afraid.

MP3: Peace

PDF: Peace

The Shepherds

Here is an upbeat composition for SATB for Christmas. It talks about the nativity from the shepherds perspective.

The shepherds tending to their flocks one dark and lonesome night.

While sheep were grazing on the plains, the moon; only source of light.

The shepherds kept a watchful eye upon their precious fold,

to keep them safe, secure from harm, from the winds and from the cold.

A light appeared quite suddenly; a new star shown in might,

'twas bright and strong, its beams shone down and pointed to a site.

Then heavily guides appeared and bade to Bethlehem, go with haste,

a child is born this blessed eve, it is Christ, the newborn babe.

The shepherds ran quickly to see a child in swathing bands.

They know at once, the promise kept, Messiah! mortal man.

Oh run and fall before your Lord to worship Him and sing,

our Lamb of God, beloved One, He is the King of Kings!

He is the King of Kings!

King of Kings!

MP3: The Shepherds

PDF: The Shepherds

By Night When Others Soundly Slept

This is unusual by LDS standards, but I found the words of a poem and knew I had to write a hymn. Some of the words of the poem have been modernized. Perhaps the timbre/solemness of where in Europe I am presently is influencing my music. But it would be suitable for a choir to sing and mix the verses amongst the choir. I was also thinking about making a soprano descant for the final verse. If that would interest you, let me know.

By night when others soundly slept
And hath at once both ease and Rest,
My waking eyes were open kept
And so to lie I found it best.

I sought him whom my Soul did Love,
With tears I sought him earnestly.
He bow’d his ear down from Above.
In vain I did not seek or cry.

My hungry Soul he fill’d with Good;
He in his Bottle put my tears,
My smarting wounds washed in his blood,
And banished thence my Doubts and fears.

What to my Savior shall I give
Who freely hath done this for me?
I’ll serve him here whilst I shall live
And Love him to Eternity.

MP3: By Night When Others Soundly Slept
PDF: By Night When Others Soundly Slept

Abide with Me!

MP3 - Abide with Me!
PDF - Abide with Me!

I've had this tune in my files for many many years. Every time i tried to come up with lyrics that were suitable for it, I came up blank - until last week. After thinking about the piece, a very distinct impression told me, "turn to page 166 of the Hymnbook". I did, and the words and emotions came pouring out. I decided to turn it from a standard hymn into a simple SATB choir piece. The words are right from "Abide with Me!" but the tune is mine. I hope you like it.

All My Heart, This Night Rejoices

MP3 - All My Heart, This Night Rejoices
PDF - All My Heart, This Night Rejoices

Here is a little known, but lovely Christmas carol for you to enjoy. It is scored for SATB and would be most effective as a totally a capella piece. I hope you enjoy and Merry Christmas!

A Cradle Hymn

MP3 - A Cradle Hymn
PDF - A Cradle Hymn

I was looking through some old Christmas poems and happened upon this one by the famous Isaac Watts. I'm not sure if this was ever set to music or not, but when I started to read the words, the melody was following along. After some playing around with modulations, this is the result. I hope you like it.

Hush! my dear, lie still and slumber, 
Holy angels guard thy bed! 
Heav'nly blessings without number 
gently falling on Thy head. 

Soft and easy is thy cradle: 
Coarse and hard thy Savior lay, 
When His birthplace was a stable 
and His softest bed was hay. 

See the kinder shepherds round Him, 
Telling wonders from the sky! 
Where they sought Him, there they found Him, 
With His Virgin Mother by. 

How much better thou'rt attended 
then the Son of God could be, 
when from heaven He descended 
and became a child like Thee!

A Savior Is Born

MP3 - A Savior Is Born
PDF - A Savior Is Born

Here is a hymn that I collaborated with Susan Noyes Anderson that is in keeping with the church's 2015 Theme, #ASavioIsBorn.

One quiet night in Bethlehem, One rough and lonely manger bed, 
One star as bright as breaking day, One baby nestled in the hay. 
Sing out with joy on Christmas morn; Ring out the bells and sound the horn. 
Christ is born: A Savior is born. 

One burst of angels from on high, One humble prayer from shepherds nigh, 
One dream for magi of their King, One babe to end all suffering. 
Sing out with joy on Christmas morn; Ring out the bells and sound the horn. 
Christ is born: A Savior is born. 

One miracle to save mankind, One shining hope for all to find, 
One healing hand to ease the pain, One life to give, our lives to gain. 
Sing out with joy on Christmas morn; Ring out the bells and sound the horn. 
Christ is born: A Savior is born. 

O Come, All Ye Faithful - Fanfare

PDF - O Come, All Ye Faithful - Fanfare
MP3 - O Come, All Ye Faithful - Fanfare

This is a tune arrangement I had for while and repurposed it. It makes a nice fanfare type of anthem, only 1:30 but is powerful to declare that Christ is born! 

