I found out today by accident that the melody of “I’d Rather Have Jesus” that I’m  using in my piano solo… is copyrighted.  I always check to make sure hymns are public domain before arranging them and had checked this one out as well.

I verified that the tune and melody were public domain and didn’t click on the music image to view the song and later discovered the tune was different than the one I was arranging.  Guess it’s better to find out BEFORE publishing!

So…I’ve been online with Music Services (provides a variety of ‘a la carte’ services to music publishers – song registration, licensing, royalty collections, royalty accounting) to obtain a “print” license for this arrangement.  This is my first time to deal with a copyrighted work.  I won’t do too many of these for the sake of added expense but will try this with “I’d Rather Have Jesus” since I had already promised it to my readers.

The downside is…there will be a delay in publishing until I get the clearance from Music Services.  I will keep you all posted and sorry for the delay but I want to be above board!

Just thought I’d share a sneak preview of the advanced piano solo I’m working on of “I’d Rather Have Jesus”.

Just published the sheet music for the advanced piano solo of “The Love of God”.

I love to play runs as you will notice in this arrangement.  I guess you could say this arrangement is “overrun” with runs 😉

Seriously,  I tried to bring the words to life in this beautiful hymn.

“The love of God is greater far Than tongue or pen can ever tell;

It goes beyond the highest star And reaches to the lowest hell.

The guilty pair, bowed down with care, God gave His Son to win;

His erring chile He reconciled And pardoned from his sin.

Chorus:

The love of God, how rich and pure! How measureless and strong!

It shall forevermore endure, The saints’ and angels song.“

 The touching message of verse three was found written on the wall of an insane asylum….penned by a male patient.  These soul-stirring words were discovered  at the time of his death.

“Could we with ink the ocean fill, And were the skies of parchment made,

Were ev’ry stalk on earth a quill, And ev’ry man a scribe by trade,

To write the love of God above Would drain the ocean dry;

Nor could the scroll contain the whole, Tho’ stretched from sky to sky.”

What an awesome message all wrapped up in one verse!  I would venture to say this man was in his right mind when he composed this heart warming message.

The Love of God

Advanced sacred piano solo, 3 pgs. Approx. time length: 2:07 Youtube video below of entire arrangement

Price: $3.50

*Special note:  I will be providing an article with free fill-in alternatives for the runs to those who prefer the less busy passages 🙂

Yesterday, I started a new advanced piano solo arrangement of “The Love of God”.

I have struggled in the past trying to write a piano solo version of The Love of God. Several years ago I created a vocal trio with piano accompaniment for this hymn.  It was easier to write since I didn’t have to stick to the melody.

As I sat at the piano yesterday…a motive (a melodic pattern)… just came to me which you will hear in the introduction. I tried to stay true to the style of the song so as not to distract from the message.

This particular arrangement will be written in my “free style” of playing which I enjoy the most. ( no structure!)  yay!  Although structure does make the arrangement more user-friendly.

Thanks to many such as Ashley & Karen who have requested that I write an arrangement for The Love of God.

The Love of God (audio sample)

Just finished the Christmas piano solo of “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” this morning!

One of my readers requested that I arrange an intermediate level of “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen”.  This piano arrangement may appear to be late intermediate level but the technical side of it may qualify for an early advanced level piano solo.

Regardless of the outcome, I hope you enjoy this piece as much as I had writing it!

God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen

Late intermediate to early advanced Christmas piano solo, 2 pgs. Approx. 1:33

Price: $3.00