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.

All Things Testify of Him

MP3 - All Things Testify of Him
PDF - All Things Testify of Him

Thanks once again to Dixie Lea Henrie for the beautiful lyrics to go with this song. This is appropriate for Young Men/Young Women to sing. The words reflect Moses 6:63. If you do perform this, I would appreciate a note and even better if you can get an audio recording of the performance and send it to me that would be so appreciated.

The beauty of a setting sun, a newborn baby's birth, 
A blade of grass, the azure sky, all creatures on the earth. 
The flowers open to the sun, the oceans roll ashore, 
For evidence of heavens touch, I could not ever ask for more. 

When I awake to each new day I say a little prayer, 
Of gratitude for all I see, the beauty everywhere. 
Our Father made the universe for all who dwell within, 
My heart and mind convey to me that all things testify of Him. 

The Legacy of Heroes

MP3 - The Legacy of Heroes
PDF - The Legacy of Heroes

As I was perusing some poetry, I happened upon this one. And almost instantaneously, a melody emerged. I got permission to set Susan Noyes Anderson's stirring poem to music. I wanted it to reflect a solemn feel, so one could feel the words as they are sung. I thank Susan for her gift and for the privilege of setting one of her poems to music. This would make a wonderful Fourth of July, Memorial Day, Veteran's Day or the like occasion. I hope you enjoy it.

1. Today we celebrate our troops, whose valor must be praised. 
Our nation is the legacy of heroes born and raised. 

2. From sea to shining sea they choose to honor and protect 
The laws and land that we revere, the freedoms we respect. 

3. The sacrifices of these men and women stir our hearts, 
Invoking all the gratitude their selflessness imparts. 

4. We celebrate each one of them and thank their fam'lies too. 
For rising to our country's call with courage known by few. 

5. May we be true to all who serve, and hold in memory, 
Each father, mother, daughter, son, whose blood has kept us free. 

The Brightness of the Gospel Plan

MP3 - The Brightness of the Gospel Plan
PDF - The Brightness of the Gospel Plan

I welcome another collaborator, Dixie Lea Henrie to the ldshappymusic "family". I had this tune for over two years and turned it over to her for inspiration. What it became is a great missionary hymn that would sound great sung by missionaries. :) I hope you enjoy it and, as always I welcome feedback.

1. The brightness of the gospel plan will ever light the way,
    To seeking hearts, and wand'ring souls who may have gone astray.
    The call is ours in latter days, to leave no soul behind,
    But be a beacon in the dark that searching hearts may find.

2. Be mindful of the low in heart, endeavoring to cope,
    Give comfort, help and charity, encouragement and hope.
    And love thy neighbor as thyself for truly, who is he?
    A precious child of royal birth, a brother unto thee.

3. We'll share the friendship, share the joy, love's ensign taking hold,
    For every nation, kindred tongue, we'll bring into the fold.
    We'll share the plan of happiness, God's children one and all.
    The field is ripe, the harvest nigh, let each one heed the call.

4. May we be servants unto thee, be faithful, honest, true,
    That others who may see our light, accept the gospel too.
   Oh Father may we be thy hands, our meager light be Thine,

   And spread thy word o'er all the earth, thy gospel light to shine. 

His Truth is Restored

PDF - His Truth is Restored
MP3 - His Truth is Restored

I had this happy tune for a while and decided to give it to my latest collaborator and he came up with some wonderful ideas. This is the result. It is a joyous Primary song that the children can have fun singing (and shouting) :) Comments appreciated.

1. His truth is restored to the earth again,
the gospel of Jesus will fill the land
from east to the west and from north to south,
the Lord's missionaries will open their mouths saying:

(Chorus)
"Repent! His kingdom's at hand.
Join us in the promised land.
Give glory to the name of the Lord
and Shout! with joy for His truth is restored."

2. Our sisters and brothers in distant lands,
are clinging to hope for His heavn'ly hand.
God's army of servants go two by two,
deliv'ring His message of eternal truth saying:


(Chorus)

I'll Trust in Jesus Christ

MP3 - I'll Trust in Jesus Christ
PDF - I'll Trust in Jesus Christ

This is another "rapid sequence" song that developed and I also found a new lyrics collaborator in record time too. From start to finish took about 6 hours to complete. This is a sweet Primary tune about trusting in Jesus Christ. Thanks to Eric for the wonderful words. I look forward to more collaboration. If you use this piece, please drop me a note. And if you do have your children sing it, an audio of them would be wonderful :) I hope you enjoy!

If I put my trust in Jesus Christ 
I will learn His holy truth 
I will hear the spirit whispering 
All the things that I should do 
When I'm reaching for His loving arms 
I can feel Him reach for me 
And in faith I’ll trust in Jesus Christ 
He will always trust in me 

If I put my trust in worldly ways 
I will lose my path indeed 
The still small voice will fade away 
And I’ll wander aimlessly 
So I'm reaching for His loving arms 
I can feel Him reach for me 
And in faith I’ll trust in Jesus Christ 
He will always trust in me 

Joseph Smith's First Prayer

MP3 - Joseph Smith's First Prayer
PDF - Joseph Smith's First Prayer Baritone
PDF - Joseph Smith's First Prayer - Soprano
PDF - Joseph Smith's First Prayer - Bari - Violin Part
PDF - Joseph Smith's First Prayer - Soprano- Violin part
PDF - Joseph smith's First Prayer - Alto - Violin
PDF - Joseph Smith's First Prayer - Alto - b-flat Clarinet Part
PDF - Joseph Smith's First Prayer - Soprano - Cello
PDF - Joseph Smith's First Prayer - Alto/Cello Score
PDF - Joseph Smith's First Prayer - Alto/Cello - Cello Part

Live recording (noise and all) - https://soundcloud.com/rickgraham-1/joseph-smiths-first-prayer-lc18w

So earlier this year, a fellow MoTab member told me that his daughter was returning home from her mission and mentioned that it would be way cool if there could be a custom arrangement of the hymn, "Joseph Smith's First Prayer". In this particular mission, they loved to sing the words of Joseph Smith's First Prayer to the tune of, "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing". So I accepted the challenge. This is what I ended up with. 

It is scored for Baritone solo with violin and piano, but can be altered for other voices - just ask and I'll provide you with it. :) I thought it turned out well and this is also the piece that I submitted to the 2015 LDS Submission. I don't know how it fared out as the results won't be released till July. But the deadline for submission has passed and felt that I need to share this with others.

It is very rare that I have strong feelings about a piece, but every time I play this back, I keep on telling myself, "I didn't write this". I feel that I had some heavenly help with this. I hope you enjoy it. If you perform it, I'd love to hear about it and maybe even an audio recording.

NEW: 19 May 2015 - Added PDF with transposed music set for Soprano Voice v1.01S
           20 May 2015 - Added Violin part PDF's for each voicing
           12 June 2015 - Added PDF for Alto Voice v1.01A
             8 July 2015 - Added b-flat clarinet for Alto arrangement v1.01AC
           15 July 2015 - Added Cello for Soprano Arrangement V1.01SC
             6 March 2016 - Added Cello for Alto arrangement V1.02AC