Adam-Ondi-Ahman

MP3 - Adam-Ondi-Ahman
PDF - Adam-Ondi-Ahman


This is the old hymn, Adam-Ondi-Ahman arranged for SATB with divisi. If you like it and use it, I would love to hear about it.

The First Noel

MP3 - The First Noel
PDF - The First Noel

Here is a joyful arrangement of The First Noel for your Ward Choir to do. It has some challenges, but with practice can be done. :) As always, if you use this piece, please leave me feedback. I love feedback. Thanks to Nathan Howe for helping me with some scoring issues. I'm still learning.

His Love Divine

PDF - His Love Divine
MP3 - His Love Divine

I came up with the tune and knew if had to be a solemn Easter hymn. There are very few Easter Hymns and also very few with Minor keys, so this offers both of those. For the lyrics, I turned once again to my fellow Motab member, Michael Young, which through sickness came up with these words in a very short time. I think they work very well with the tune. This could be sung by a choir and each verse ung by a different section or sections. I hope you enjoy this Easter hymn.

Underneath the heavy load He fell onto His face.
Our Savior cried, "Oh Father, please come take this cup away.
If there is yet another way to fill Thy laws' demands.
But if not, then I will give My will into Thy hands."

There alone our Savior cried as He hung on the tree.
"My God, my God, why hast Thou gone? Hast Thou forsaken me?"
Till then at last, He loudly cried that His great work was done.
Now His mortal life complete, the final vic'try won.

Then three days there in the tomb His body lay at rest.
His Spirit soared to set all free: the pris'ners and the blessed.
And then returned on the third morn and rose in splendor bright.
Perfectly restored anew and with an endless light.

As we mourn for death and sin, our Savior understands.
For us He gave each drop of blood; His wounded feet and hands.
He brings at one our souls with God, ransomed with a great cost.
He paid through His love divine that we must not be lost.

Early That Morn

PDF - Early That Morn
MP3 - Early That Morn

The inspiration for this hymn came from the account of the women who came to anoint the Savior after His death on Calvary. It tells the sweet story about their travels and I would imagine their heavy heart at the duty they had to fulfill.

This (obviously) is an Easter hymn, and could be sung by an SATB choir. The verses could be mixed and matched with the voices. I hope you enjoy it!

Early that morn, the Sabbath done,
the women came, e're rising sun.
With spices laden, by death's hill
now pressing through the garden still.

With heavy heart, onward they tread
'neath skies of purple, blue, and red.
Within that sepulchre was lain,
their precious Jesus, who was slain.

As they arrived, to their surprise
the stone was rolled, their voices cried,
the empty tomb! To where? We pray,
for they have taken Him away!

And at the entrance of the tomb,
and angel then dispelled their gloom.
"Why seek the living from the dead?
For He has risen as He said!"

He Lives! My Savior, Lord and King!
Let heav'n and earth, His praises sing!
For He fulfilled His Father's plan
to bring to pass immortal man!

O Child of Mary's Tender Care

MP3 - O Child of Mary's Tender Care
PDF - O Child of Mary's Tender Care

I was looking over some public domain Christmas lyrics and this one in particular caught my eye. The words speak of the infant Christ Child and two things stuck out in my mind. First, the illumined eyes. I love that thought. And it is prophetic because His eyes will be illumined in the last days and on judgement day. The second thing that somehow caught caught my attention was that He is the balm for every sorrow that there is. It is comforting to me that through His atonement, He truly is our balm.

I later found out while finalizing this piece that a dear friend who found out weeks ago that he had inoperable cancer passed today. I am grateful that a loving Father in Heaven heard prayers and took Art home with little pain. He truly is a merciful God!
I hope you enjoy this latest offering for Christmas.

O Child of Mary's tender care!
O little Child so pure and fair!
Cradled within the manger hay
on that divine first Christmas day!
The hopes of every age and race
are centered in Thy radiant face!

O Child whose glory fills the earth!
O little Child of lowly birth!
The shepherds guided from afar,
stood worshipping beneath the star,
and wise men fell on bended knee
and homage offered unto Thee!

O Child of whom the angels sing!
O little Child, our infant King!
What balm for every sorrow lies
within those clear illumined eyes!
O precious gift to mortals given
and win us heritage in heaven!

Thanksgiving

MP3 - Thanksgiving
PDF - Thanksgiving

These words came to me in a bout of insomnia on Thanksgiving eve. I think they speak of Thanksgiving and everything that we have and to whom we oew our thanks. The music came to me last night and I think pairs well with the words. I hope you enjoy it.

The mountains high, the valleys low.
The sky so blue, the streams that flow.
The flow'rs that bloom and cooing dove.
Are evidence of thy great love.

