Daddy!

MP3: Daddy!
PDF: Daddy!

My wife was going through some old stuff and happened upon this handwritten score from decades ago that I had forgotten about. The words are by a dear friend of mine back in PA. The music would be very appropriate for a Primary singing for Father's Day. I hope you enjoy it.

Lullabye

MP3: Lullabye
PDF: Lullabye

Not sure why this has been on my mind, but this is something I wrote several years ago and just got around to cleaning it up and scoring it. It is a simple but sweet lullabye. I hope you enjoy it.

Nature's Music

My wife and I decided it was such a beautiful day yesterday that we would take a drive. We started on the Timapanogos highway in Lehi, entered the forest and just drove - soaking in the beautiful world created for us by our loving Father in Heaven. My wife took the pictures - most while the car was in motion, but I think they turned out wonderfully.

When I got home and was posting them to Facebook, this tune came into my mind and I know I had to "marry" the two together. This is my first venture with combining audio (music) with pictures. I like the result, if I may so so myself. :)

I credit the music popping into my head, first and foremost by my Father in Heaven, and secondly from my wonderful experiences, which made me realize this: For me to write meaningful music I need to get out from my "normal" world - explore nature. Experience God's handiwork. Listen to what a babbling stream is saying. Listen to the breeze rustling through the trees. Listen to what my heart is saying as I am experiencing all of this. And I will be able to find a song through it all.

YouTube: Nature's Music

God's Re-Creating Call

MP3 - God's Re-Creating Call
PDF - God's Re-Creating Call

Earlier this year, I entered a hymn into a competition. The words were given and I just needed to come up with a melody. The hymn was to be used for a church in Ontario, Canada, which also has ties to London, England.

Two weeks ago, I discovered an email in my spam filter informing me that my hymn placed third! I was, and still am ecstatic about this. My first, ever non-LDS hymn. The website where you can see the winning hymn (along with the impressive bio of the winner) can be seen here: www.london2014.net. So here is my entry. I hope you like it.

Ev'ry breath we take is singing, ev'ry leaf unfurled a sign,
ev'ry tree for decades standing, ev'ry peak, majestic, fine.
These show God's creating glories miracles and wonders all!
We, ourselves are revelations, now, God's re-creating call.

After fire burns through forests, life begins from all around,
when we're lost in deepest sadness, God can touch us, love, astound.
Poison fills our lakes and rivers, God helps people stand and shout,
moving helpers into places, bringing light and chasing doubt.

Reefs alive with sparkling colours are endangered, fragile, pure.
God calls scientists and workers, new ideas, theories, cures.
Homeless people left ignored while greed just seems to grow and grow,
trusting God and working strongly makes a diff'rence, this we know!

Voices, voices raised in singing: "Christ commands we love each one,"
not just those that we agree with, ev'ry person, barring none.
"Come and sit around my table, speaking love, you follow me,
all the world and all creation should know love you've given free!"

Joy in the Journey

Everyone has their own journey that they alone must travel. The journey may be filled with trials, but if we can remember that our journey-master is always there to show us the way, we can have - Joy in the Journey.

MP3 - Joy in the Journey
PDF - Joy in the Journey

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!