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.

Mary's Medley

MP3 - Mary's Medley

I can think of no better way to honor my Grandmother (who raised me) on Mother's Day than to arrange a medley of her best loved songs.

The Songs are:

Mother, Here's a Red, Red Rose (she wrote the words)
To a Wild Rose
Songs my Mother Taught Me

She instilled the gift of music in me, and I am eternally grateful to her for that. Happy (Grand)Mother's Day. I love you!

The Greatest Truth

MP3 - The Greatest Truth

PDF - The Greatest Truth

Last night at a special musical fireside, many people shared their testimony of the Savior through their talents. It was a wonderful experience. I was honored to sing in the choir and the piece I wrote, and Jenny McKinney put words to were premiered by a small children's choir. This is the piece that I submitted to the 2014 LDS Submission. 

The music came to me very quickly and sat in the "archives" until I felt prompted to get it back out and put the word out for collaborators. I was grateful for Jenny stepping forward. As I have mentioned in previous blog posts on my regular blog (www.ldshappy.com), I believe there are no such things as coincidences.the Lord is very much aware of our lives and has a huge impact on us if we allow Him to do so. And this collaboration was no "coincidence".

Here is the text that Jenny said prior to the children singing:

 On May 6, 2000, the world received a special spirit. Baylee Ann Neil was born a small 4lbs. For the most part, Baylee was healthy and was able to go home at five days old, with a heart monitor. When the heart monitor went off two weeks later, that was just the beginning of a very unknown future. Doctors not even her own were prompted to help this infant who would have otherwise died. Baylee was diagnosed with Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome, which is the presence of an extra, abnormal electrical pathway in the heart that leads to periods of a very fast heartbeat (tachycardia). Although she began medication to help, the next several weeks were spent in the hospital, trying to stabilize her heartbeat. There were many unanswered questions. She had many tachycardia episodes that would sometimes require medication, other times cardio conversion. This is where a special machine is used to send electrical energy to the heart muscle to restore normal rhythm. The procedure restores the normal heart rate and rhythm, allowing the heart to pump more effectively. 

For four years Baylee was in and out of the hospital, trying to find something to stabilize her heart. Nothing was working. She coded three times! When she was four years old, she had an ablation done and also received an ICD implant, a defibrillator with a built-in pacemaker. 

From her mother's own words: 

“The day came and she went into surgery. The surgery was long. The first several hours are just mapping the heart out. We were updated every hour or so and things were going well. At about six hours into surgery, we got the news that when they put her in SVT (Superventricular tachycardia) her heart rate went much higher then they expected! This changed her diagnosis too dangerous Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome. They were able to ablate one extra pathway but found several more. They were unable to do anything more at this time because they could not bring her out of SVT and she was going to lose her life if they could not stabilize her ASAP. After several hours she was stable and we could see her. (That was one of the scariest things in my life!) A few days later she started experiencing seizure activity and was diagnosed with epilepsy. 

She is now 13 and has had many ups and downs along the way. At this point she is doing well. She is in 7th grade and loves softball, drawing, singing, and she is passionate about making people aware of Congenital Heart Defects (CHD). She lives a fairly normal life and I am so blessed to have her in my life. I would not wish CHD on anyone but I would not change who it has made us become. We are better people for this journey we live every day.”

To update you since I first planned on sharing this story, I will also add that Baylee had the device removed at 8 years of age. Until a few months ago, her heart was doing well. Then, that changed. For the past month, Baylee has spent most of her time in the hospital. While her body has struggled greatly, Baylee's faith has never wavered. She knows that for however long she is here in her mortal journey, it is all in God's hands. I know that those of us that know and love Baylee are happy to have her here for as long as we can. Brothers and sisters, the greatest truth is in knowing that we are beloved children of God.

Here are the words:

There are times I wonder who I am so I search my heart and mind.

For it seems although I'm different to some I still carry light inside.