The air we breathe, the heart that beats.
The tiny child and elderly,
Are giv'n for us through thy great plan,
To walk this earth as mortal man.

The food we eat. the harvest stored,
Reminds us of thy goodness, Lord
With fam'ly 'round, our heads are bowed,
To thank thee for all blessings found.

With Thanksgiving, we recognize,
Thy hand in all thy children's lives.
For everything which thou didst make,
We now enjoy and doth partake.

Little Lamb

MP3 - Little Lamb
PDF - Little Lamb

I wanted to write a Christmas hymn that not only expresses the Savior's birth, but also tells of our divine truths - that it was, and is all part of Heavenly Father's plan. This could be sung in solos, sections, a Capella, and even a descant at the end. If you want the descant, let me know and I will be happy to do so. In the Christmas season approaching, may we all pause and stop to reflect on the little lamb born for all of us.

1. Little lamb in manger stall, 
ox and sheep in silence awed. 
We behold his tender face, 
Jesus, Savior of the human race. 

2. Little lamb, thy birth foretold 
from thy servants young and old. 
Prophesied from ages past 
now fulfilled our Savior comes at last. 

3. Little lamb, oh blessed One! 
Thou art God's begotten Son. 
Born to Mary, virgin mild. 
God incarnate and born mortal child. 

4. Little lamb, angels are here
and to shepherds they appear.
Telling them of joys and grace. 
Go to Bethlehem and go with haste. 

5. Little lamb, fulfill the plan 
back with Father it began 
when we heard these words divine: 
"Send me and the glory all be Thine!" 

6. Little lamb, our joy, our all! 
May our hearts receive the call. 
Loud hosannas, let us sing 
to our Lord, and lamb; Eternal King! 

Shepherd, Shake Off Your Drowsy Sleep

MP3 -Shepherd, Shake Off Your Drowsy Sleep
PDF - Shepherd, Shake Off Your Drowsy Sleep

An old Christmas hymn that I've always loved. I re-arranged it a bit to make it more interesting for choir members. I hope you enjoy it.

1. Shepherd, shake off your drowsy sleep! 
Rise and leave your beloved sheep! Angels from heav'n around are singing, Tidings of great joy are bringing. Shepherd, the chorus come and swell! Sing Noel! O sing Noel! 

2. See how the flowr's all burst anew, Thinking snow is summer dew;See how the stars afresh are glowing All their brightest beams bestowing, Shepherd, the chorus come and swell! Sing Noel! O sing Noel! 

3. Shepherd, then up and quick away! Seek the babe ere break of day. He is the hope of ev'ry nation,All in Him shall find salvation. Shepherd, the chorus come and swell! Sing Noel! O sing Noel! 

Memorial Day

PDF - Memorial Day Hymn
MP3 - Memorial Day Hymn

I had this tune for over two years. My original intent was to create a nice orchestration out of it, but every time I sat down to orchestrate it, I didn't feel good about it. So, I decided to make it into a hymn-like tune. The words are not mine - they are from Joyce Kilmer's poem titled Memorial Day. When I read this poem the melody came instantly into my head and I knew I had to do something with it. It's my way of honoring those who paid the ultimate sacrifice. I hope you enjoy.

Memorial Day Hymn

The bugle echoes shrill and sweet,
But not of war it sings today.
The road is rhythmic with the feet
of men-at-arms who come to pray.

The roses blossom white and red
on tombs where weary soldiers lie;
flags wave above the honored dead
and martial music cleaves the sky.

Above their wreath-strewn graves we kneel,
they kept the faith and fought the fight.
Through flying lead and crimson steel
they plunged for Freedom and the Right.

May we, their grateful children, learn
their strength, who lie beneath this sod,
who went through fire and death to earn
at last the accolade of God.

In shining rank on rank arrayed
they march, the legions of the Lord;
He is their Captain unafraid,
The Prince of Peace - Who brought a sword.

Did You Think to Pray?

I had a similar unfinished piece about 10 years ago on this song with the general theme. But it was never finished and eventually abandoned. Fast forward to today and I thought of that theme and wanted to do something for a choir. The Sopranos and Tenors split on parts. The alto is sort of low, but from what I hear, they like low pieces. :)

So, the song and the theme have resurfaced. I have always loved the words and can testify that praying DOES rest the weary. It can change attitudes and make one think about the eternal aspects of life. I hope you enjoy it and welcome feedback. It was fun writing this one.

PDF - Did you Think to Pray?
MP3 - Did you Think to Pray?

Great is Thy Mercy

This is a Sacrament hymn that I composed a couple years ago and stayed dormant until recently. I collaborated with fellow MoTab choir member, Michael Young on the lyrics. Thanks, Michael for the inspiring words to go with the music. I hope you enjoy it.

PDF - Great is Thy Mercy
MP3 - Great is Thy Mercy