There are mountains I must overcome I know, there are paths I will climb.

Yet the greatest truth has made me who I am, I'm a child of God on high.

I can stand up for those who are unique I'll reach out and be their friend.

Until they can find their own voice to speak I'll be there until the end.

There will be mountains to overcome we know, there can be joys we will find.

And the greatest truth can be our light inside, we are loved by God on high.

Help is Wanted

MP3 - Help Is Wanted
PDF - Help is Wanted

When I sat with my wife and watched the General Women's Meeting at home and heard Sister Linda K. Burton's talk "Help is Wanted", I knew I wanted to make a song out of it. I originally had these words, which work in pretty much exactly what Sister Burton said:

Help is wanted, to raise our children strong,
Help is wanted, to move God's work along -
To the living and also to the dead
Our work here on this earth will never end.

Help is wanted, to give a gentle hand,
Help is wanted, to make us understand -
That all those lost and wand'ring on their way,
Are God's children; who need out help each day.

Help is wanted, to heed promptings, and do,
Help is wanted, to live the gospel too.
With kept cov'nants we all can humbly say
We are God's disciples; we will obey.

Now those lyrics are pretty good, but every time I sat down to write music to those words, I basically got nothing. I also got the impression that I need to turn this into a much more simplified tune which Primary children can relate to. These young souls are our hope and future. So, with that in mind, a tune immediately popped into my head literally an hour ago. I wanted to have a song where the children sing a verse, the teachers sing a verse and then everybody sings the final verse.And this is the end result:

Help is wanted, the gospel shared each day,
Help is wanted, I'll listen and obey.
I will be an example to my friends,
Showing them that Jesus is my friend.

Help is wanted, I'll show a gentle hand,
Help is wanted, I'll help you understand -
That right choices you make can pave the way
For your good in all you do and say.

Help is wanted, we'll live the gospel, true,
Help is wanted, we'll read the scriptures too,
We will pray to our Father, and to see as His
Disciples, we will always be.

I hope you like it. Please send any comments. You can always subscribe to my music offerings via "follow by email" link on the right side.

Come and See

MP3 - Come and See
PDF - Come and See

I wrote this because I have been reflecting upon the life of our Savior. This composition for piano and voice reflects His entire life. We are invited to Come, and See. I hope you enjoy it and blessed Easter to you.

See the new babe in the manger laid,
hear the great joy sung from heav'n above.
Christ is the lamb without blemish, pure,
born to redeem us all.

See the boy stand at the temple there,
teaching the learned ones of God above.
Jesus, Messiah is speaking truth,
speaking of joys untold!

Come, and see the service He gave,
see Him heal, the dead He did raise,
If I but follow in His footsteps,
His love will set me free.

See Him alone in the garden there,
praying in agony for our sakes.
See the blood flowing from within His pores,
Jesus is pleading for you and me.

See them all mock and deride Him,
crowned with branches of thorns.
Crucified, no sin committed
all for our souls, He did win.

Laid in a tomb He was placed there,
three days in silence did lay.
Then on the third day He raised up
Living Son, Savior,and King!

He will reign glorious forever
His work on this earth it will grow,
bringing souls unto salvation
bringing us home to our God!

Come and see Him from heav'n come
our eternal Savior, our friend.
Coming to earth, His creation,
claiming us all as His own!

Come and see!
Come, and see!

Enjoy the Journey

I wrote this originally for a hymn competition for the Universalist Unitarian Church but found out that the deadline has already passed. So, I finished it anyways. The hymn speaks of how life is a journey and if we embrace that and help others, we will find happiness in our journey's too.

While the words are non-Christian, I can find truth in those words from a Christian point of view. This life is indeed a journey and we should help others on their paths - to lift them up or as simple as a smile. We can make a difference in other people's lives by sharing the joy and happiness we know with others.

MP3 - Enjoy the Journey
PDF - Enjoy the Journey

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?